NW Missouri Times

The Regional Professional Development Center at Northwest Missouri State University has announced the selection of two area teachers as its Regional Teachers of the Year. The honorees are Mary Sanders, a fourth-grade teacher from the St. Joseph School District, and Rachel Stoll, who teaches pre-kindergarten students in the Jefferson C-123 School District in Conception Junction.

Mary Sanders has been part of the St. Joseph School District since 2014, teaching grades two through six. Her classroom is noted for its emphasis on kindness, structure, and student-centered engagement. She founded Find Your Community Pride, a service and leadership club that engages students in volunteer work with local organizations and extracurricular activities. Sanders also mentors student teachers and early-career educators while participating in Northwest’s Grow Your Own program.

Rachel Stoll holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Northwest Missouri State University. With nine years of experience as an educator, she is recognized for her dedication to early childhood education. Her classroom environment fosters curiosity, creativity, and confidence among young learners.

The Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year award is part of the Missouri Teacher of the Year program sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This initiative acknowledges effective teachers who provide quality education to their students.

Sanders and Stoll are among 34 teachers chosen to represent their regions in the 2025-2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year program. A committee consisting of teachers, business leaders, and educational organization leaders will select the Missouri Teacher of the Year after conducting interviews with each finalist this fall. The winner along with other finalists will be honored in October in Jefferson City, Missouri. The chosen Missouri Teacher of the Year will serve as the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The center supports professional development activities for K-12 educators across 59 school districts within a 15-county region in Northwest Missouri.