Lori Merrigan named R-7 Teacher of the Year
Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Lee’s Summit R7 School District, Edu, GSD Online
Excellence In Teaching winners honored at April 27 event
Lori Merrigan, a fifth-grade teacher at Underwood Elementary, was named Lee's Summit R-7 School District 2009-10 Teacher of the Year.
Lori Merrigan, a fifth-grade teacher at Underwood Elementary, was named Lee’s Summit R-7 School District 2009-10 Teacher of the Year during a surprise announcement at an April 27 reception. The reception also recognized 12 R-7 teachers who were named Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching Award winners earlier this spring. Excellence In Teaching winners are Kyle Anderson, Lee’s Summit North High School; Kerrie Creemer, Meadow Lane Elementary; Courtney Danner, Cedar Creek Elementary; Linda Driskill, Cedar Creek Elementary; Christie Eulinger, Summit Lakes Middle School; Greg Foreman, Highland Park Elementary; Kathy Graves, Lee’s Summit West High School; Bob Klausing, LSWHS; Vickie Metzler, Lee’s Summit High School; Deborah Parker, LSNHS; Sue Selby, Highland Park Elementary; and Kristen Wimberly, Longview Farm Elementary.
The Teacher of the Year is selected from R-7 educators who are either current or past winners of the Excellence In Teaching Award. In addition to the 2010 Excellence In Teaching winners, other finalists for Teacher of the Year included six former Excellence In Teaching winners who were nominated for the award again this year. These former winners interviewing along with this year’s award recipients for Teacher of the Year were also recognized April 27. They are Terri Beard, Richardson Elementary; Christy Beavers, SLMS; Cheryl McLaughlin, Hazel Grove Elementary; Lori Merrigan, Underwood Elementary; Pam Scott, Sunset Valley Elementary; and Keith Wingert, Meadow Lane Elementary.
Additional finalists for R-7 Teacher of the Year are (from left) Christy Beavers, Keith Wingert, Pam Scott, Terri Beard, Lori Merrigan and Cheryl McLaughlin.
The Excellence In Teaching program and reception are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the R-7 School District, and all students, parents, R-7 employees and community members were invited to nominate outstanding teachers. Awards were presented by Mark Parrish of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce; Jon Ellis and George Pagels of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and Dr. David McGehee, R-7 superintendent. Close to 175 people attended the community reception.
All 2010 Excellence In Teaching winners were also honored with the Hertzog Leadership Award, established through the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council to honor Dr. Robert (“Bud”) Hertzog, businessman and community leader. Dr. Hertzog helped present the awards during the ceremony. The Teacher of the Year also receives a $100 Cathy Paulson Heart to Heart Award. This award is funded by the Loren Paulson family in honor of Cathy Paulson, who passed away this year.
Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching winners are (front row, from left) Kristen Wimberly, Courtney Danner, Christie Eulinger, Linda Driskill, Vickie Metzler, Kerrie Creemer, Deborah Parker, (back row, from left) Greg Foreman, Sue Selby, Kathy Graves, Bob Klausing and Kyle Anderson.
As Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Merrigan will go on to participate in the Missouri Teacher of the Year program. She is in her 12th year as a fifth-grade teacher and also worked in business for 10 years before making the transition to education.
“When you’re the teacher, kids expect YOU to have all the answers,” Mrs. Merrigan said. “I want to teach them how to ‘dig deep’ into their knowledge base and question what they are reading. I love helping kids realize that THEY are in control of their learning and how powerful that can be.”
At Underwood Elementary, Mrs. Merrigan co-chairs the Professional Development Committee, serves on the Partners In Education Committee and Spelling Bee Committee and is her school’s representative for the Young Authors Conference. Within the school district, she is a member of the International Reading Association, the PTA and Missouri State Teachers Association. She won the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Award in 2003 and was nominated again this year, making her eligible to interview for Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Merrigan earned her first bachelor’s degree in business administration, a second bachelor’s degree in elementary education and early-childhood education and her master’s degree in reading, all from the University of Central Missouri.
“Mrs. Merrigan requires accountability from each student but does so with a smile,” said a parent nominating the Underwood teacher for this award. “Her caring, patient guidance encourages each student to strive for his or her potential. She is truly laying the groundwork for these fifth-graders’ future success.”
The recognized teachers were selected by a committee composed of R-7 staff and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and the community.
