Background

 

2016 was the inaugural year for the Rotary District 6040 Literacy Teacher of the Year Award. Clubs were invited to nominate one teacher in a school district in their area. We received nominations from 11 clubs! The nominees were all well deserving and it was very difficult to pick a winner. The 2016 Rotary District 6040 Literacy Teacher of the Year was Emily Meier, nominated by the Macon Rotary Club. Emily was honored at the Rotary 6040 District Assembly and received $1,000 in recognition of her achievements in literacy and promotion of the ideals of Rotary.

 

The interest of clubs in nominating a teacher for the 2016 award was overwhelmingly positive and as a result, the award was expanded for 2017! In 2017, two $1,000 awards were offered, one to Angie Wentworth (grades K-6) nominated by Scotland County Rotary Club grades and one to Justin Larmie (grades 7-12), nominated by Kansas City South Rotary Club.  We learned that many clubs wished to nominate more than one teacher as they had several worthy candidates in their local schools. To that end, we promoted clubs holding their own club contest so that additional teachers could be recognized for their positive impact on literacy. To hold a club contest, clubs could solicit nominations from club members, school personnel, etc. and select a club winner to forward on to the Rotary District 6040 contest.

 

In 2018 the tradition continued and the winners of the Rotary 6040 Literacy Teacher of the Year Awards were Sarah Mead (K-6) nominated by Parkville Rotary Club and Sarah Apple (7-12) nominated by Raytown Rotary Club.

 

What better way to acknowledge a teacher doing good work in your area while promoting literacy, your club, and Rotary International!