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Waters Selected as State Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist

Aug. 19, 2024

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has announced Lindbergh Schools Teacher of the Year Tim Waters as a semi-finalist for the 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year. In early July, Waters was selected as one of 10 St. Louis Regional 2024 Teacher of the Year Honorees. Waters is a third grade teacher at Long Elementary School, and was announced as the district Teacher of the Year in April. He is one of 16 teachers in the state selected for the semi-finalist honor.

The finalists for the award will be named by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Aug. 29.

“When you look up the definition of an exemplary teacher, he checks all those boxes,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tony Lake said. “The one thing I really love about Mr. Waters, is that every time you see him, he always has an infectious smile. He has that presence about him that makes you feel good about yourself.”

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will select a Missouri Teacher of the Year in October 2024.

The other semi-finalists include:

  • Alison Corl, Neosho School District — Math, Neosho Junior High School
  • Courtney Duffy, Bayless School District — Math, Bayless Elementary
  • Hester Menier, Wentzville R-IV — Art, Stone Creek Elementary
  • Hope Hunter, St. James R-I — Librarian, Lucy Wortham James Elementary           
  • Jennifer Jones, Lee's Summit R-VII — English Language Arts, Lee's Summit West High School
  • Jennifer Justice Webber, Branson R-IV — Kindergarten, Buchanan Elementary
  • Jennifer Kist, Fort Zumwalt School District — Special Education, Fort Zumwalt Early Childhood Center
  • Jessica Backs, Richmond R-XVI — Third Grade, Sunrise Elementary
  • Kourtney Michael, Grain Valley R-V — English Language Arts, Grain Valley High School
  • Latricia Ferguson, North Callaway Co. R-I — Math, Williamsburg Elementary
  • Lauren Hurst, Raytown C-2 — Spanish, Raytown High School
  • Melissa Willoughby, Laclede Co. C-5 — Special Education, Joel E. Barber Elementary
  • Sarah Tillinghast, Eldon R-I — Kindergarten, South Elementary
  • Shannon Truitt, Spokane R-VII — Reading (Library), Highlandville Elementary
  • Stacy Walker, North Andrew Co. R-VI — Science, North Andrew Elementary

The Missouri Teacher of the Year will automatically become a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year honor. Mr. Waters has been a teacher at Long since 2016, and has 14 years of elementary school teaching experience in all. He strives to create an engaging and supportive learning environment where students feel empowered to thrive and are able to think critically. He also looks for opportunities to foster a positive, inclusive learning environment while inspiring kindness and critical thinking. This year, Waters created a Third Grade Cereal Box Challenge to kick off a math unit on graphing, providing students with an opportunity to serve the community by collecting food items as well.

“I believe in the transformative power of education, and this is deeply ingrained in my approach to teaching,” Waters said. “Teaching is about more than disseminating information. It is about igniting curiosity and fostering growth.”

As a leader in his profession, Waters serves on Long’s Building Leadership Team, is co-adviser of the Long Service Club, and sponsors a Traveling Cafe to support collaboration and positive morale among his fellow teachers and staff. On a district level, he has served as a member of the Report Card Task Force and Lindbergh Learning Team, is a Teacher’s Academy Fellow, and piloted the Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Workshop literacy program.

Colleagues share that Waters is a positive role model who holds his students to the highest standards of success and creates an inviting, engaging and challenging learning environment for them each day. He also supports students outside of the classroom, attending athletic and performance events on a regular basis. His fellow teachers also respect his commitment to lifelong learning, vast knowledge of curriculum, and prioritization of social emotional learning.

“Mr. Waters embodies the essence of an exemplary educator,” said Dr. Christina Phillips, Long Elementary School principal. “He is tirelessly dedicated to nurturing student success with unwavering commitment.”

Waters earned a Masters of Science in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Social Studies/Geography, from Hunter College in New York, NY. As one of the Regional Teachers of the Year, he will now be in the running for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s State Teacher of the Year award.