April 13, 2023

Congratulations to Dressel Elementary School fifth grade teacher Brandy Koppel, who has been named the Lindbergh Schools 2023 Teacher of the Year! District and school administrators surprised Koppel with the exciting news on Thursday, April 13.

“Mrs. Koppel is an outstanding educator who is extremely passionate about kids,” said Dr. Pat Schoenekase, Dressel Elementary School principal. “She works collaboratively with her colleagues, students and families to ensure that her students are growing in all aspects of their life.”

Koppel has been an elementary school teacher at Dressel since 2018, and she works hard to foster a classroom environment where all students feel valued and connected. In her role at Dressel, Koppel serves as a Professional Learning Community leader for her grade level, and guides her fellow grade level teachers in ways to analyze student data to inform instructional practices. She also has served as a pilot teacher for multiple literacy programs, and has designed and implemented differentiated instruction across multiple subject areas, to meet the personalized needs of each learner. In 2020, Koppel temporarily moved into a virtual role as a third grade teacher, instructing students in Lindbergh’s ARC program during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Colleagues share that Koppel is a great collaborator, a leader who is not afraid to try new things, and an inspiration to her coworkers and students alike. She has taken on a variety of leadership roles in her building and district, including substitute building administrator for Lindbergh elementary schools; professional learning leader; Building Leadership Team member; professional development co-chair for the Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Team; Parent Teacher Organization teacher representative; Dressel Master Schedule Committee member; and Equity, Justice and Character Education team member.

“Mrs. Koppel is always pouring herself into Dressel and her school district!” Schoenekase said. “Whether it's volunteering for a committee, serving as a PTO teacher representative, or heading to a student's hockey game, she seems to be everywhere!  Mrs. Koppel makes us #DresselProud.”

Koppel earned her Masters in Educational Leadership from Maryville University and Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Lindenwood University. As Lindbergh’s Teacher of the Year, she will now be in the running for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Regional Teacher of the Year award.