Michelle Howard, the orchestra teacher at Truman Middle School and Long Elementary School, was recently named 2025’s Outstanding Secondary Educator by the Missouri American String Teachers Association.
Only one educator from the state is named the Outstanding Secondary Educator each year. To be eligible, educators must be a member of MoASTA and have at least five years of teaching experience in Missouri with at least a portion of each day regularly teaching students at the secondary level. The educator must also exhibit “exemplary work.”
Howard was recognized with the award at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at the Lake of the Ozarks on Jan. 30. Tara Landers, Lindbergh High School’s orchestra director, presented Howard with the award.
According to its website, the Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association exists to support string and orchestra teachers and players. The organization provides teaching resources, professional education, local and national events, a career center, insurance programs and access to “a vibrant and collaborative” strings community.