Lindbergh High School English teacher Katie Arens has been named one of nine St. Louis Region 8 Teachers of the Year, a branch of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education State Teacher of the Year program.
Earlier this year, Arens was selected as the Lindbergh’s 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year, and her most recent regional honor puts her in the running for the highest teaching award in the state.
At Lindbergh High School, Arens has introduced innovative teaching strategies to help the entire school embrace 21st century learning, while simultaneously developing a student advisory program dedicated to academics and character development, according to a news release.
Most recently, she wrote first-of-its-kind curriculum for a brand-new English class that incorporates 21st century skills and Project Based Learning, or PBL.
Her fellow teachers say English PBL is arguably the most challenging curriculum in the LHS English Department, and that Arens is constantly revamping, redesigning and reorganizing her lessons as the course develops to ensure that students learn critical skills. She is a collaborative partner who works well with students and coworkers, and is not afraid to gather feedback, self-reflect and make her lessons better.
“Ms. Arens is a teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn,” Principal Eric Cochran stated in the release. “She represents all of the phenomenal teachers at LHS, and will do a great job as she advances to Missouri’s state level competition. She has earned the respect of students, parents, and colleagues, and we are proud that she has been selected to represent Lindbergh teachers districtwide.”
The nine regional awardees were chosen by a select committee of educators from across the St. Louis area. Besides Arens, this year’s winners include:
Allison Stout of the Pattonville School District.
Jordan McGaughey of the Fox School District.
Lori Mayer of the Hancock Place School District.
Jennifer Bettis of the Rockwood School District.
Joseph Schoen of the Kirkwood School District.
Sneh Kothari of the Special School District.
Leah Messina of the St. Charles School District.
Nancy Luebbers of the University City School District.
The Missouri Teacher of the Year will be announced in August and will be honored at a ceremony in Jefferson City in October. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education conducts the Missouri Teacher of the Year program with financial support provided by the Boeing Co. and the Monsanto Fund.