The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the 16 Missouri Regional Teachers of the Year who have been selected as semifinalists for the Missouri 2027 Teacher of the Year award.
Nicole Crocker, agricultural education teacher at Branson High School, has been named one of the semifinalists. Crocker has been with the Branson School District since 2014.
“Being named a Missouri 2027 Teacher of the Year Semifinalist is an incredible honor, and honestly, I’m still a little in awe that this is happening,” said Crocker. “Getting to be part of Branson Public Schools, working alongside such dedicated educators and teaching incredible students every day, makes this recognition even more meaningful. The support I have received from our school and community throughout this process has meant a lot to me, and I am proud to represent a community that is truly committed to learning. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to represent agricultural education and Career and Technical Education across Missouri. More than anything, I’m honored to be part of this team, this community, and this profession.”
The Teacher of the Year selection process began with the announcement of 35 Regional Teachers of the Year who represented each of the state’s nine Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) areas. From those 35 educators, 16 were selected as semifinalists. DESE will announce the 2027 finalists at the end of August.