April 15, 2023

Wednesday, April 12, The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District announced the LSR7 2023 Teacher of the Year is Miss Stefanie Rentie, 6th grade science educator at East Trails Middle School.

Miss Rentie has served all 23 years of her education career in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District. She spent her student teaching year at Prairie View Elementary where she continued to work for 22 years before being selected to help welcome sixth grade students to middle school at the newest school in the district.

Her teaching philosophy is to try to make each student the best version of themselves through critical thinking. “I believe if students can leave my classroom by gaining confidence in themselves by becoming problem solvers, they can be successful in anything they do,” said Rentie.

A committee made up of representatives from the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and the School District selected Miss Rentie out of a pool of 15 candidates, all recipients of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Teaching or Teacher of Distinction awards.

Miss Rentie is a 2023 Teacher of Distinction. She previously won an Excellence in Teaching award in 2008.

The district also announced Ms. Damona Williams, a paraprofessional at The Hilltop School, is the inaugural Support Professional of the Year. The new award highlights the members of the LSR7 team who make a big impact on students and the district as support professionals.

Ms. Williams was selected out of a pool of more than 60 nominees, including six finalists, all nominated and selected by building administrators. Her outstanding work, positive relationships and embodiment of LSR7’s values all contributed to her winning this award.