JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A teacher for Springfield Public Schools is one of seven finalists for the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year award, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced Thursday.
Danielle O’Neil, who works as a Physical Education Teacher at Sherwood Elementary School, was named one of seven finalists for the award. She was named Springfield Public School’s Teacher of the Year for 2025-26 and is a current Regional Teacher of the Year.
Here is the full list of finalists for the 2026 Missouri State Teacher of the Year:
- Aubrey Shortino, Lee’s Summit R-VII— Trailridge Elementary, Kindergarten
- Danielle O’Neil, Springfield Public Schools— Sherwood Elementary, K-5 Physical Education
- Kimberly Sixta, Hickman Mills C-1 — Ruskin High School, Grades 10-12 Social Studies
- Matthew Kennedy, Kirksville R-III — Kirksville High School, Social Studies
- Melissa Maness, Special School District St. Louis Co. — South Technical High School, Grades 11-12 Culinary Arts
- Stephanie Gladbach, Salisbury R-IV — Salisbury High School, Business
- Timothy G. Ryan, Ferguson Florissant R-II — McCluer North High School, English Language Arts
DESE says the winner of the Missouri State Teacher of the Year will be honored at a recognition event on October 27, along with finalists, semi-finalists and Regional Teachers of the Year. The winner will also represent Missouri as the state’s 2026 National Teacher of the Year nominee.
The award is chosen by a committee of teachers, business leaders, and education organization officials, who will interview each finalist in the following weeks, according to DESE…