An area teacher has been recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Kelly Smith has been nominated and recognized as one of the region’s top educators in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Teacher of the Year Program. The mission of the Missouri Teacher of the Year Program is to honor, promote and celebrate excellence in the teaching profession.

Smith teaches English Language Arts, speech, and film at Boonville High School and has been recognized for her excellent teaching practices, culture of her classroom, and her encouragement of students to become “world-changers” while they are BHS students and beyond.

DESE has recognized Smith’s work, and honored her at a ceremony in Jefferson City as one of the top three educators out of 14 in the Heart of Missouri Region. Smith will advance along with 31 other regional winners for the STATE Teacher of the Year recognition process.