Julie Morris, English teacher at Macks Creek High School, has been named MSTA Southwest Region Rookie Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016. This prestigious award is designed to recognize the contributions of a classroom teacher of 5 years or less who is exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled, and has the ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
This is Morris’s fourth year at Macks Creek, where she teaches 7th and 8th grade English, along with dual credit Creative Writing, Literature, and Composition. She also serves as a class sponsor, cheerleading coach, FBLA adviser, and active CTA member. She is a Teacher Consultant for the Ozarks Writing Project, and she has a printed publication to her credit.
Morris’s ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities is what makes her such a successful teacher in the rural Missouri school system. Part of her educational philosophy is, “Students must be developed intellectually, emotionally, and socially to succeed in life, and deserve an education that will nurture the expansion of all three. As an educator, I strive to give students the best education possible, and to help them succeed in and out of the classroom.” She was also named the Missouri Association of Rural Education Outstanding Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2014-2015 school year due to her efforts in and out of the classroom.
Julie is a 2005 graduate of Clearwater High School. She is the daughter of Mike Morris and Holly Ferguson of Piedmont.
Press Release, Missouri State Teachers Association