Ritenour ELA teacher Christina Andrade Melly was named the Missouri Teacher of the Year by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Melly, who both attended Ritenour as a student and came back to teach, found out that she had won at a senior assembly on Monday, 9/19 at the end of the school day. She accepted the honor with her family and all of Ritenour District Leadership beside her.

In a press release, Missouri Commissioner of Education had many great things to say about Andrade Melly.

“Christina’s approach to student centric learning not only provides her students an inclusive learning environment, but also creates space for her students to learn how to find their own path to success.”

Andrade Melly is the 54th Missouri Teacher of the Year in the history of the program, and the second in the last 5 years after Beth Davey won the honor.