Rotarians treat new teachers to banquet

Erin Barber, right, joined fellow new Jefferson City High School English teachers, Lynsey Sartain, middle, and Angie Green, as more than 100 new area teachers were introduced at a luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, hosted by the Jefferson City Rotary Club at Capital Plaza Hotel. After an individual introduction, they were addressed by Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.
Erin Barber, right, joined fellow new Jefferson City High School English teachers, Lynsey Sartain, middle, and Angie Green, as more than 100 new area teachers were introduced at a luncheon Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, hosted by the Jefferson City Rotary Club at Capital Plaza Hotel. After an individual introduction, they were addressed by Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.

More than 100 new teachers were welcomed to the Jefferson City community Wednesday at a special appreciation banquet.

The Rotary Club of Jefferson City hosted the event at Capitol Plaza Hotel, and organizer Alice Bartlett said it was to show teachers how important a role they play in the community.

"I was always inspired by a quote from Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire teacher picked to fly in space but killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986," Bartlett said. "She said, 'I touch the future. I teach.'"

Bartlett has two daughters in the teaching profession.

"Teachers are so important to shaping a child's future," she said. "Often they have more issues with the parents of the kids and not the kids themselves."

Jefferson City Public Schools Superintendent Larry Linthacum introduced the new educators, which included teachers from the Blair Oaks School District and Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City.

"We are all in this together," he said. "You are so important to the youth in our community. We have many youth who come in to schools with no hope, so we have to give them the hope that an education will help them get that hope."

Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven was the featured speaker and talked about how important teachers are to reaching the goals they've set for students.

Vandeven talked about the roles teachers play in reaching Missouri's Top 10 by 20 initiative, an effort aiming for Missouri student achievement to rank among the top 10 states by 2020. The plan's goals include graduating all Missouri students ready for college and career; preparing all children for success in kindergarten; and preparing, developing and supporting effective educators.

"All children deserve a great teacher," Vandeven said. "Missouri will continue to prepare, develop and support effective educators. We have a plan to help ensure that every student in Missouri has equal access to effective teachers. Missouri's Educator Equity Plan focuses on three key areas: preparing educators, identifying critical shortage areas and supporting principals and school leaders. We appreciate our teachers and school leaders, and we want them to know they have our support."