Julia Wideman Named VFW State Teacher of the Year

On February 12th, Worth County Teacher Julia Wideman was named Missouri 9-12 State Teacher of the Year at the VFW State Meeting in St. Louis. She was recognized as the District 3 Teacher of the Year for grades 9 through 12 and her nomination competed against 17 other district winners from Missouri. She will now represent the state for the VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.

Each year, the VFW recognizes exceptional teachers who promote Americanism and patriotism in their classrooms. Wideman has become widely known for her work with the school district’s Veterans Day program, which features students in grades K-12 honoring and recognizing veterans through artwork, musical performances, and drama. The annual tableau vivant portion of the program has quickly become a favorite  among student actors and community members alike. One year, students dressed as toy soldiers and recreated the Marine War Memorial of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. In 2019, Wideman tackled the ambitions project of recreating Lee Teeter’s painting, “Reflections,” which featured three eight foot tall plexiglass panels with names of the 1,428 people killed in Vietnam from Missouri. In addition to this, she and her family personally sponsor a homecoming float each year to recognize and thank local veterans.

Wideman has taught at Worth County for 13 years. She currently serves as a high school English teacher, dual credit composition instructor, and greenhouse teacher.

Two other Worth County educators have also been recognized as Teacher of the Year for the State of Missouri VFW from Grant City VFW Post 3123.

Mrs. Jonell Cook was selected as the State of Missouri VFW 9-12 VFW Teacher of the Year in 2018. Cook graduated from Northwest Missouri State and has been with the district for 21 years. Cook has worked as a junior high math teacher, and most recently, as the 9-12 FACS teacher and FCCLA advisor. She enjoys helping students realize and achieve their goals through the FCCLA program and she strives to instill positive citizenship traits in all of her students. She plans to retire from Worth County at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Last year, Mr. Caleb Smith was honored as the State of Missouri VFW Elementary Teacher of the Year. Smith has served as the K-12 instrumental band and vocal music teacher at Worth County for three years. Smith’s passion for music is contagious, and each year he adds more students to his high school band program. His goal is to make music fun and attainable for all students and to share the joy that music has brought to his own life with others. Mr. Smith also assists in directing the school musical with Mrs. Nancy Drury.