Missouri Teacher of the Year will have a sweet ride

A state organization, led by an Independence business owner, will begin recognizing classroom teachers this fall.

The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association announced it donated the use of a new car to the Missouri Teacher of the Year. The chairman of the MADA is Paul Broome, owner of Broome Cadillac Inc. in Independence. The organization is based in Jefferson City and represents 500 franchise automobile dealers throughout Missouri.

“The automobile dealers of Missouri are proud to be able to recognize the outstanding teachers who work in public schools across the state,” he said. “We look forward to working with state and local school officials to strengthen the teacher of the year program.”

A selection committee appointed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will name the six state finalists later this month. Each candidate will then undergo a personal interview with committee members and the selection will be made. All teachers who were named as district teachers of the year are eligible to apply for the state award.

Whoever is selected as the Missouri Teacher of the Year will receive the keys to the new car during the University of Missouri home football game against Kansas State University Nov. 8. Broome said the donation from MADA is a new, leased vehicle for the teacher of the year. He said the individual will have the opportunity to select a vehicle, within a set price range, from any MADA-affiliated dealer in the area where the teacher resides.

In addition, the Missouri Teacher of the Year automatically becomes a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program, which is announced in April at the White House.

All other state nominees for the award will be recognized during other MU football games this fall prior to the Nov. 8 presentation.