In celebration of national Teacher Appreciation Week, five outstanding educators in the Mexico School District received surprise classroom visits to learn they are this year’s recipients of the Laurann Webber Excellence in Teaching Award.
Now in its seventh year, the award honors the legacy of the late Laurann Webber and celebrates the lasting impact of exceptional teaching. Each recipient received a $2,000 award, made possible by the generosity of the Webber family and a matching contribution from Commerce Bank.
The 2026 Laurann Webber Excellence in Teaching Award recipients are:
Kristin Jenkins, McMillan Early Learning Center
Amber Hawkins, Eugene Field Elementary
Emily Dodd, Hawthorne Elementary
Phoebe Pettit, Mexico Middle School
Scott Ulrich, Mexico High School/Hart Career Center
To be eligible, educators must be full-time faculty members with at least three years of service to the district and a contract for the upcoming school year. Nominations are submitted by faculty colleagues and administrators.
There are no restrictions on how recipients use their award funds.