Southeast Missouri State University alumna Kamryn Flowers has been named a 2025 Missouri Teacher Leader of Tomorrow by the Missouri Milken Educators.
The Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow program was developed to honor outstanding student teachers across the state who show exceptional promise as future educators. Flowers will be recognized at the Missouri State Board of Education meeting on June 3 in Jefferson City.
“The SEMO Educator Preparation Program is thrilled to have Kamryn Flowers named a Missouri Teacher Leader of Tomorrow,” said Dr. Rodney Pensel, SEMO’s director of Field Experiences in educator preparation. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Kamryn, as well as to the faculty and staff of the University who assisted in her preparation as a teacher. The College of Education, Health and Human Studies is very proud of this achievement.”
All Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow are paired with accomplished mentors from the Missouri Milken Educators—an elite group of educators who were previously honored with the National Milken Educator Award. As part of this initiative, honorees receive one-on-one coaching, ongoing professional support during their first year in the classroom and access to a statewide network of innovative teaching professionals.
Flowers earned her degree from SEMO in early childhood education and completed her student teaching at Stix Early Childhood Center in St. Louis, Missouri before getting hired at Mason Elementary. Dr. Diane Dymond, principal at Stix, praised Flowers as “an understanding and flexible educator” who handles challenges positively and demonstrates strong classroom management and content knowledge.
“Kamryn has consistently interacted with children in a dependable and nurturing way,” said Dymond. “She is poised to become an impactful and inspiring teacher.”
Dr. Shonta Smith, chair of the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education at SEMO and Ashley Gerald, Milken Educator and behavior interventionalist at Lusher Elementary, presented the award during a special surprise recognition at Mason Elementary April 14. Flowers’ selection reflects SEMO’s ongoing commitment to preparing exceptional educators who are ready to lead and innovate in the classroom from day one.
For more information about educator preparation programs at Southeast Missouri State University, visit semo.edu/education.