Before becoming an English teacher, Kim Gutchewsky wanted to become a journalist. Luckily for Ladue, that didn’t happen. She has now been an English teacher for over 17 years at Ladue High School. This year, she was awarded Teacher of the Year.

During a meeting, the faculty announced that Gutchewsky won the Teacher of the Year Award Feb. 10. This award recognizes a teacher who contributed to students, to staff and to the larger community.

“I was very surprised because I didn’t expect it,” Gutchewsky said.

The teachers’ peers nominate and select the recipient. The teacher must have worked in the building for at least five years. Brad Griffith, the principal of Ladue High School, believes that Gutchewsky was a great choice.

“She incites excitement in her room, and I think it’s infectious and kids love her,” Griffith said. “In addition to being a master teacher, she is very open and collaborative and thinks about new and inventive ways for other people to impact their classrooms, and I think she’s seen to be a leader in that.”

There are also teachers who receive the award at the middle school and at the elementary schools. The district will later select a District Teacher of the Year between these winning teachers. Gutchewsky and all the other teachers of the year will be recognized at the district meeting next year, where the district teacher of the year will be announced.

“For a lot of our younger teachers in the building, she’s also a good mentor,” Griffith said.

The Teacher of the Year Award is not a fancy plaque. The award comes with recognition from colleagues and other staff members from around the district. Gutchewsky will also get her own parking spot, which is the closest to the school.

“I am honored to be able to receive the award because I am surrounded by an outstanding faculty,” Gutchewsky said