Jeff Luttrell, a youthful newcomer to the teaching profession, was selected as the 2015 Jefferson City Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
A social studies teacher with five years of experience, Luttrell was awarded the district's top honor Thursday evening at the annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet held at Lewis and Clark Middle School.
As he came forward to the podium, Luttrell appeared to be completely stunned.
"Whoa. Whoa!" he said. "I'm shaking still."
Luttrell credited his colleagues for helping him "be the best teacher he could be" and thanked LCMS Principal Sherri Thomas for boosting his confidence.
"She's been there for me through a lot of things, and pushed me through some things that I needed, as a teacher," he said. "I'm speechless. I'm shaking."
"I love this district. I love what I do everyday. It's definitely an honor," Luttrell said to raucous applause.
Thomas called Luttrell as "truly creative and gifted educator" for his ability to earn his students' trust and build their confidence.
"He has been a rock for many students and has used his ability to build relationships as a way to connect and build acceptance and compassion for others," Thomas said in a press release.
In his application, Luttrell wrote he believes it is imperative to give students "as realistic and meaningful experiences in the classroom as possible."
"The students I have the opportunity to teach deserve exposure to high levels of engaging learning activities," he wrote.
Five other finalists - Stephanie Green of Cedar Hill Elementary School, Lisa Maloney of West Elementary School, Chad Rizner of Jefferson City High School, Stephen Scott of Lewis and Clark Middle School and Melanie Thompson of Thorpe Gordon Elementary School - also were honored Thursday.
Maloney also received the Alumni Association's Outstanding Educator Award.
Both Luttrell and Maloney, and their schools, will receive monetary gifts from the Alumni Association as part of their awards.
Luttrell has taught for four years in his current position as a seventh-grade Social Studies and Contemporary Issues teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School.
He received his bachelor of arts in history from Truman State University in 2008 and his master of arts in education, also from Truman, in 2009.
He is currently working on his education specialist in human services degree from the University of Central Missouri.
Luttrell was previously nominated as Teacher of the Year in 2013 and 2014. The program began in 1991 and is part of the Missouri State Teacher of the Year Program, whose winner will be named in June.