6 finalists tabbed for JCPS educator awards

Jefferson City Public Schools has announced the six educators selected as the 2018 Eisinger Teacher of the Year award finalists.

The finalists are:

Jana Forck, math teacher at Jefferson City High School. Forck is a graduate of Jefferson City High School. She has a bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics education from Central Missouri State University and a master's degree in athletic administration from University of Missouri.

Jordan Hart, English teacher at Jefferson City High School. He also serves as a coach for the JCHS speech and debate teams. A native of Lamar, Hart began teaching at JCHS in 2014. He is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.

Jamie Henry, kindergarten teacher at North Elementary. Henry earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education at the University of Central Missouri. She entered her eighth year of teaching this fall.

Susan Isaacs, first-grade teacher at Callaway Hills Elementary. Isaacs entered her 17th year of teaching this fall. She earned a master's of education from Truman State University.

Jessica Long, kindergarten teacher at Cedar Hill Elementary. Long entered her 10th year of teaching this year. A Jefferson City native, Long attended the University of Missouri, where she earned a master's of arts in teaching.

Crystal Riggs, math intervention specialist at Lewis and Clark Middle School. Riggs previously worked as a special-education teacher for 15 years. She attended William Woods University.

The Eisinger Teacher of the Year and Eisinger Outstanding Educator Award recipients will be named at the district's annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet at 6 p.m. April 26 at Lewis and Clark Middle School.

The awards are named after former JCPS teacher and Missouri Teacher of the Year award winner Linda Eisinger. Winners of either award receive $1,000.