Nicole Kinkelaar of Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School has been selected to receive Emerson’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award. Ms. Kinkelaar is among more than 100 teachers from across the St. Louis area receiving this award, which celebrates outstanding examples of educational excellence.

The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards is one of the area’s most recognized teacher recognition programs. Emerson sponsors this program annually to help the St. Louis region show gratitude to educators who go above and beyond for their students and school communities.

In her third year at MRH, Ms. Kinkelaar (pictured with principal Michael Zitzer) teaches communications arts. She was selected as the MRH District Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024 and was named Educator of the Year by the Mid County Chamber of Commerce in September.