Excelsior Springs, Mo. – In Teresa Bryer’s classroom at Elkhorn Elementary, it’s not uncommon to find a few tiny green shoots poking out of soil-filled cups, windowsill sprouts of peppers or snap peas, or even a well-stocked greenhouse full of budding sunflowers outside. These sprouts have started out as just a science project, but make a clear connection to Bryer’s approach to education: nurturing, hands-on, and conductive of growth.
This year, Bryer was named Elkhorn Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, a recognition that came as a surprise to the veteran kindergarten teacher, as she shared that she sees all staff in the building working hard.
Nevertheless, Bryer’s presence is felt across the Elkhorn campus. Now in her ninth year with the district—and nearly two decades into her teaching career—she serves on both the Professional Development Committee and the building’s leadership team. But ask her what she does, and she humbly replies, “I’m just a kindergarten teacher.”
Yet anyone who’s ever attempted to wrangle a room of five-year-olds knows there’s nothing “just” about it. “People are afraid of kindergarten,” she laughed, “but I love it. It’s amazing.”
For Bryer, the magic of kindergarten lies in the lightbulb moments. Seeing a child begin in the fall not knowing how to write their name, and by the end of the year, they are able to read; the astronomical growth in just one school year has made any challenged worth it.
That growth has inspired Bryer’s approach to teaching in her resolve to evolve her strategies when needed. She credits the district’s recent investment in LETRS training—an in-depth phonics and reading instruction program—for transforming her classroom. “When I got my master’s, phonics instruction wasn’t emphasized,” Bryer explained. “LETRS completely changed how I teach reading. The kids are absorbing information in a whole new way.”
Over the years, Bryer has developed some traditions that stick with students. Among her favorites is a Stone Soup celebration each November. Each child brings in an ingredient, set up a long table, and they invite support staff to join them. It’s a fun little tradition just for them, and Bryer shared that kids talk about it year after year.
She’s also known for excitedly weaving science into her classroom. This past Mother’s Day, her students gifted their moms vegetables like snap peas, tomatoes, and peppers, that they had grown from seeds from produce bought from the grocery store. “We just opened up a pepper and planted the seeds,” she said with a smile. “Organic experiences like that are priceless.”
Perhaps her most ambitious project this year was the outdoor learning space. This project includes a a garden area supported by the Education Foundation and a teacher-written grant. “We built a sunflower house,” she shared. “Next fall, students will be able to go inside and read or write, just lie down and enjoy it. One of my kids even read a story in the middle of it last week.”
Outside the classroom, Bryer’s life is just as full. She is a mom of three to one middle schooler, one high schooler, and one college student. She jokes that her hobbies mostly involve driving her kids where they need to go. She values time at home, playing board games, gardening, and movies, “We’re homebodies,” she said. “But I love my garden.”
She also carved out time this year to co-lead an after-school writing club alongside fellow teacher Miss Kilgore—an effort that gave students a creative outlet and further strengthened Bryer’s relationships with young learners.
When asked what the Teacher of the Year award means to her, Bryer keeps it simple. “Just being noticed,” she said. “I think they heard my name more often this year—maybe from more meetings or the garden—but really, our building is such a strong family. Everyone pitches in.”
That humility is part of what makes her beloved. As her students bloom, it’s clear that Bryer’s sunflower house is much like her garden of young minds. From carefully planting seeds to watering a love for reading, Bryer’s young sprouts have a lot to look forward to thanks to a strong beginning.
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