Rita Altherr Named Teacher of the Year
The Park Hill School District named Rita Altherr the 2007 Teacher of the Year. Park Hill gives this award in recognition of a teacher who makes a significant contribution to the goals of the school district. Altherr received the award during the 24th Annual Park Hill Service Awards Banquet in May.
“I was both surprised and honored to be selected,” Altherr said. “I owe a great debt to all those who have served as my mentors, guides or teachers, and to my family and friends who have always encouraged and supported me. I feel that I have been blessed to be able to teach with such a wonderful group of people, as well as being a part of the Park Hill School District family.”
Altherr has worked in the Park Hill School District for 30 years. She taught learning disabled students at Park Hill South Junior High for three years, and then spent two years at Graden Elementary working with mentally retarded students. From there, she went to Park Hill High School to work with learning disabled students. Altherr moved to Park Hill South High School when it opened in 1998. She taught learning disabled students for eight years, and began working in the academic interventions program this year.
Altherr has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of MissouriColumbia and an educational specialist degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She has completed all but her dissertation for her doctorate at the University of Kansas.
“I love teaching because of the students,” Altherr said. “I enjoy seeing the kids change and grow over the four years they are in high school. I try to serve as a role model and advocate for students who may not have much family or parental support. I try to serve as a support system and prevent them from falling through the cracks.”
Altherr has been involved in many activities and served on many committees during her time in Park Hill. She was a member of the professional development committee, district strategic plan team and teacher evaluation committee. Altherr served as the lead teacher for Park Hill South special education department, a co-lead teacher for Park Hill High School’s “Vision 21” committee and a co-facilitator for Park Hill High School’s shared decision making team. She was vice president of the Park Hill National Education Association and a teacher representative on the Business Men’s Alliance. Currently, Altherr serves on the elementary education advisory board for Park University.
The selection process to determine the Park Hill Teacher of the Year first involves individual nominations from Park Hill staff. Those names are then evaluated by a committee consisting of former Teachers of the Year, who compare each nominee’s qualifications with specific criteria and prepare a final ballot of candidates. The Park Hill Teacher of the Year is then selected by a district-wide election.