Kimberly Sixta doesn't just teach at Ruskin High School in Hickman Mills. She grew up there.
She walks the same hallways she walked as a student. She teaches the children of former classmates. And after 28 years in the same district, she's become proof that staying put can be its own form of excellence.
In September, a statewide committee of her peers selected Sixta as Missouri's 2026 Teacher of the Year, making her the 57th educator to receive the honor since the program began in 1957.
"Outside of, of course, having my children and all these things, this is just really one of the big moments in my life," Sixta told Missourinet after learning of the honor. "It means, like, everything up to this moment. I've poured my life into this work, and it's kind of like I made a difference. It's worth!"
From Reactive to Proactive
Before Sixta stood in front of a classroom, she worked in Probation and Parole with at-risk youth. The work was important, but it felt like arriving too late.
"I just felt like that work was so reactive," she said. "I wanted to be more proactive to those points where we affect people's lives for the better and become change agents."
That shift from reacting to preventing, from intervention to formation, brought her to teaching. Now, as a Social Studies teacher at Ruskin High School, she serves as department chair, ACT Test Coordinator, and sponsor for National Honor Society, Student Council, and Upward Bound. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Science in Education from Avila University, with minors in Anthropology, Theology, and Secondary Education with a History emphasis.
But her credentials aren't what students remember most.
She recently worked with a student devastated after being cut from the basketball team. Instead of letting disappointment become defeat, Sixta helped him see what she calls "door number two." The student joined the wrestling team and found success and camaraderie he hadn't expected.
"We all have the ability to decide how we respond to disappointment," Sixta said. "Is the glass half full or half empty? Our mindset shapes our relationships, our choices, and our resilience."
It's a philosophy she extends to colleagues, too. "Failure is not the end. It's the beginning of the learning process," she said. "It teaches valuable lessons about adversity, daily challenges, and how to overcome obstacles."
"Every Setback is an Opportunity for a Comeback"
Sixta's classroom operates on a core belief: "It's okay to change direction. It's okay to try new things. And it's okay to fail, as long as you get back up."
Teaching Beyond the Test
Sixta is known for her immersive simulations and civic-focused instruction that push students to explore history, justice, and public policy through meaningful inquiry. But she's also candid about what gets in the way of that kind of teaching.
"We do need markers to determine whether students are learning and retaining information," she said. "But the pressure of high-stakes testing has taken away teacher autonomy and the creativity of learning. We no longer have the time for in-depth projects, student-led inquiry, or reteaching based on individual needs."
For Sixta, a quality school is one "where students are actively engaged, where teachers have the freedom to innovate, and where learning is meaningful, collaborative, and connected to the real world."
What She Tells Her Students. And Herself.
Ask Sixta what every teacher should do every day, and her answer is simple: "Start fresh. Let go of yesterday's worries and frustrations. Put a smile on your face. It's contagious, and students feel our energy. Make school a place they want to be."
It's advice born from experience, not theory. Hickman Mills is home to fourteen members of Sixta's extended family who attended the district's schools. She was named her district's Teacher of the Year in 2014. And now, as the state's top educator, she'll represent Missouri in the National Teacher of the Year program.
"My most meaningful accomplishment isn't tied to a program I created or a lesson I delivered," Sixta said. "It's found in the former students who return to say I helped them believe in themselves. Some tell me I gave them the confidence to speak up. Others say they found their voice in my classroom. That kind of transformation and that spark of self-belief is the core of what we do as educators."
Why She Stands With Her Union
When asked why educators need a union, Sixta's answer was immediate: "We need someone in our corner; watching our back, protecting our interests, and advocating for us. This job is not easy, and it is constantly changing. Unions are essential to ensuring we are supported, heard, and protected as we do this important work."
Sixta was honored at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Teacher of the Year recognition event in Columbia on October 27, alongside finalists, semi-finalists, and Regional Teachers of the Year. As Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Karla Eslinger said, "No one person has a greater impact on the success of our children than the teacher who creates the learning environment. Sixta is a wonderful example of excellence."
For Sixta, that excellence is rooted in something deeper than accolades. "The most rewarding part of teaching high school Social Studies in the Hickman Mills community is serving the families in the very place I grew up," she said. "It's been a true blessing to teach the children of former classmates, to work with multiple generations of families, and to see my students and their loved ones around our community. Hickman Mills is a special place, and so many people. Myself included. Have deep roots and strong connections here."
Twenty-eight years in, Kimberly Sixta is still showing up for the community that raised her. One student, one comeback, one open door at a time.
Teacher of the Year Finalists
MNEA Members
- Kimberly Sixta
Hickman Mills C-1
Ruskin High School, Grades 10-12 Social Studies
- Danielle O'Neil
Springfield R-XII
Sherwood Elementary, K-5 Physical Education
- Matthew Kennedy
Kirksville R-III
Kirksville High School, Social Studies
- Melissa Maness
Special School District St. Louis County
South Technical High School, Grades 11-12 Culinary Arts
- Timothy G. Ryan
Ferguson Florissant R-II
McCluer North High School, English Language Arts
Read more on the DESE website.
Non-members
- Aubrey Shortino
Lee's Summit R-VII
Trailridge Elementary, Kindergarten
- Stephanie Gladbach
Salisbury R-IV
Salisbury High School, Business
