Wright City R-II School District is celebrating two standout staff members this spring with the announcement of the district’s teacher and support staff of the year: Whitney Schuenemeyer and Elisabeth Thompson.

The honorees were announced in mid-March after first being selected as staff of the year at the school level. Both of them work at Wright City High School, where Schuenemeyer is a biology teacher and Thompson is administrative assistant to the principal.

It’s a rare occasion that both staff of the year winners come from the same school in the district, but high school Principal Matt Brooks said both of them deserve the recognition.

“When I go in (Schuenemeyer’s) classroom, there’s not a time when students aren’t actively engaged in something that is peaking their interest in science,” Brooks commented. He said Schuenemeyer has also been enthusiastic about leading multiple extracurricular activities, where she brings an energy that inspires her students. She even helped to start a biomed class in the school’s Project Lead The Way program.

Schuenemeyer said she comes to every class wanting to inspire students in the same way that her own teachers at Wright City High School inspired her.

“I am a big proponent of ‘doing’ science. Usually I get to school around 6:30 a.m. so I can set up labs,” she said. “I try to not be boring. I think it’s ok to show your passion. I tell my students, ‘You don’t have to fall in love with science, but I hope you fall in love with part of science. ... And whenever you’re excited as a teacher, they’re going to get excited.”

This is Schuenemeyer’s 10th year teaching and her third year at Wright City High School. She leads student extracurricular activities four days a week, and commented that it’s hard to not get involved in programs that are meaningful to students.

“I had some great teachers when I went to Wright City ... teachers like Franci Schwartz and Sue Wright. They really were passionate,” Schuenemeyer explained. “(Mrs. Wright) was there to make Wright City better ... and that truly inspired me. And Mrs. Schwartz would always push me to tutor people, and I said ‘I guess I’m pretty good at this, so I’ll go into teaching.’”

For Elisabeth Thompson, Principal Brooks commented on the impact she’s had as one of the main communicators for the high school, along with various ‘business management’ duties. Brooks said that since she started working for the school last year, she has been a ‘relentlessly positive’ presence.

“She’s able to connect to and work with every group we have in the building. From admin, to teachers, to parents, to the students, she is very good at being able to communicate with all these people. It’s natural,” Brooks commented.

When Thompson joined the school, she brought a background in printing and graphics that she’s used to improve the school’s announcements and social media.

“I keep saying it’s my favorite job yet. Just being around the kids. And the job is definitely geared to my strengths,” Thompson commented. “Communication has always been important to me.

Making sure messages get to the parents, especially, and to the students, and of course the staff.”

Thompson added that she also appreciates that the principals have given her opportunities to try her hand at various tasks and see where she can shine.

“We have an awesome team at the high school!” she added.