Teacher of the Year takes job in St. Joseph

Having just finished a four-year stretch as a fifth-grade teacher at Minnie Cline Elementary in nearby Savannah, Valenti is transferring to St. Joseph in a tumultuous time, when leaders are concerned about the district’s attractiveness to potential employees.

“When you have a passion for STEM and project-based learning and a position like this opens up, you can’t pass it up,” Valenti said. “I’m looking forward to getting to spend my whole day with what I’m most passionate about.”

Valenti will serve on the district’s gifted education team, where she will work with third- through eighth-graders in the GATE (gifted, academically, talented education) program. GATE students visit Carden Park Elementary or the Advanced Science Research Center at Hillyard Technical Center one day a week, based on grade level.

Valenti said her program includes project-based and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, like robotics.

“I’m definitely looking forward to that and helping build those 21st century skills that are so important,” she said.

The veteran teacher was named Missouri Teacher of the Year in September 2016, when she was recognized for her ability to make learning meaningful for students, parents and co-workers, as well as for her dedication to improving her craft.

“My mission as a teacher is just to make sure that I’m doing what it takes to make sure all students are successful,” Valenti said.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marlie Williams said that the addition of Valenti to the teaching staff is exciting for the St. Joseph School District.

“She has a passion for students, first and foremost, but then she also brings to the table skill around STEM, robotics, coding, innovation and all of those things that are goals for our district,” Williams said. “Having that passion combined with that skill set is really, we think, a win for the St. Joseph School District and our students.”

Valenti was inspired to become a teacher as a child thanks to an art instructor she had growing up in Pattonsburg, Missouri, a small town north of Cameron that she described as “a stop sign on a blacktop.”

Since graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in 2002, where she now teaches adjunct education courses, Valenti has taught in the North Andrew R-VI School District and in King City.

“When I was in school, school was my safe place, and I had a teacher that just really built a strong relationship with me and really bonded with me, and I wanted to do the same for other children,” Valenti said. “The students are always the utmost priority.”

Valenti advanced to contention for Missouri Teacher of the Year after winning a Regional Teacher of the Year award the same year. It was at a banquet in September 2016 to recognize the regional teacher of the year finalists where Valenti was surprised with the announcement she’d been selected as the state teacher of the year.

It was “shocking” and her life has been a “whirlwind” since that day, but Valenti has high hopes as she transitions to the St. Joseph School District.

“I just hope to bring a collaborative spirit and work with the innovative teachers that are already here and hope to ensure success for all of our students,” she said.