Lafayette's Brad Balog Named Rockwood School District 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year

At this year's ROSE Award Ceremony, Lafayette High band director Brad Balog was named Rockwood School District’s 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year.

Fellow grade-level Teachers of the Year Jordan Espinosa (Stanton Elementary) and Bryan Tenny (LaSalle Springs Middle) and all Rockwood building-level Teachers of the Year were also honored at the ROSE ceremony on Sunday, April 27.

“I'm lucky to be part of the community at Lafayette High School," Balog said while accepting the award. "It's home. Wonderful people work there; wonderful students, wonderful families. I work in a music department of top-notch teachers who inspire me every day to be the best educator that I can be for our kids. That is an amazing thing to be a part of every single day."

Balog is a Lafayette graduate who has taught at the school since 2000. He earned the ROSE Award in 2022.

His wife, Jennifer, is a Crestview Middle special education teacher. Their daughters, 2023 Lafayette graduate Lexi and current Lafayette student Kaylee, have also enjoyed a Rockwood education.

"To do what we do and to do it well, you need a family around you to support you," Balog said. "They lift you up when it's hard, allow you to take the time you need to be the best you can for your students. You can't be successful as a teacher without the support of your family."

As winner of the district Teacher of the Year, Balog is now eligible to participate at the regional and state level in the Missouri Teacher of the Year program, which is conducted annually by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Balog also thanked Rockwood Board of Education Director Phil Milligan -- his former band director -- for being an inspiration as an educator and helping Balog find his first teaching opportunity in Rockwood.

"Nobody teaches for recognition. We do it for the kids," he said. "The biggest gift of this ride that I've been on is it's cause for me to stop and reflect on the difference we all make as educators. It is important, and it makes a difference in kids' lives."