Rockwood Summit's Sarah Moonier Named Rockwood School District 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year

At this year's ROSE Award Ceremony, Rockwood Summit High science teacher Sarah Moonier was named Rockwood School District’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year.

Fellow grade-level Teachers of the Year Katie Brown (Ellisville Elementary) and Jennifer Houchins (LaSalle Springs Middle) and all Rockwood building-level Teachers of the Year were also honored at the ROSE ceremony on Sunday, May 3.

"Throughout my life, I’ve always been the kind of person who wants to know more, the kid who was amazed by life’s complexity. This sense of wonder is something I’ve strived to foster in my classroom," Moonier said while accepting the award. "Each year, my environmental science students begin in August looking at the bright, colorful splotches on the side of a tree. At first, they’re just spots. But then I teach them to learn to slow down, observe, ask questions, design experiments and research and, before long, those little splotches become much more. If you ask any of my students, they can tell you about the wonders of lichen.

"I love instilling a sense of wonder and opening my students’ eyes to things they never noticed before, helping them connect their learning to career-specific, authentic experiences in health and environmental sciences. I love the little lightbulb moments they get when they learn a new skill and have genuine awe about something completely new. That daily joy of watching them is what it’s all about. That’s the true reward."

Moonier is in her 23rd year of teaching at Rockwood Summit. Her daughters, Ally and Katie, both attended the school: Katie is a sophomore, and Ally is a 2024 graduate. At the ROSE Awards, Moonier thanked her family for their support, and her daughters, husband and parents were on hand to see her earn the award.

She also thanked her fellow educators at Rockwood Summit and science educators throughout the district for their partnership over the years.

"From the very beginning, I’ve been a part of a community who encourages me and supports and cares for one another," Moonier said. "It has not only given me a sense of belonging, but it has fostered courage to think outside the box and carry on my mission outside of Summit’s walls out into the community."

As winner of the district Teacher of the Year, Moonier 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.

"It fills my heart with gratitude to be in the company of the exceptional educators in Rockwood," she said. "I believe the best education happens when we build a culture of inclusivity, provide students the opportunity to explore their own questions and make a commitment to work collectively to solve problems. We are a district that does that, and I am thankful to be part of that vision."