On January 5, 2023, Mizzou Academy held a Gratitude Luncheon.There, the team shared celebrations from 2022, recognized milestone work anniversaries, and announced the winter Honor Award nominees and recipient.

The Honor Award is a peer-nominated recognition for excellence in our school community. It is open to all members of our team and awarded quarterly. This quarter, the team celebrated many outstanding nominees, including Ericca Thornhill, Brian Stuhlman, Tami Regan, Jessie Arnold, Chevi’ White, Julia Dunn, and Virginia Poehlman. 

Executive Director Kathryn Fishman-Weaver announced that “many of our nominees and even our winner this quarter couldn’t be with us in person today because they are changing lives in our public schools. What a gift to work with educators who are making such a positive difference even beyond our own school community.” 

Lisa Boyer, the winter Honor Award recipient, serves as an instructional specialist in both social studies and world languages. She has been with Mizzou Academy since 2016. When Fishman-Weaver announced that Lisa Boyer was the winter recipient, several people nodded enthusiastically, and the entire room applauded enthusiastically. 

Her many nominations include accolades such as the following: 

• We often get notes from Lisa celebrating student work. When Lisa gives feedback, she is all in—completely invested in each student. Her feedback is positive and caring, and she notices how students are growing. She’s always on the lookout for ways to help. 
• She has gone through the specialist orientation space and the Learning Library and taken copious notes to help us improve and update those spaces.
• I am so grateful Lisa is on our team. She is wise and thoughtful, incredibly kind and supportive to our students, and invested in our school community. I also appreciate how reliable and forward-thinking she is. We’re lucky to have her, and so are our students.
• Lisa is devoted to student-centered learning. Her feedback points students forward to growth. She goes above and beyond when she proctors, supporting students with specific strategies (take deep breaths, check your answers, take your time) and sharing what she notices with Tanya and others when a student needs support. She’s requested by students who feel comfortable in her sessions. Lisa also is quick to respond to calls for help and attends as many of our team meetings as she can.
• She is, quite simply, the greatest!

Stephanie Walter, Director of Teaching and Learning, has known Lisa Boyer for over 20 years in their work as educators and as friends. She shares that Ms. Boyer is known in the community for her advocacy for all students and her willingness to volunteer countless hours to support both students and teachers. “Lisa has an impressive mix of strength and compassion, high expectations and support, and intelligence and encouragement. I have always respected Lisa’s wisdom in seeing what students need to reach their goals and her steady commitment to working with students to help them get there. I especially love the way she uses her counseling background when she senses a student is overwhelmed or stressed. She shares immediate strategies with students to help them as she proctors exams and gives feedback on their work.  I’m thankful she lends her talents to Mizzou Academy and for the impact she has on students who count on her for support.”

Fishman-Weaver commented that “Lisa, like so many members of our incredible team, is always willing to serve where she is most needed. She is a multi-talented professional with a background in social studies education, world language, and school counseling. She consistently brings all of these skills and experiences to our school community where she teaches in both social studies and Spanish language. She is also passionate about celebrating student success and sends me more outstanding student work products than any other educator in our school. Each begins with, ‘You simply have to see this!’ Our school community is better for having Lisa Boyer with us.”

Fishman-Weaver and Walter reached out to Boyer immediately after the luncheon to let her know that she has won this recognition and to make plans for a makeup ceremony over coffee or ice cream soon. 

Lisa Boyer said, “Wow. I don’t really know what to say. I certainly appreciate and feel humbled by this honor…I am feeling all the feels.”