Above video: Meet Springfield Public School's Teacher of the Year

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A teacher for Springfield Public Schools is one of seven finalists for the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year award, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced Thursday.

Danielle O'Neil, who works as a Physical Education Teacher at Sherwood Elementary School, was named one of seven finalists for the award. She was named Springfield Public School's Teacher of the Year for 2025-26 and is a current Regional Teacher of the Year.

Here is the full list of finalists for the 2026 Missouri State Teacher of the Year: • Aubrey Shortino, Lee's Summit R-VII — Trailridge Elementary, Kindergarten • Danielle O'Neil, Springfield Public Schools — Sherwood Elementary, K-5 Physica

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