KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A North Kansas City Schools physical education teacher has been named the best in Missouri.

The Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators (MOSHAPE) has named Matt Barrows its 2025 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Barrows, a physical education teacher at Rising Hill Elementary, said he believes his greatest impact isn't in a game won or a drill perfected – but in a spark igniting a lifelong love for movement.

The prestigious honor, which also recognizes him as the Kansas City district winner, celebrates educators who go beyond the curriculum.

"Barrows' program is hailed for its standards-based instruction, innovative teaching methods and unwavering advocacy for the profession," the school district said in a news release.

"While many might se

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