May 7, 2026 - In celebration of national Teacher Appreciation Week, five outstanding educators in the Mexico School District received surprise classroom visits to learn they are this year’s recipients of the Laurann Webber Excellence in Teaching Award.

Now in its seventh year, the award honors the legacy of the late Laurann Webber and celebrates the lasting impact of exceptional teaching. Each recipient received a $2,000 award, made possible by the generosity of the Webber family and a matching contribution from Commerce Bank.

The 2026 Laurann Webber Excellence in Teaching Award recipients are:

• Kristin Jenkins, McMillan Early Learning Center
• Amber Hawkins, Eugene Field Elementary
• Emily Dodd, Hawthorne Elementary
• Phoebe Pettit, Mexico Middle School
• Scott Ulrich, Mexico High School/Hart Career Center
   

To be eligible, educators must be full-time faculty members with at least three years of service to the district and a contract for the upcoming school year. Nominations are submitted by faculty colleagues and administrators, and there are no restrictions on how recipients use their award funds.

A selection committee made up of three retired teachers, along with Gina Raines of Commerce Bank and Brendan Webber of Webber Family Pharmacies, carefully reviewed all nominations before choosing the honorees.

The Mexico School District extends heartfelt thanks to the Webber family for creating this award and to Commerce Bank for their continued partnership. Celebrations like today are a powerful reminder of our community’s commitment to recognizing and supporting the incredible work of our educators! Go, Bulldogs!