2019 Teacher of the Year Winner

Hello, MJEA!

We decided to kick our awards celebrations off in a big way today with a surprise visit to Mitch Eden of Kirkwood High School to let him know that he is this year’s MJEA teacher of the year!

Mitch has been teaching and advising publications since 1996, with the bulk of his career as the adviser of the Kirkwood High School yearbook, newsmagazine, social media and online site. His work extends outside the classroom with major involvement in scholastic journalism organizations including serving as an NSPA Board member and past JEA Board member. He is the founding president of the MJEA and has a host of individual recognitions. He has also been the driving force behind Missouri’s efforts to pass New Voices legislation.

1) He oversees one of the largest programs in the state with over 200 students who produce a magazine, online site and yearbook which are all Pacemaker and Crown winners;

2) He has won JEA’s Medal of Merit, the NSPA Pioneer Award and was the Dow Jones Adviser of the Year;

3) KHS is an annual JEA First Amendment Press Freedom Award Winner;

4) His students are regular national, state and local award winners year after year;

5) He is a highly sought-after national workshop speaker specializing in service journalism and editorial leadership;

6) He has held leadership positions for over 10 years in local, state and national scholastic journalism organizations;

7) H has led his staff to embrace service journalism as their passion, especially in the area of suicide prevention (This year marks their 4th Annual Suicide Prevention Week—they provide a press kit for other schools to use and plan a full week of educational activities open to their students and other area schools;

8) He is the driving force behind Missouri’s efforts to pass New Voices legislation (For four years, he has been the driving force in getting bill sponsorship and pushing for its movement through the legislature by having his students and other Missouri student publications staffs and advisers work through letters, phone calls, etc. This year looks especially promising, and that is due to Mitch’s leadership and persistence)”

Nominator Nancy Smith, adviser at Lafayette High School, said this: “Mitch Eden is the absolute best representative of what is the best about scholastic journalism in Missouri. We are the Show Me state and Mitch is a true example of someone who shows all of his peers and students what it means to be a true leader. And, he does it quietly without an expectation of any type of recognition of the incredible work he does regularly behind the scenes to guarantee a strong program not only for his students at KHS, but for journalism students across the state.”

Nominator Aaron Manfull, adviser at Francis Howell North High School, said this: “His work to spearhead the New Voices movement in Missouri the past few years has been nothing short of extraordinary. He’s worked to lobby legislators, line up speakers and build a group of committed First Amendment fighters to see the legislation through. While the state still has yet to pass the bill, his resolve has only gotten stronger each year and he’s become more determined than ever to see this through.”

Please join us on congratulating Mitch on a well-deserved honor.

Missouri JEA.

Missouri JEA.

2019 Teacher of the Year Winner