Eric DeVenney
Position: Social Studies Teacher
School: Harrisonville High School
School District: Harrisonville Cass R-IX Schools
City, State: Harrisonville, MO
Support Eric
Leave a comment
Get Updates
Eric DeVenney was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
Mr. DeVenney is a teacher, coach, and friend to hundreds of students, teachers, and families in the Harrisonville School District. In the classroom, he encourages students and doesn't allow them to choose failure. He also sets high expectations for his students and athletes.
Mr. DeVenney works tirelessly to motivate students and make learning fun. He can be seen on any given day dressed as a historical figure or jumping animatedly around the room to highlight the significance of history in students' lives. Students are engaged, learning, and having fun through history in his classes.
As a coach, Mr. DeVenney has worked on and off the mat to build relationships with students that are not only nurturing, but motivating.
"He has the ability to find teaching moments with students that turn losing moments into positive life lessons," his nominator said. "His classroom is rarely empty, and he has a genuine smile, hand shake, or hug for anyone he sees. As the Harrisonville School District Educator of the Year in 2017, it is clear that the staff, students, and community of Harrisonville believe that Eric DeVenney is a true LifeChanger."
Although far removed from high school I can still recall how Eric DeVenney helped to positively shape my life as a young adult. Coach DeVenney's sole purpose was helping me become the best version of myself. He helped change my life and I could not think of a more deserving candidate for "Life Changer of the Year"!
Eric DeVenney is an outstanding choice for Life Changer of the Year! I worked with Eric for a number of years at Harrisonville High School so can tell you firsthand that you will not find a more personable, humble, dedicated teacher and coach than Eric. No matter how busy his life gets, he always finds time to treat his colleagues, students, athletes, and others in such a genuine, reassuring way that you want him in your life! There's a reason students migrate toward him for the support they need to succeed and he follows up that support with every kind of affirmation (e.g., reference letters for scholarships, follow up phone calls to parents, generous commitments of time to HELP OTHERS). I wish the world could clone Eric DeVenney in every school in America, and the world couldn't help but be a better place! I hope the selection committee/group gets to meet him personally because they will instantly recognize he is a LIFE CHANGER!
When I was the accompanist and teaching at HHS, i had several wrestlers in choir and my music appreciation class. Eric was right next door and the boys adopted me as their mascot. I was privileged to ride the bus to the Mets and Eric was always positive and uplifting. I know firsthand that he changed the lives of many of these young men teaching them discipline and love for their sport and each other.
He’s an amazing history teacher!!! Helps every student he can. Very creative and dedicated a ton of time to his students and athletes.
This is probably one of the most influential male role models in my life. He helped me through some of the toughest years of my life, talked me into sticking with wrestling through college, and got me into officiating for MSHSAA. This man never let me quit, EVER! He always found a way to rally me weather it be in a match or in the classroom.
Not only on the mat but i can still remember that squatty little t-Rex ?? standing in desks and dressing up for some of his favorite days of the year and subjects to teach. He has a passion like no other and there’s not enough good words i can say about him. Congratulations on being nominated and hopefully the votes swing his way because in my eyes and many others he deserves it.
I can honestly say without Eric DeVenney i wouldn’t be half the man i am today, and hopefully i can have the impact on as many lives as he’s had. Thanks for everything Coach, congrats!
I had him as a history teacher in 2003 and he is a great teacher always smiling and funny. Great coach to. Harrisonville schools couldn't ask for a better teacher.
Both my kids have had Mr. DeVenney as a teacher at Harrisonville High School. He is the most supportive teacher that we have ever met. He truly cares about his students and encourages them to succeed. His students know that he truly cares. To some students, he fulfills the father role that may be missing that role in their life.
Coach DeVenney definitely deserves this award. I had the opportunity to coach with Eric for 5 years. The impact he makes on his students and athletes extend beyond the classroom. He is an excellent role model for his students. I would go as far to say that Eric has been a role model and mentor to me. I can only strive to be as great of a man as Eric. Congrats Coach DeVenney!
Eric definitely deserves this award as I've never known a more positive personality plus a more caring heart in one individual. He is loved by students and teachers alike.
I had the amazing ability to have Mr.DeVenney as my advisory (study lab/home room) teacher for all 4 years and as my government teacher also. He thought me things I will take with me for a lifetime he is the most amazing person I have ever met. He’s been there for me on the best days and the worst days. He deserves this more than anyone. Way to go Eric! Proud of you ????
Mr. Devenney was one of the most influential and motivating teachers I have had throughout my life. His ability to understand his students, always always keep a positive attitude no matter what, and just the personalitity and genuinity he displays. He works incredibly hard to juggle everything in his life and never complains. I could never thank him enough for his support, help, friendship and influence he has given me.
Mr. DeVenney taught and coached all 4 of our sons. As a wrestling coach, his main focus is to raise good, moral men who are positive role models and leaders in family life and the community. Don't get me wrong, he wants each of his wrestlers to achieve the highest level of success on the mat that he is capable-based on talent and hard work.
Eric is the first to applaud a victory and always has positive pointers after a loss. He expects his team to be gentleman warriors. As proof of their respect and admiration of him my sons (ages 24-31) still contact him if struggling with a life decision concerning work or relationship issues. They know that this man (a husband, father of 6, and career teacher and coach) will listen and give sound advice to help them live a life of value and happiness.
We are so thankful that Eric DeVenney has been a part of our school and community for almost 20 years.
Eric is one of the most genuine, nice, and compassionate people I have ever met. He has a passion for helping students become successful and contributing members of society, which is what America needs. I couldn't ask for a better mentor as a young teacher, or a better friend in life.
Eric DeVenney is a true leader and a saviour to me. Coach Devenney came in to the Harrisonville school district my senior year and helped steer me off a broken path. I have seen many that came after me that he did the same for. Coach still keeps up with me and my kids that he also had in school. I credit him for my work ethic and my success in life. He is not just a life changing teacher but a life changing person. He cares for his students long after they leave his immediate guidance.
We love Coach and are so grateful to have him in our community!
Congratulations! One of the most deserving guys I know. He has been a true life changer for many kids.
Mr. DeVenny is one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever met.
He always knows how to make someone’s day and he is a great teacher. History can be a boring subject but when I was in his class I had a lot of fun and I could understand everything he was teaching, and I loved learning in his class. He’s a very respected and well known man around the high school and I’ve never heard anyone talk bad of him.
Eric is outstanding. There are so many positive words to describe him but not enough room in this comment section. He is the most optimistic person, Coach, teacher I have met. He supports all students not just his athletes of his chosen sport or his classroom roster. He takes the time to get to know all kids and relates to them based on how he can help the most! He motivates kids and adults alike. He is truly a LIFE CHANGER! #LCOY
There's not much about Eric that has not already been said, but this LifeChanger nomination is well deserved. He cares for each of his students, athletes, and colleagues which shows in his positivity and willingness to help or mentor others.
Mr. Devenney is one of the most talented teachers I have ever met. He reaches not only his students but ALL the students on a personal level. He turns everything into a teachable moment.
I have known Mr. DeVenney since he was a young boy (eight or nine years old). I don't even know where to begin. He has always been the same! He is an exceptional human being showing love and empathy for those around him. Knowing him and his family has been a very bright spot in my life. I am so proud of all that he does and has done! He is an excellent choice for LifeChanger of the Year!
Coach DeVenney is not only a great teacher and coach, he's a great person. Our son went through some adversity in his senior year as a result of an athletic injury and it was very hard on him as well as our family. During this tough time, one bright spot was the continued support that Coach DeVenney and his family, showed in him. That meant a tremendous amount to not only our son but to our whole family.
Coach DeVenney is always quick to volunteer his time to help in any number of ways. He's without a doubt a great example of what a "lifechanger" is. I feel fortunate to know him and his family. He has not only touched our lives in a positive way but countless others as well.
Mr. DeVenney is an amazing individual. I can't express enough gratitude for the time, energy, and love he's put into my children. He's always a positive influence to everyone around him. I'm very blessed to have him as a teacher for my kids as well as an incredible coach.
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” - Henry Brooks Adams
Mr. DeVenney embodies this expression. His kindness and passion radiate far further than his classroom or the wrestling mat. I was not lucky enough to have him as a teacher, but crossed his path often in the hallways and at extracurricular events where he regularly, and enthusiastically, offered his support. His authenticity, humor, and sensitivity inspires many smiles and motivates those around him to be better than they think they can be. He sincerely believes the best in people and is quick to offer a smile and a laugh to brighten their day. To this day I am always happy to see him at community and school events and thankful that he helped make school a cheerful place to be.
So glad to have known the DeVenney family & gone to church together many years! They have servant hearts & love what they do! They are all a great asset to our community.
Eric DeVenney is an extraordinary passionate teacher and coach. He knows how to motivate students in a way that gets them thoroughly excited to learn. He's also a terrific leader among staff members. His positive, can-do attitude is a staple, and it's truly an honor to get to work with this man.
All three of my children have been mentored by Mr DeVenney. One of my sons did not have him as an AP World History teacher, but he has developed a very good relationship with him! He builds rapport with his students and provides gentle guidance throughout high school, not just the year that your child is enrolled in his class! Mr DeVenney has played an important role in the character development of my sons. He utilizes every moment as teachable and encourages every person to work to their fullest potential. He is an amazing teacher and person.
i always have had a very hard time doing my work and turning things in, unintentionally. mr deVenney has been very lenient with my missing work and having a hard time focusing. his class is my favorite he's always cracking jokes, and telling stories, hes always kind and patient even when he's in a not so great mood. he makes school tolerable, and interesting.
I have never had a teacher as inspiring, thoughtful, kind, and excited as Mr. DeVenney. As much as I disliked the subject of his class, he always found a way to engage his students and make us interested in what he was teaching. Whether it's through jokes, short anecdotes of his past experiences, or dressing up as a certain character in history, Mr. DeVenney knew how to keep us on our toes. Outside of class, he is so encouraging. Whenever I pass him in the hallway, he'll always ask how I'm doing and we just chat for a few minutes, and it's my favorite part of the entire day. At one point during the school year, I was having some doubts about how to get through something and he reassured me that everything was going to turn out okay and he really made me feel happy with where I was going. Mr. DeVenney is loved by everyone, and I couldn't imagine this school without him.
I have the privilege of teaching right next door to Mr. DeVenney. He makes EVERYONE around him aspire to be a better person. He builds relationships with EVERYONE in the building so that when he sees you he can talk to you about things that are important to you. This makes you feel like someone genuinely cares about you and in return makes your day automatically better. Mr. DeVenney creates an atmosphere of positivity around himself. And anyone who steps into this atmosphere automatically feels happy about being at HHS and in return, those students and teachers want to contribute something positive and productive themselves to HHS. He makes our high school a better place.
Personally he makes me want to be a better educator. I have taught for 16 years and the last 3 years teaching right next door to Mr. DeVenney have been my best 3 years in the classroom. His attitude toward students and social studies encourage me to better myself and come up with better teaching strategies on a daily basis. He is a GREAT team leader. His philosophy is to capture kids' hearts and to be the role model they need. This giving heart is contagious and overflows to anyone who has the privilege of coming into contact with him.
He has definitely been a life changer for me as an educator. Mr. DeVenney's goals and heart are where every person in the profession of education should be. I'm so thankful I teach next door to such an amazing educator and coach.
LifeChanger, what an appropriate term for Eric DeVenney. I will never be able to thank Mr. DeVenney enough for the role he has played in my son's life. They have argued, cried and laughed a lot together over his high school career and I could not have hand picked a better role model for my son. There have been countless times that I have said "maybe you need to have a talk with Coach DeVenney" when he was facing a tough decision. Mr. DeVenney always listened, never judged, he just gave his advice in the most caring way.
My son chose Mr. DeVenney as his Life Mentor when he received his Eagle Scout Rank. I was very proud that he recognized what an important role this man plays in his life.
I have heard this same story about Mr. DeVenney countless times. He truly changes the lives of his students. He sets high expectations for each of his students and works with them to make sure they achieve their goals. He is an amazing father, husband, coach, educator and friend.
Mr. Devenney is one of the most inspiring, honest, and genuine people I've ever met. His love for students shines through in everything he does. He always makes sure that each student knows how much he truly cares about them both in and out of the classroom, no matter what is going on in their life. If one of his students is struggling in any way, he reaches out to help them and work with them to overcome whatever it is they are going through. Mr. Devenney believes in every one of his kids, even if they don't believe in themselves.
Mr. DeVenney always made sure you knew that he truly cared about you and what was going on in your life, in and outside of school. He was always willing to go the extra mile for his students and always offered extra help
Wow, this teacher is an amazing educator. His level of enthusiasm and relationship building are stellar.
Oh boy, where do I begin? Mr.DeVenney is an absolutely amazing human being. He has made my sophomore year an amazing journey. His kind words and advice would help me whether it be for my personal problems or soccer problems. He always told me to “be the leader” and I was, but mostly because I took him as an example.
There was never a dull moment in history. He made me love history, and all my life until my sophomore year I HATED it. I went from having c’s and d’s in history to having a 90% or above. If that doesn’t say something, then I don’t know what does.
Overall Mr.DeVenney is a great person. He is like my second dad. I appreciate that fate has put him in my path as a teacher. He cares about every single one of his students. Even the ones who are rude and cuss him out. He goes above and beyond to make sure his “babies” (as in kids) are on track and successful. He can always tell if something is wrong with a student just by looking at them, and he will make sure to talk to them and try to make them feel better.
Compassionate. Mr.DeVenneys love for his students especially me has made a huge impact on my life. During the middle of year I started struggling with depression. Of course, I never told Mr.DeVenney(actually no one knew), but just with his kind words and hugs. It made me feel like I was happy again. It's almost like his happiness had radiated off of him. Of course only for little but I appreciate those 45 minutes in which I felt happy again.
Mr.DeVenney deserves the ‘Life changer of the year’ because he has definitely impacted my life and others and changed it for the better. He has done so much for me, now imagine doing that to every student that has ever entered his class. You don't have to have a class with Mr.DeVenney to witness or experience his compassion. Mr.DeVenney says I will always be his favorite Belen, and as I finish this off with happy tears. It is my pleasure to say that he will always be my favorite history teacher.
Eric Devenney is a great person. I have known him for 15 years both as a colleague in school and friend outside the school building. He is always encouraging and positive. He greets you will a smile everyday. He a very motivational teacher but also a amazing father to his 6 children and supportive husband to his wife of over twenty-something years.
Mr. DeVenney, is the BEST teacher. He teaches the necessary material, while adding a little bit of comedy. I can't learn without a laugh, and he helps me learn the best.
Mr.Eric DeVenney is the best teacher i have had he is funny, nice, kind, and a great teacher. He is a one of a kind he is caring and he is a LifeChanger. He has changed my life and he has made a good impact on me.
I had the pleasure and honor of being Eric DeVenney's student teacher during the Spring semester in 2018. Over the course of several months, he became my mentor and my friend. Watching him develop relationships with students was inspiring and awe-inspiring. I learned more about the field of education in four months with Eric than I did in four years of school. The students adore and respect him. He engages them through stories, not boring lectures that lose their attention. He has definitely been a life-changer in my life, as well as the lives of his students.
