Chris Keisker
Position: Retiring Fifth Grade Teacher
School: Meramec Heights Elementary School
School District: Fox C-6 School District
City, State: Arnold, MO
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Music that Describes Chris
Chris Keisker was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
“Every child can learn.”- Chris Keisker
Students who have experienced the honor of being part of Mrs. Keisker’s classroom will always remember that they were unconditionally loved, challenged to reach their fullest potential, and part of an absolutely magical educational experience.
Mrs. Keisker is a compassionate educator who has dedicated her life to serving the at-risk students at Meramec Heights Elementary School, a Title 1 schoolwide program for reading and math services, in the Fox C-6 School District in Arnold, Missouri. For 28 years, she has impacted the lives of countless students and families as a fearless advocate and compassionate educator.
Mrs. Keisker has served on building and district educational committees by being an advocate for change and leading by example. She has served her school community by serving as a second grade teacher, fifth grade teacher, and summer school administrator. She has mentored multiple student teachers and supported them beyond their student practicum experiences. In 2017, Mrs. Keisker received the “Building Teacher Of The Year Award” for Meramec Heights Elementary School and the“District Teacher Of The Year Award” for the Fox C-6 School District. She was also honored with the Emerson Excellence In Teaching Award.
Mrs. Keisker is a life-long learner who has earned multiple educational degrees, including a Bachelor's degree from Wittenburg University, a Master of Education Degree from Webster University, and a Master of Educational Administration from Lindenwood University. She seeks professional growth opportunities by attending relevant professional development to learn best practices that will help her students be successful. She is actively involved in the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) and local CTA to collaborate and represent her school staff members.
Mrs. Keisker builds connections with her students and families by seeking additional opportunities to build relationships. Over the years, she has served her students in after-school activities such as Girls On The Run and Science Fair responsibilities. She has also served the community through Boy Scouts of America.
Mrs. Keisker has made countless sacrifices to better the lives of her students. She has built her classroom community on the strong foundation of relationships. Playing an instrumental role in the lives of her students, life is a celebration in Mrs. Keisker’s class. There is always something to be extremely grateful for, and everyone belongs as part of a classroom family. She will celebrate anything from birthdays, to graduations, to homework completion, to school attendance. Sometimes, she will simply celebrate each special child for their uniqueness and the gifts they have to contribute to the world.
Mrs. Keisker goes above and beyond the call of duty so her students have the necessary supplies they need to succeed and the classroom materials they for learning. She mentors students when they need personal advice and supports them when they are ill or struggling. With a strong focus on hands-on active learning and STEM, Mrs. Keisker's classroom is always full of adventures, laughs, and activities that document a fun, busy day of learning.
After Mrs. Keisker retires, her passion is to continue serving her school community by focusing on how to continue helping these at-risk students and families to develop the life skills they need to be successful.
"Mrs. Keisker, this time we are celebrating you! Thank you, Chris, for making a difference in your school community," said her nominator. "Your passion for education and learning is contagious and an inspiration to others. Thank you for your heartfelt service and dedication to the students and community of Meramec Heights Elementary School. #MeramecMade"
Mrs. Keisker is a Phenomenal teacher, friend, leader, and a lifelong educator. I had the opportunity to work with Ms. Keisker and see her passion, and dedication to all her students throughout the years. She makes learning fun and engaging to all her students. I am thankful that my daughter had the opportunity to be a part of her class to learn and experience the many hands on experiences she presented to her students. Even though we were hit with COVID Ms. Keisker still showed her dedication to her students by making surprise visits, yard signs and virtual learning as rewarding as she could during such a difficult time for everyone. She kept a positive outlook and made sure her students knew how much she truly cared. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication you put into teaching and your students. Congratulations on your nomination. Good luck, you deserve this opportunity.
Not sure where to start.. my son Mitch was lucky enough to have Mrs. Keisker for 2nd grade. She was amazing and so fun to be around. Always positive and truly cares about her kids. We moved out of the district when Mitch was in fifth grade. Mrs. Keisker came to watch him play basketball in middle and high school while he attended Hillsboro. She has kept in touch with us to this day! Mitch is 25 now. Chris you are incredible and so deserving of this award. Thank you for always going above and beyond for your kids! No one more deserving! You are truly one of a kind and we are so grateful for you!
She is just the most wonderful woman you could know. So happy for you. So deserving for you ??.
Mrs. Keisker is so deserving of this award. If there is a lifetime achievement award, it should go to her. I've told her many times, You are they epitome of what a true teacher should be!"
My son had Mrs. Keisker in 2nd grade (he is now 31) and she stayed a part of this life (even attended his wedding in 2012). She is not just a teacher. She truly loved her students and showed it by attending their sporting events and other activities outside of school and really caring about them. Thank you, again, Mrs. Keisker, for loving our kids and helping them to love school and learning!
Mrs. Keisker taught both my children. My daughter had the honor of being in her final class. She is the most amazing teacher in the classroom and out. Can’t think of a better person tue win this honor. #meramecmade
Chris is an amazing educator. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.
Both of my girls were incredibly blessed to have Mrs. Keisker as their fifth grade teacher! She is truly an amazing teacher! She is not just there to teach children, but to help them achieve confidence and excellence within themselves! Both of my girls loved to go to school when she was their teacher. The amount of respect she had for them and vise versa was pretty amazing! One of my favorite things about her, was that she always encouraged the kids to be better and strive for more!! She deserves this award more than any other teacher we know!
Woohoo!! Congratulations on your nomination for this award, that is so awesome. Good Luck ????
You are a life changer!!!??
Mrs. Keisker was my 2nd grade teacher many years ago and is a huge part of the reason I am a 2nd grade teacher today! This nomination is so well deserved and I hope to see her and my old elementary school benefit from this honor! ??
Mrs. Keisker is a teacher that I will always remember. Her beautiful spirit made learning so much fun. Most of my fondest elementary memories were made in her classroom. Well deserved recognition!!
My son was fortunate to have Mrs. Keisker for both his 2nd and 5th grade teacher! She was absolutely phenomenal. She genuinely cared for each student, knowing them deeply and they never doubted that she was fighting for them. She made everyday fun and exciting. During standardized testing, I remember her having families prepare positive notes to alleviate stress for the students! This is something I still do for my kids when they are stressed. She made a profound impact on my family and we love her and are forever grateful for those years.
If any teacher I’ve ever had deserved to be nominated for this award, it’d be Mrs.Keisker. I am a former student of hers, I was in her last 2nd grade class before she switched to 5th grade. I’ve long graduated by now and the things she taught me, from cursive to how to believe the most in myself. Even years later when a rough home life racked me, keisker was just an email away. Her love and empathy for her students, no matter how long ago she had them, will never be beat! (Nor her pranks!) she has always believed in us, and knew our greatest potential before we knew it ourselves. Once a Keisker’s caterpillar, always a Keisker’s butterfly! ??
Both of my kids were fortunate enough to have Mrs. Keisker. She was my daughter’s all time favorite teacher and such a caring and influential teacher to my son 13 years later. She digs deep and really gets to know the kids and cares about them far past the lessons that she is teaching. She is truly one of a kind and so deserves this nomination!
MRS. KEISKER IS THE BEST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD! She is funny, creative, loving, and passionate! After I graduated from high school, she attended my graduation part to hand me a butterfly necklace and told me that I have grown up from once being a caterpillar.. She sincerely deserves this award!
Mrs. Keisker is amazing person with a wonderful heart. She is not just a teacher, but a true educator. My oldest, Jeffrey, had her in 2nd grade and 5th grade. She always believed in him and helped him through struggles that he had in life with behavioral. She went to my son baseball games and Jeff went to saw her after he graduated. She is a blessing to students and has a wonderful heart like no other teacher my children ever had. My son is 21 now and he still takes about her to this day. No words or money can make this woman a winner since she is a winner in heart or soul today. She is a true inspiration and God put her here in earth for a reason, which she reached that faith in all her students even the difficult ones like my son was at the time. My son and I will always remember her talks and smile. You are a gift from God! (FyI you are holding a music instrument and think it is a trombone.)
I taught with Chris at Meramec Heights for 14 years. She showed up to school each day with a smile and a “Let’s do this” positive attitude. She was always a favorite among the students and staff with her sense of humor, helping hand and kind words. She was an expert at delivering lessons; however, the students loved her and learned from her because they knew she cared about them. I myself looked forward to seeing what craziness she would portray each year in her school yearbook photo. I made sure to steer clear of her every year for April Fools Day and I loved seeing some of her outrageous outfits. She would also try her best to make as many out of school activities for her students as possible (i.e., sporting events, birthday parties, art shows, special events). She totally deserves this honor!
I have been fortunate enough to call Chris a co-worker and friend for the past 23 years. She was 2 of my sons 5rh grade teacher. Chris is an amazing teacher and an even better human! She truly has a passion for making the world a better place! This recognition is truly well deserved!
Thank you Mrs. Keisker for always pushing us to do our best and have fun while doing it! You deserve this!!!
This nomination is absolutely well deserved.. My daughter had the lucky fortune to be able to be in Mrs. Keiser's class and her confidence level skyrocketed. She felt loved everyday, she felt important, she learned so much, and she really just enjoyed going to school. The class was always celebrating something, they were always celebrating a wacky holiday or talking about some crazy science experiment they did. On the night before they all went to their 1st day of middle school Mrs. Kiisker came by each kid's house and "secretly" Left them an encouraging message. I am always learning new things about Chris Keisker and how above and beyond tree goes for any student she has ever had. They are her students forever. She has officiated weddings for former students, she has been to high school and college graduations for former students, she has held newborn babies of former students. She goes to their sporting games and dance recitals. No matter how long it's been since she has been their teacher they still continue to want her to be part of their life and I think that says absolutely so much about the legacy and and the impact she makes on these students lives. I cannot think of anyone better to win a lifechanger award. #MeramecMade
Mrs. Keisker played an important role in my sons education. She was an amazing and fair teacher. She kept him interested in school and made learning for him fun! As he's becoming an young adult She has written letters of recommendation for him to obtain work.
I also have a special needs daughter that went to Meramec Heights, even though many years have passed when she sees my chil out in public she takes time to speak with her.
Mrs. Keisker deserves this award for being an amazing educator and role model.
You were a life saver AND changes in the most disruptive of years! My daughter had Mrs. Keisker when Covid brought the world to a screeching halt. It did not bring Mrs. Keisker to a halt in any way! Fun zooms, driving to each student's house, stopping by with her family on a birthday, heartfelt messages of encouragement and fun projects for her kids. Mrs. Keisker makes learning so much fun - for parents as well as students - and I love how she celebrates individuality in her students. She is a beautiful person and a phenomenal teacher.
Even outside a full time classroom Mrs Keisker is still making an impact and lasting memories for the students of the Fox district. Just this week she visited Ridgewood Middle School. While there she visited with several classes. My 7th grader, who previously attended Meramec Heights Elementary, was so excited to see her. She had not seen these now 7th graders in her class or same building in 2 years, but, she recognized and acknowledged every single student that had attended Meramec Heights. This was such a special moment for my son. He was seen and appreciated by her even years later. Mrs Keisker is a true treasure to the education world and our community. We are so blessed to know her.
You are the best! Thank you for loving Cheesy ?? Lilly ( ;
