TV station hands out teacher awards

Becky Riney must be doing something right.

The veteran teacher of 22 years was chosen not once but twice in the past two months for a teacher-of-the-year award.

The first was the Jackson Chamber of Commerce's Educator of the Year Award. Most recently, she was among four local teachers chosen for KFVS12's Heartland's Best Teachers Award.

"The Heartland's Best award surprised me the most because the nomination came from students," she said.

Along with Riney, Dena Shelton from Cape Christian School, Gloria Arnold from Scott City High School, Marilyn Bell from Parkview State School in Cape Girardeau and eight other educators were selected for the television station's honor.

Profiles of each will appear on Heartland News at Five throughout the next two weeks.

The teachers were selected from hundreds of nominations received from schools throughout the KFVS12 viewing area. All 12 teachers, their spouses, and principals will be honored at the annual Heartland's Best banquet June 4 on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.