Annette Ramirez’s parents, brother and sister surprised the second-grade teacher by showing up unexpectedly during her special award ceremony at Bartley School on April 27. The family is from Reed, Missouri. Westminster College faculty and staff were also present at the event.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fulton, Mo. – April 28, 2026: Annette Ramirez, a 2025 Westminster graduate and first-grade teacher at Bartley Elementary School in Fulton, has been recognized among the 2026 Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow by the Missouri Milken Educators.
The recognition is in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Missouri Milken Educators created this program in 2022 and are celebrating 15 teachers across the state with the Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow awards this year.
All Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow inductees will receive the benefits of one-on-one mentorship from Missouri Milken Educators, who were all previously recognized by the Milken Family Foundation with the National Milken Educator Award for their impressive achievements. Honorees will have a year of coaching and mentorship and be able to access the full network of the Missouri Milken Educators. The network serves as a rich resource for fellow educators dedicated to excellence in education.
Ramirez graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education after maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average at the College, where she excelled in numerous leadership positions. She was also an accomplished student-athlete who earned multiple conference and regional awards in basketball.
As an educator, Ramirez is known for her thoughtful and engaging instruction as well as her ability to connect with students and families.
Those named as 2026 Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow were selected for the honor because they stand out as examples of what is right in the education profession. This year’s honorees graduated with their undergraduate degrees in education and completed student teaching in a Missouri school district during the 2025-2026 school year. New teachers will be named every year to celebrate the future of the education profession.
“The Missouri Milken Educators are thrilled to welcome quality teachers into the profession we love. We expect Annette to have a positive impact on the lives of students for many years to come,” says Melissa Fike, Missouri Milken educator.
Dr. Tami Streeter, chair of Westminster’s education department, says the College is excited to partner with Missouri Milken Educators in launching this new initiative, which honors the best and brightest future educators in the state.
Streeter reflects, “Annette is an exceptional leader who embodies the values of our profession and is truly deserving of the Missouri Teacher Leader Award.”
ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College is ranked prestigiously by The Princeton Review as one of 151 “Best Colleges in the Midwest” for 2026 and is among a select group of full-participation institutions nationwide in the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition, as recognized by the Higher Learning Commission. New graduates experience a more than 90% placement rate within six months of graduation, while Westminster alumni are in the top 16% nationwide for graduate earnings. The only National Liberal Arts college in Missouri, Westminster has long been recognized for its focus on educating and inspiring students to make an impact on the world around them. Find out more about Westminster College by visiting www.wcmo.edu.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or Sarah.Backer@WCMO.edu.
Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.
