Garrett Elementary Educator Named One of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers

William Livingston, a math teacher in the City of Hazelwood, has a few tips for new teachers―you will make mistakes, but it's what you learn from them.

“Focus on building relationships with your students," he said. "If you can build relationships, everything else will fall into place.

The Missouri Association of Colleges for Teachers Education (MACTE) has named Livingston one of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers, and his relationship building is just one of the reasons why.

Livingston has taught fifth-grade math at Garrett Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District for two years. He credits his relationships with former teachers for giving him the inspiration to become an educator.

“I have wanted to be a teacher for most of my life,” Livingston said in a statement. “I had many great teachers growing up, and they are the reason I chose this field.

"Seeing the difference these teachers made enabled me to visualize myself as an educator.”

Every two years, MACTE and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education honor excellent new teachers across the state for their work with Missouri’s youth. The Teacher Education Institution nominated Livingston, who credits being a great teacher to his great learners.

“I absolutely love my students,” he said.” They are the reason I wake up every day and come to work."

Livingstonis currently attending Missouri Baptist University, graduating with a Master of Arts in teaching at the end of this month.

Each MACTE award recipient receives an engraved plaque to display in their classroom, and a series of professional development sessions on teaching diverse learners in the classroom.

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