Thirty-one times Sue Bachman has watched the name of a student appear on a Missouri HiSET certificate—quiet victories that never light up a stadium scoreboard but forever change a life. As Chillicothe R-II's HiSET coordinator, she insists she’s “just another link,” yet students know better: she’s the lifeline that pulls them across the finish line. Whether it’s late-night study sessions, a steadying word after a tough practice test, or simply treating every learner with unshakable dignity, Sue bends over backwards—then bends a little more—until each student believes graduation is possible. Walk down her hallway and you’ll find former in-school-suspension visitors returning just to say thanks, still feeling the warmth of her kindness at the moments they needed it most.
Across town, Marissa Cowan is proving that math isn’t the only equation she’s mastered. By day she’s orchestrating creative lessons inside her CMS classroom; by night she’s running the concession stand, funding dreams one popcorn bag at a time. Never played chess? No problem—Mrs. Cowan recruited community grandmasters, learned the game, and launched the CMS Chess Club from scratch. Now her students are strategizing their way through Columbia tournaments, confidence soaring with every move. Colleagues cite her tireless work ethic, enormous heart, and fearless willingness to try anything as the secret ingredients that keep CMS vibrant and forward-moving.
Two buildings, two passions, one shared mission: ensuring every child discovers what they’re capable of. Thank you, Sue and Marissa, for reminding us that great educators don’t just teach—they ignite possibility.