Creston teacher receives regional award

For the first time ever, the Iowa Department of Education has awarded nine regional Teachers of the Year, including Creston’s own Sarah Stephens.

Growing up in Mount Ayr, Stephens always dreamed of being a teacher.

“I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember,” Stephens said. “I actually was talking with my mom and I had things from my second grade and fifth or sixth grade career fair of what I wanted to be, and it was always a teacher. My mom is a teacher, my grandpa, my aunt and uncle.”

It didn’t take long for her to get involved, with Stephens helping her mother out at school and eventually volunteering at Mount Ayr Elementary.

Graduating from high school in 2006, Stephens went on to get her undergraduate at Northwest Missouri State. She continued her education after a teaching opportunity came up in the Creston Community School District.

“Creston had an opening in special education if I was willing to go back, so I was like, absolutely! I pursued my master’s in special education and honestly fell in love with it,” Stephens said. Her degree is from Morningside University. “It was kind of all by chance, but seeing the impact you can make on those kids and finding those little victories throughout the day is very rewarding.”

In addition to her 14 years of teaching in elementary special education, Stephens has served as an instructional coach, lead team member, peer mentor and middle school basketball coach. She also serves as a Paraeducator Certification Course instructor.

As one of nine Iowa teachers receiving the Regional Teacher of the Year Award, Stephens is in an inaugural group.

“This year, the Department of Education was excited to establish a new Regional Teacher of the Year designation that celebrates excellence in teaching across all corners of our state,” Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said. “We recognize the expertise, commitment and care of each of Iowa’s inaugural 2025 Regional Teachers of the Year, and we thank them for choosing this honored profession, putting students at the center of all they do.”

Along with Stephens, award winners include Kevin Gartman, Susie Stark, Samantha Freeman, Blake Hammond, Alyssa Dalsing, Kaitlin Mahoney, Beth Oolman and Melanie Bloom. These nine Iowa teachers will then serve as finalists for the 2025 Iowa Teacher of the Year award, announced later this year.

“It is such an honor. Honesstly, I’m kind of at a loss for words,” Stephens said about recieving the award. “I’m so thankful, not only for Creston schools, just all the people I work with, my coworkers, my administration, my AEA support, the students, parents. It takes everyone. I am continuing to learn and becoming a better educator because of all the people I work with.”

She encourages all teachers to give themselves grace and always be willing to learn.

“We always as educators want to do our best at any time, but realizing that we can all continue to learn, we can continue to grow, we can continue to make an impact on our students, is so valuable and something that you have to take time to remember,” Stephens said. “Celebrate those little victories with your kiddos and make sure you’re having fun.”