Local 'Teacher Of The Year' Finalist Shines A Light On Special Education

Teaching is a calling. But teaching children with special needs and developmental delays takes something different. It takes vision not everyone sees. It pushes the boundaries of persistence, patience, positivity, and a village that embraces the smallest of wins.

At School of the Osage, sixth-year teacher Bailey Womble spends her days working with some of the district's youngest students with high-support needs. And her work has been noticed beyond the praises of parents and peers.

Womble was named a finalist for the 2027 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Womble teaches in a self-contained autism classroom at Heritage Elementary. She currently has eight students and works alongside seven paraprofessionals to meet their individual needs. She started at School of the Osage as a resource teacher before transitioning into her current role.

But special education wasn't originally the path Womble planned to pursue.

She began college at Mizzou studying psychology, but a volunteer trip during her freshman year changed the trajectory. Womble spent spring break volunteering at an inclusive preschool in Tennessee, where she saw children with and without disabilities learning together.

She returned to Mizzou, changed her major, and eventually began her teaching career in St. Louis. A friend and fellow Mizzou graduate who grew up at the Lake — Karrigan Krantz, who teaches kindergarten at Osage Beach Elementary — later encouraged Womble to apply at the Lake.

She did, got the job, and hasn't looked back.

School of the Osage-Heritage — by Tegan Pasley

Womble's road to becoming one of seven Missouri Teacher of the Year finalists began last school year when she was nominated at Heritage Elementary. She was later named the district's Teacher of the Year before advancing as one of 35 regional winners, then 16 semifinalists, and finally seven finalists statewide.

"I never imagined that I would make it to being even semi-finalist, let alone a finalist," Womble said.

The process was rigorous, involving interviews, multiple essays, and letters of support. Womble wrote about her teaching philosophy, changes she'd like to see in education, and how leadership within schools and communities can improve education.

On Wednesday, Sarah Steffens of the Fort Osage R-I School District was named the 2027 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

"There was a little bit of disappointment, but I was also feeling a little relieved," Womble said.

The winner takes on responsibilities outside the classroom, including conferences, speaking engagements, and other events. For Womble, being away from her students for extended periods was something she worried about.

"I was relieved that I wouldn't have to be gone all the time," she said. "It's hard to be gone and let another person know exactly what to do when you're working in a class like this."

Womble truly cares for her students, especially after watching some of them grow through the years. She said seeing students move on to another building can be difficult, although she knows they're moving into the hands of another strong team at School of the Osage.

That focus on her students was also central to Womble's Teacher of the Year recognition.

One initiative she highlighted was the creation of adapted specials. Womble has collaborated with art, music, PE, and library teachers, along with related service providers, to make those parts of the school day more accessible for students with high-support needs.

Womble is quick to credit the team around her, including the paraprofessionals and other educators who put in the work each day to support her students.

The goal isn't only to adapt the activities. It also gives Womble's students opportunities to build relationships outside their classroom and become more involved in the larger school community.

A new effort this year, aptly named "Sunshine Cards," encourages her students to create birthday, congratulations, and encouragement cards for school staff, then make the rounds on Friday mornings to deliver them. Along the way, they're practicing communication and social skills.

"I think a lot of times we look at students with disabilities, and we see things that they can't do or we overstep to provide extra help," Womble said. "I think my kids are great examples of if you give them the opportunity and presume competence, they will blow you away with all that they're able to do."

But what happens outside the school is another challenge.

Womble describes the Lake area as a "service desert" for families with disabilities, particularly when it comes to finding additional therapies. Some families travel to Jefferson City, Columbia, or St. Louis to access services that are not readily available locally.

One local resource Womble is grateful for is Speech House, which provides language and occupational therapy services. Womble said several of her students are signed up to receive services there. Still, she said local options remain limited, particularly for services such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is commonly used in the autism community.

The school works to maintain relationships with outside providers and help connect families with available resources, but Womble would like to see more options closer to home. Traveling elsewhere for therapy costs families both time and money.

Outside the classroom, Womble enjoys reading, hiking with her dogs, and visiting family near her hometown of St. Clair. But professionally, she plans to stay right where she is.

And while she didn't walk away with the state's top teaching title, Womble sees becoming a finalist as recognition that extends beyond herself.

"Of course it feels good to have my own hard work recognized, but I think in the grand scheme of things, it is a good shining light on special education and all that my students are capable of and can provide to our world," Womble said.