Former SPS educator, board member named MO education pioneer

Denise Fredrick spent nearly four decades serving Springfield Public Schools in different roles, from award-winning teacher to school board president.

Fredrick was one of five individuals honored July 27 as Pioneers in Education by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during the 65th annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators.

“I was a little bit in shock,” Frederick said July 28 of receiving the statewide award.

Over the years, Fredrick has attended the annual conference and said she was in awe of past recipients, most of whom spent decades in public education.

“It has been a lifetime of joy,” she said. “We all have tough times in our careers that you just have to plow through, but I did what I loved and to be recognized for that is a very special thing.”

Fredrick grew up in Springfield, graduating from Hillcrest High School in 1972, and taught science at Kickapoo High School.

She was named Springfield’s Teacher of the Year in 1999 and won a national Milken Educator Award in 2000.

After nearly two decades in the classroom, she spent five years developing science curriculum for SPS before overseeing federal programs and accountability for the district.

Fredrick also was director of secondary education at Missouri State University and was elected to the SPS Board of Education in 2011, serving 12 years. She was inducted into the SPS Hall of Fame.

In bestowing the honor, DESE officials said she championed curiosity, innovative learning and public education. She has remained an active volunteer.

Fredrick said she benefited from teaching, central office and board colleagues over the years and worked closely with district leaders. She said her favorite time was teaching in the classroom.

“Interacting with students on a daily basis and helping them to learn something, and providing them the positive feedback they need or just listening to what they are going through age, that definitely was the love of my career,” she said.

More than 500 attended the event in Osage Beach.

“These individuals have dedicated their careers to ensuring Missouri students receive the highest quality education possible,” said Stacey Pries, interim Commissioner of Education, in a news release. “DESE is honored to recognize their commitment and service to public education.”

Other honorees included Dennis Cooper of Weaubleau, Richard “Rich” Eichorst of Lemay, Janie Gray of Green City and Tammy Ridgeway of Lawson.