Lee's Summit North science teacher Chris Walker Named LSR7 2026 Teacher of the Year

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District has named Chris Walker, a science teacher at Lee’s Summit North High School, as its 2026 Teacher of the Year. Zachary Pross, a field technology specialist, was also recognized as the district’s Support Professional of the Year.

Mr. Walker, who has dedicated the last 20 years to teaching, including 12 with LSR7, was selected from a pool of 13 candidates, all previous recipients of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Teaching or Teacher of Distinction awards. A joint committee of Chamber and district representatives made the final selection. Walker is also a 2026 Excellence in Teaching award winner, having been nominated 11 times previously.

Four students nominated Walker for the district honor, describing his classroom as a welcoming environment. His teaching philosophy centers on the belief that “students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Beyond the classroom, he serves as an advisor for Lee’s Summit North’s Future Health Professionals and Medical clubs, coaches baseball at Avila University, and helped found the Daryl Cronk Dash Foundation, which works to make baseball accessible to youth in the Kansas City metro area who might otherwise be unable to afford to play.

The district congratulates Chris Walker and Zachary Pross for their outstanding contributions to students and the LSR7 community, honoring their dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence in education.