2026 Teacher of the Year

The 2026 LSR7 Teacher of the Year is Mr. Chris Walker, science teacher at Lee's Summit North High School.

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District announced the LSR7 2026 Teacher of the Year is Mr. Chris Walker, science educator at Lee's Summit North High School a ceremony on April 2, 2026.

Mr. Walker has dedicated the last 20 years to teaching (12 in the Lee's Summit School District).  Walker is a 2026 Excellence in Teaching award winner. He had been nominated for that recognition 11 times previously.

Four students nominated Walker for the district honor, each 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, Walker 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 otherwise couldn't afford to play.

A committee made up of representatives from the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and the School District selected Walker out of a pool of 13 candidates, all recipients of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Teaching or Teacher of Distinction awards.