Our MAPS 6-12 Teacher of The Year is Kris O’Connor, a Social Studies Teacher at Marquette Senior High School. Her nominator, Blythe Raikko, wrote, “Simply put, Kris O’Connor is a Marquette Area Public Schools treasure!  With a commitment to high quality planning and instruction, and an even deeper devotion to her students, Kris O’Connor has been the embodiment of masterful teaching since she began with the district in 1997.  Often caffeinated and always entertaining, O’Connor challenges her history students to think critically with their heads and also open their hearts to the deeper lessons that can be learned from studying the past.  While studying history can often be dark, Kris is a radiant and steadfast light that for decades has served as the spark for a myriad of students to grow their skill set, challenge their own thinking, cultivate their passions, and to find their voice.  The ultimate goal that she has for all her students is to equip them with skills to be positive contributing members of society.  If you want to know what kind of impact Kris O’Connor has had on her former students, spend a day with her out on the town.  From the grocery store to the hockey game, to walking the streets with her on Music on Third, you’ll see former students stop mid-sentence, cross traffic (sometimes without taking the time to look for cars), and come running when they see their favorite teacher.  Whether it has been two days or twenty years, former students are so excited to share with her how they are doing, what good they are doing, and what an impact she had in their lives.  It doesn’t matter if the individual was a standout student in her accelerated World History class who went off to study at an Ivy League school or a student who eeked by and missed all sorts of school but somehow would find a way to make it to her class, Kris is quick to celebrate each individual and the overwhelming display of gratitude and mutual respect, and love is a sight to behold.”