CJJH teacher, Doug Logan, honored as state finalist

Joplin Globe, Kevin McClintock, 9-2-10

Doug Logan's first expression was one of shock. The Carl Junction social studies teacher was stopped in his tracks by a thunderous standing ovation from 1,700 students, teacher and staff members when he walked into the High School gymnasium. His eyes grew wide, and his hands promptly covered his mouth.

Logan was honored for being one of six finalists for Missouri Teacher of the Year.

He thanked the students and his peers. He also got a long hug from his 2-year-old daughter, Catherine.

Logan was fighting back tears moments later, when his longtime mentor, teacher Walter Harrison, said by video how proud he was of Logan for the nomination.

The ceremony was brief, but Logan promised the crowd that the memory of it would last a lifetime. "This is a day I will look back on, and I will be proud to say, 'Yeah, I remember that,'" Logan said. "I love what I do as a teacher. It's in my blood...and it's what I've always wanted to do."

Though Logan didn't win the state award - it went to Kirkwood High School chemistry teacher Robert Becker - Carl Junction Superintendent Phil Cook said of Logan: "He's our Missouri Teacher of the Year."

Logan and the five other nominees were selected from a pool of roughly 70,000 teachers at public schools in the state. Logan had previously won district teacher of the year honors.

Logan, 30, said the honor was "humbling, because it's your peers that nominate you. It's very humbling to know people you work with recognize your strengths and appreciate you. It's very overwhelming."