At Sporting Kansas City’s home match on Sunday, Merriam Park Elementary School Instructional Coach Dr. Dustin Springer was honored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and Sporting KC as the April Blue KC Sporting Samaritan.
“Dr. Springer is making an incredible impact at Merriam Park Elementary,” said Christina Lively, Department Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Blue KC. “Not only is he helping students and their families make a positive change in their communities, he also is helping them develop into upstanding young men and women. We are pleased to honor him as a Blue KC Sporting Samaritan.”
Born and raised in Wyandotte County, Springer started his career as a paraprofessional at the Kansas School for the Blind before becoming a teacher, serving at the pre-K, kindergarten, first grade and fifth-grade levels. Now an instructional coach and community school liaison, Springer joined Merriam Park Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District three years ago.
“The most rewarding part of my job is coming to school and seeing the smiles on the faces of our kids,” said Springer. “Today’s kids face many challenges that many of us never had to deal with. And when you can connect with them on a personal level and let them know how important they are, how loved they are, and how important they are to you, amazing things happen.”