{"id":2590,"date":"2024-03-18T16:30:29","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T21:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=2590"},"modified":"2024-03-26T14:16:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T19:16:38","slug":"2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-inger-lillis-month-of-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-inger-lillis-month-of-march\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Honoree Inger Lillis \u2013 month of March"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue KC and <\/em>Sporting KC<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>have announced Boone Elementary School teacher Inger Lillis as the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan honoree for March.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching and educating our community\u2019s youth has always been the dream for Inger Lillis. A Kansas City native, she received her Bachelor\u2019s degree from UMKC before obtaining her Masters of Arts in Elementary Education from Baker University. Once her four boys were school-aged, she continued her teaching career at Boone Elementary School in the Center School District and has taught in Kansas City, Missouri for the past eight years. Throughout her journey, Lillis has split her time between teaching first and second graders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my eighth year at Boone (Elementary)\u201d, said Lillis. \u201cDuring my time, I have served as lead teacher, helped plan grade-level curriculum, and also served as the robotics coach. I took over the robotics program in my second year at Boone and have helped grow the program to give more kids the opportunity to learn and participate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lillis\u2019 success and influence in her school led her to receive \u2018Teacher of the Year\u2019 honors at Boone Elementary in 2020. This prestigious award was voted upon by her colleagues. It was an extra special achievement for Lillis since she dealt with numerous challenges and successfully taught her way through the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoone Elementary is a very welcoming school,\u201d said Lillis. \u201cIt\u2019s a home away from home for staff and students, and also feels like a family. I loved teaching at Boone Elementary while my four boys were attending, but a major reason we elected to stay (at Boone Elementary) instead of moving elsewhere, was due to the diverse student population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One approach that Lillis has found successful over the years has been to constantly remind her students that it\u2019s okay to \u2018feel all of the feels\u2019 and that a perfectly happy human simply does not exist. She believes that everyone makes mistakes, young and old, and it\u2019s our job to collectively work together to learn from our mistakes and better ourselves for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best piece of advice that I have ever received is that every class is unique and has different needs,\u201d said Lillis. \u201cIt\u2019s important to remember to be flexible with each new class and to continue to tweak my classroom management and teaching style to meet the needs of each and every one of my students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Inger Lillis (in sunglasses) on the field with family and Sporting KC player Kayden Pierre (far right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As she continues to further her education, Lillis is currently attending Avila University in an effort to obtain her Master\u2019s degree in reading. She\u2019s been able to successfully balance her schedule with the needs of those in her classroom. Her desire to stretch the comfort zones of her students has created a promising atmosphere that allows learning to take place successfully for her second graders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s essential to instill high standards for students because they learn that their effort is directly tied to their performance,\u201d said Lillis. \u201cThey can carry this with them as they grow throughout the school year, as well as in future education and their personal lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInger leads by example in and out of the classroom and provides a safe place for her students and children, and also works hard to make Kansas City a better place for all,\u201d said Lillis\u2019 nominator, and husband, Paul Lillis. \u201cWhen you have a teacher who is as dedicated to her school and students as Inger, they don\u2019t just work for eight hours per day, Monday through Friday during the school year. They put in countless hours during each week, and even on weekends, year-round when they\u2019re pursuing a personal objective to be the best educator possible. She always puts her students and her family first and wanted to do her part to make a difference in the world and shape the young minds of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBalancing the complexities of family life and second grade teaching can be an ongoing challenge,\u201d said Christina Lively, Blue KC Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. \u201cBut Inger\u2019s approach to each day, along with her passion for education and student-advancement creates a shining example of a superior role model and educator within the Kansas City community. We\u2019re honored to highlight her accomplishments and look forward to many more memorable moments as her academic career continues. Congratulations Inger!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans are encouraged to nominate teachers and students who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online clicking HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs.<\/h3>

Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Program<\/p> <\/div>\n

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