NTS teacher recognized at summer conference
SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Crystal Combs, business teacher at the Northwest Technical School, has been recognized as the Missouri ACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year by the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — A local business teacher at Northwest Technical School has been honored by the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education at a summer conference held in July in Springfield.
Crystal Combs, business teacher at Northwest Technical School, was named the Missouri Postsecondary Teacher of the Year and Who’s Who in Missouri Business Education at the annual summer conference held July 22-25.
Nominated for the award by members of the Northwest District of the Missouri Business Education Association, Combs was recognized as going above and beyond her duties as a business educator.
This can be seen not only in her work in the classroom, but also in her passion for the Future Business Leaders of America organization.
“I’m always changing my curriculum,” she said. “I’ve put a strong emphasis on adding some coding into the curriculum in the past. We are also working on updating our multimedia (audio and video equipment).”
Serving as the president of the MBEA last year, she has presented information regarding the coding emphasis and curriculum updates throughout the year, leading to the nomination.
“I felt really honored because our area’s business teachers are really outstanding,” Combs said. “I was very honored because they are all great people who deserve this as much as I do. I was kind of surprised. … There are so many great teachers who do such great things in our area.”
Combs classes are elective and usually comprised of juniors and seniors who are narrowing down their interests.
The many facets of business allows her to offer nine different preparatory classes based on student enrollment, from accounting to technology-based such as audio and video creation.
She also offers a dual credit class through Northwest Missouri State University. By offering these options, it allows the students to get a basic introduction to that line of coursework and find out if they’re really interested in pursuing it in college or in their future career.
“I love teaching kids new things in the classroom, but they take those things and apply it to FBLA and then they can see their rewards,” she said.
The FBLA organization at Maryville falls under Combs’ purview and she is passionate about giving the students in the group every opportunity possible. Last year two members Vanessa Klotz and Justus Voss placed second in the nation for their website design at the National FBLA Competition.
“That’s where my true passion lies is seeing those kids succeed and at that level,” she said.
Combs goes so far as to reach out to other area FBLA advisers to offer help to advance each other and all students in the area.
“Mrs. Combs is definitely a leader teacher in our district,” said Maryville R-II Superintendent Becky Albrecht. “She really invests into her students, giving them the skills and assistance they need to reach their potential. Her ambition and enthusiasm is contagious. She is so deserving of this award, and we here at the school are very proud of her.”
Combs taught seven years in Corning, Iowa, before the school consolidated. She is in her sixth year in the Maryville school district.
