Kurt Gates is 2025-2026 LPS Teacher of the Year

It was a memorable afternoon inside the Liberty North High School Jacobs Performing Arts Theater Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as members of the LPS leadership team, Board of Education, and Liberty North High School staff gathered to make the surprise announcement of the 2025 Liberty Public Schools District Teacher of the Year. As the screen in the theater lowered and a video played to open the event, it did not take long for guests to realize this year's recipient is longtime LPS social studies teacher, Mr. Kurt Gates.

Mr. Gates is in his 24th year teaching in Liberty Public Schools, and his 29th year overall in public education. His time in LPS began during the 2001-2002 school year at Liberty High School as a member of the social studies department. When Liberty North High School opened in 2010, Gates would split his time between the two schools for two years before moving to Liberty North full-time in 2012.

"The incredible impact that Mr. Gates has had on his students while teaching in Liberty Public Schools has been unprecedented," said LPS Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Tucker. "To go with his incredible talents that he exhibits in the classroom each day, he also provides exceptional real-world learning experiences for them outside of the regular school day."

According to Gates, his favorite part of his job is opening the minds of his students to new perspectives and facilitating thoughtful discussions. 

"I think one of my strongest traits as a teacher is hopefully helping kids to think critically," said Gates. "My goal is not to always teach them what to think, but to help them think about complex issues, looking at cause and effect, and making decisions for themselves while looking at all the facts and wanting to learn more."

Making the afternoon even more special was that it was shared with his longtime spouse and current Liberty North High School and Liberty High School Educational Internship Program Teacher Melissa Taylor, who is a former LPS District Teacher of the Year named in 2011 when she taught at Liberty Middle School. 

Gates is a native of Papillion, Nebraska, and received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. He and Melissa have two children: Harrison, a 2019 graduate of Liberty North, and Amy, a current senior at LNHS.

This is the 21st year of the Teacher of the Year program in Liberty Public Schools, and provides an opportunity to spotlight the amazing teaching and learning that takes place in LPS. 

Mr. Gates now advances to represent LPS at the state level as part of the Missouri Teacher of the Year process, which is hosted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.