Chester Hurt, a dedicated educator according to his peers, has been honored as the Neelyville High School Teacher of the Year. Married to Michelle Worley-Hurt, they have two grown children and a 3-year-old grandson. Hurt’s journey into teaching began with his involvement in Sunday School and youth leadership, leading him to pursue a degree in education later in life at the age of 30. With two decades of teaching experience at Neelyville, he has primarily instructed students in grades 9 to 12, covering subjects such as World History, Government, Missouri History and Holocaust. The smaller school setting, Hurt said, has afforded him the opportunity to teach diverse classes, including specialized topics like the Vietnam War, World War II and world religions, tailored to the student’s interests.
While Hurt said he finds satisfaction in witnessing the “oh yeah” moments when students grasp academic concepts, he derives the most fulfillment from observing their growth in decision-making and personal development. Hurt explained his motivation to become a teacher stemmed from a desire to support teenagers through challenging times and foster their overall growth as individuals. Hurt said he firmly believes that his role extends beyond teaching educational concepts, he aims to incorporate life skills and character-building into his classroom.
Hurt demonstrates a profound commitment to his students and his role as an educator, according to his peers. During the award presentation, Neelyville Principal Justin Dobbins said, “Mr. Hurt has been dedicated to our district for 20 years. Anytime there’s a need to be filled, he’ll step up, be ready to fill it and do whatever — he’s a team player. He’s dependable. He shows up every day for work ready to educate kids, ready to do the best job he can and he is very deserving.”
Outside of the classroom, Hurt said he has actively led the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, participated in Neelyville’s Veteran’s Day program to support veterans and contributed to the school’s paper recycling efforts.
When asked about advice for aspiring teachers, Hurt emphasized the importance of genuinely loving the age group one works with. While passion for a subject is valuable, it is essential to derive fulfillment from engaging with a specific age range to avoid dissatisfaction, he explained. He encourages other educators to consider the long-term impact they can have on students, preparing them for future challenges in subsequent classes, college and their careers. He emphasized the significance of instilling decision-making skills and a strong work ethic in his students, as he feels these qualities endure throughout a lifetime.
“All a ‘teach’ can do is set the tone, do everything you can do to get the concepts through to them and encourage them to do their part, but everyone has to make their own decision about trying or not,” explained Hurt, “When you have done everything you can, then you have done everything you can.”