A Kirkwood chemistry teacher known for his ability to inspire both students and fellow educators has been selected as Missouri's Teacher of the Year for 2010-11, state education officials announced today.

Robert Becker has been sharing his love of chemistry with Kirkwood High School students since 1990. He was chosen for the award Monday by a nine-member selection committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He automatically becomes Missouri's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year program.

Becker has taught traditional and honors chemistry and AP chemistry at Kirkwood.

David Holley, principal of Kirkwood High School, said in a letter of recommendation that Becker motivates students by making chemistry relevant to their lives and by going out of his way to help them get caught up with their work during study hall.

Becker himself credits a suggestion made by a veteran teacher at a 1993 summer conference as changing his own approach toward instruction. Before then, he was always in charge of exciting classroom demonstrations like "The Flame Tornado" and "The Pringles Rocket." The teacher suggested that Becker step aside and let his students handle some of the demonstrations by themselves.

"I love it," he said. "They love it. It gives the students responsibility for teaching that material, it empowers them to become better public speakers, and it gives them genuine ownership of the demonstration and the chemistry behind it. There are many teaching innovations I have tried over the years, but none as successful in my opinion as the weekly ‘student demo.'"

Becker has a bachelor's degree in biology from Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and a master's degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis. Before arriving at Kirkwood, he taught chemistry and physics at Greenwich High School in Connecticut from 1984-1989.

The State Board of Education will formally honor Becker and the five Missouri Teacher of the Year finalists, including Lori Mathys at Chesterfield Elementary, at a banquet Nov. 15 in Jefferson City. Each teacher will receive cash awards and other prizes.