Teams 
In 2011, the Royals join Missouri Lottery to honor outstanding educators through the Missouri Lottery Heroes in the Classroom recognition program. Prior to six Royals games throughout the summer, Missouri Lottery and the Royals celebrate the achievements of top teachers from six school districts in the metro area.
The Missouri Lottery has contributed more than $3.9 billion to the state of Missouri and its public education programs and generates more than $250 million for vital education programs each year.
The Royals work in partnership with local school districts to honor an outstanding educator with the Heroes in the Classroom award. Each teacher receives four (4) tickets to the game, a parking pass and are featured during a special presentation prior to the game.
Emily Stone, Social Studies and Credit Recovery teacher at Raytown South High School was named the Raytown School District 2011-12 District Teacher of the Year. Emily has taught at Raytown South for five years after spending the four previous years in the Holden, Mo., school district. Emily is known by her colleagues as being balanced and energetic individual who is extremely dedicated to her students. Emily is a graduate of Lee's Summit High School and Truman State University.
Laura Kilpatrick has taught elementary music in the Independence School District for 15 years and was named the 2011 District Employee of the Year. When she is not teaching at school, she gives private piano lessons and coaches middle and high school students preparing for district and state music competitions. She also performs/sings in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Mrs. Kilpatrick has sung the National Anthem twice for the Kansas City Royals over the last 10 years. She is an avid Royals and Chiefs fan.
Kristen Merrell has taught at Lee's Summit Elementary since 2004 and was named the 2011 Lee's Summit Teacher of the Year. She has received several district and state awards for her commitment to her students. "Mrs. Merrell sees each of her students and meets them where they are," a parent volunteer wrote on a nomination form, "encouraging them with individualized tasks and opportunities that allow them to reach their personal best. She is deftly efficient and her classroom hums with sounds of excited and engaged children."
Janice Larson is a frist-grade teacher at James School in the Kansas City, Mo., School District. Janice became a teacher as a second career just seven years ago after serving as a librarian at a public library in Iowa. Janice is known for her strong commitment to the children and volunteers throughout the week to tutor her students after school to provide additional academic support.
Enthusiastic, caring, patient, dedicated ... these words only begin to describe Ms. Garney, a first grade teacher at Fox Hill Elementary School in the North Kansas City School District. Ms. Garney is a teacher who truly believes it is a team effort between teacher and parents to help her students be successful, productive members of society. She does this through building relationships with her students and parents, as well as being a daily positive role model to her students.
For more information, fans can contact the Royals' Community Relations department at communityrelations@royals.mlb.com.
