IAOTP picks Lieda Shadwick as Most Inspirational Educator of the Year

By AI, Created 6:46 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – The International Association of Top Professionals will honor Lieda Shadwick, a Career and Technical Education teacher in St. Louis, at its annual awards gala in New York City this December. The recognition highlights her more than 20 years in education, military service, and repeated awards across teaching and leadership.

Why it matters: - The honor spotlights a veteran educator whose work spans classroom teaching, student advising, and career readiness. - The recognition also adds another national award to Shadwick’s record as she prepares for IAOTP’s 2026 gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - IAOTP’s selection process can elevate professional visibility and community reach for honorees across education and other fields.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Lieda Shadwick, MAT, as Most Inspirational Educator of the Year (2026). - IAOTP will honor Shadwick at its annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December 2026. - Shadwick currently teaches Career and Technical Education at Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis, Missouri. - Her current teaching assignment includes marketing, advanced marketing, and sports & entertainment marketing for the 2025–2026 school year. - Shadwick also supports students in Supervised Business Experience and Supervised Marketing Experience work-study programs.

The details: - Shadwick has more than two decades of experience in education and industry. - She is certified to teach in Illinois and Missouri. - Her background includes expertise in marketing, web design, and computer applications. - Shadwick has served as an assistant coach for the girls’ basketball team at Riverview Gardens Central Middle School. - Her earlier teaching roles included keyboarding and Introduction to Business instruction. - She has worked as a CTE instructor at Riverview Gardens High School since 2019 and held the same role there from 2005 to 2010. - Shadwick will serve as the primary DECA adviser during the 2025–2026 school year. - She has eight years of military service, including a deployment during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. - Shadwick earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in educational technology from Webster University in 2005. - Her prior honors include Top Career and Technical Educator of the Year 2024 and Empowered Woman of the Year from IAOTP. - She was featured on the cover of TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine Special Edition in 2024. - She appeared in the International Best Seller Top 50 Fearless Leaders (Vol. 4) with a dedicated chapter. - Shadwick received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. - She appeared on a billboard in Nashville in 2024 and on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square in 2025. - She was recognized as Top Career and Technical Educator of the Decade. - She was included in Top 25 Global Impact Leaders in 2026. - Her affiliations include the American Legion, the National Education Association, the Missouri National Education Association, the Association for Career and Technical Education, and the Marketing Educators of Missouri. - IAOTP links to its gala information here. - Additional references include Shadwick’s LinkedIn profile, her book Shaping Futures: A Life in Education, Leadership, and Legacy, and a video feature.

Between the lines: - IAOTP’s honor fits Shadwick’s long career centered on CTE, student mentoring, and business education. - The release frames her military background, teaching longevity, and multiple recognitions as part of a broader leadership story. - The gala invitation suggests IAOTP is using the award to showcase professionals it views as high-impact role models.

What’s next: - Shadwick will be recognized at IAOTP’s annual gala in December 2026 at the Plaza Hotel. - She says she hopes to inspire and influence people entering the field. - Outside work, Shadwick plans to keep traveling and spending time with her family.

The bottom line: - IAOTP is adding another high-profile honor to Shadwick’s record, and the award underscores the value of experienced CTE educators in preparing students for work and leadership.