Dr. Lario Yerino is a Liberty North science teacher. This year Dr. Yerino has won the Teacher of The Year award. He has worked for Liberty North for a few years, but is retiring after the 2016-2017 school year.    

  “I’ve had many years teaching and have enjoyed it. But I have also given a huge amount of time outside of class to help students, and I’m really looking forward to to have time to play, to do a whole bunch of things that I wanna do.” Dr. Lario Yerino said.

  Before he was a teacher, Dr. Yerino was working as a chemist in industry. Due to a job loss and experience with children and students through his kids he decided to pursue a career in teaching.

  “Back in, I believe the year was 1996, and I had been working as a chemist in industry(my PHD is in chemistry), and there was a lay off and i had been doing a whole bunch of things with the elementary school where my kids went to school (science stuff). So rather than look for another job in chemistry, I thought I  might enjoy teaching.” Yerino said.

  Throughout his career as a teacher Dr. Yerino has worked in different schools. He has worked at both Oak Park High School and Fort Osage High School. While working at these schools he earned an award like the one he earned here at North.

  “When I was at Oak Park,  I won teacher of year for the entire school district. I ended up one of the six runners up for Missouri state teacher of the year, but I did not win teacher of the year for the state” Yerino said.”

 The Teacher of The Year award is awarded to the best teacher at the school. This year, Dr. Yerino won. While maybe not the only award he has won, the meaning this award has is not lost on him.

  “It’s a real honor, but at the same time it’s also humbling because I ook around me andI see several teachers that are also equally deserving. So in that sense I feel fortunate to receive it, and like I said, also a little humbled by it.” Yerino said.

 After working as a teacher for many years, Yerino plans on retiring after this school year. After retirement, he plans on doing some of the things he enjoys most. He also plans on continuing his learning in subjects he enjoys.

  “Well I’m an amateur astronomer, I built my own telescope its 8 foot tall and weighs 120lbs. I plan to do a lot of observing and a lot of astronomy. I plan to continue learning more math and physics I love to learn. As i do reading in areas, i keep running into stuff i don’t know how to do and I wanna be able to do it, i wanna be able to understand  it. I enjoy reading, tinkering ( i do  electronic circuit design), my wife and I to travel and do camping. So a lot of play,” Yerino said.

Yerino is not leaving his students with nothing. In addition to all the teachings he has given the students, he is leaving North with some advice for his, and all students at North.  

“I think my students know this, I value students putting in their strongest effort, working hard, not giving up, and achieving their goals. At the same time as they move through life I want them to enjoy life, that what it’s really all about,” Yerino said.