Stockton music teacher, Megan Riener, honored

Megan Riener, Stockton’s vocal music teacher, was named the Northwest KMEA Outstanding Elementary Music Educator at the KMEA Honor Band and Choir Concert held at Fort Hays State University on Saturday, December 3rd. She was also selected as the Overall Outstanding Educator for Northwest Kansas and will represent the Northwest District at the state level this coming February.

Reiner’s former music teacher, Kayla Wombacher of Atwood, nominated her for the award. Wombacher taught Riener elementary vocal music and piano.

Riener received her Bachelor of Music Education from Kansas State University in the spring of 2012 and began her teaching career at Stockton that August. She has now taught eleven years at Stockton with the first seven teaching fifth through twelfth grade instrumental music. She transitioned to vocal/general music in 2019 and now teaches Kindergarten through twelfth grade vocal, and seventh through twelfth grade band. Riener says she and band teacher Laura Jameson also do a little co-teaching, and are now getting ready for the upcoming Christmas concerts.

Reiner enjoys working with the different grade levels and the job aspects of school concerts, KMEA District Conventions, KSHSAA solos and ensemble festivals, league contests and performing for the community. One such community concert was the recent Veterans Day Celebration.

Riener has had many outstanding educators throughout the years, whether that was at her alma maters of Atwood/ Rawlins County Grade School and High School or KSU. One outstanding professor’s motto that has stayed with Reiner is “Leave It Better Than You Found It.” Riener believes that is a great motto to have, especially being an educator. She hopes to continue pushing and inspiring her students to give their best in the classroom, on the playing field or court, or in any organization they are a part of. Her goal as an educator is when the time comes to leave her school or profession, that she has left it “Better Than She Found It” and that she made a positive impact in the lives of her students, colleagues and community members.

Not only is Riener continuing the hard work ethic that was installed in her by her parents when she was growing up, she continues that character trait by serving on the Grade School Site Council and is a Resilience Coach for Trauma-Informed Success. Reiner has coached volleyball at the junior high and high school levels and is the Sophomore class sponsor. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA). Reiner served as the Northwest District KMEA Junior High Honor Band Chair for three years and is a member of the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA).

She is also very active in her community. Riener coaches Rec teams and is involved in her church, being a pianist and cantor as well as teaches Religious Education.

Riener notes that all of these things would not be possible without the support of her family and friends. Her parents encouraged music growing up as Riener played the piano, harp and French horn beginning at a young age. Her husband, Jeff, is very supportive as many evenings or Saturdays are spent at school events, concerts and contests.

The couple have three children, Makinley, Carson and Gracelyn.