Biography
Following graduation from Culver Stockton College, Keri Cottrell, began her service to children as a home bound teacher for the birth-three population. During the flood of 1993, she began teaching second grade at Canton Elementary School. Her first days in the classroom required transportation by helicopter to get across the Mississippi River. Keri is currently serving the Canton R-V District as Elementary Curriculum Coordinator and as a fourth grade classroom teacher. Her nineteen years of dedication to children reaches outside her classroom in her service to children as member of the Douglas Community Center Board which oversees many community entities including Head Start in an eight county area. Keri was elected by her colleagues to serve on her school district’s Professional Development Committee. This committee is charged with providing and insuring appropriate inservice training for the district’s teachers. She is currently serving as the President for the Northeast Missouri Region of the Missouri State Teacher’s Association and serves on the state resolutions committee. Keri is also involved with many community organization including Chapter BS PEO where she is serving as vice-president. This fall Keri assisted her pastor in meeting the foods need of people in Lewis County by implementing the "Out to Lunch" program where families can come to church on Sunday for a free lunch.
Keri and her husband, Tony, reside in Canton with their two children, Andrew and Hannah. Andrew, 21, is a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia majoring in Agricultural Systems Management. Their daughter, Hannah, 17, is a junior at Canton High School. The Cottrell family are active members of the Immanuel United Methodist Church where Keri serves as lay leader and church council chairperson.
