Staff Spotlight: Jeremy Weaver, Prather

By Brayden Cook '26

Every week throughout the 2025-26 school year, Granite City Community School District #9 will be highlighting a staff member for going above and beyond to give students a positive experience.

This week’s staff highlight is Jeremy Weaver.

Weaver is a fourth-grade teacher at Prather Elementary School and has been working in GCSD9 for 23 years.

Where did you attend school?
I attended Granite City schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and am a proud alumnus of the Class of 1992. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

What is your favorite memory working for GCSD9?
There are so many wonderful memories from my time in GCSD9. One is sharing the view with my students from the second floor at Niedringhaus Elementary. We had the privilege of seeing Wilson Park every day. Watching the leaves change color in autumn and the snow fall in winter are things I will never forget. Field trips with my students to canoe on the Mississippi River and attending a Blues game with my 1,000-minute readers are experiences I still cherish today.

What did you do before working at GCSD9?
While attending college, I delivered pizzas. I loved that job so much that I continued doing it for years after I was hired as a teacher in the district.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I love traveling with my family. I will never turn down a hike through the mountains or relaxing on the beach. I am an avid fan and love watching the St. Louis Blues. You can often find me at GCHS volleyball and soccer games throughout the school year, cheering on my daughter Elizabeth. My wife, Cheryl, and I look forward to visiting our son Alex at Mizzou on the weekends and attending Tigers football games.

What’s your favorite part of being a fourth-grade teacher?
My favorite part of being a fourth-grade teacher is when I'm teaching a lesson, and I see the looks on the kids' faces when they begin to understand a lesson. The daily interactions and seeing how eager my students are to learn get me through the day.  

Hobbies?
My hobbies include hiking, biking, and exploring new trails.

Who do you look up to?
The person I look up to most is my Grandpa Weaver. He made friends everywhere he went. He was quick with a joke, told hilarious stories about his hockey days working in the St. Louis Blues penalty box, and made everyone around him feel comfortable and loved.

If you would like to nominate a deserving staff member, please email: information@gcsd9.net