College exploits land teacher in SLIAC Hall of Fame

Rachel Backes, a biology teacher at Lee’s Summit High School, has been named to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

Backes graduated summa cum laude in 2012 from Westminster College and is one of the school’s most decorated student athletes, receiving All-American Honors in 2011. A four-year starter and three-year basketball captain, she earned the following conference awards: Scholar Athlete of the Year, Senior Athlete of the Year and Player of the Year.

At Westminster, she’s still at the top of several statistical categories, including fourth in assists, fourth in steals, fourth in field goals made and fifth in points.

After graduating from Westminster, Backes earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri. She has taught at Lee’s Summit High since 2014 and is the school’s assistant girls basketball coach.

This story was originally published June 28, 2017 at 2:58 PM with the headline "College exploits land teacher in SLIAC Hall of Fame."