School District to Honor Students, Educators

The School District of University City will honor the accomplishments of students and staff at the February Board of Education meeting Thursday, Feb. 21. 

The meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday.

Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt said she believes the recognitions are a good reminder to the Board and District as a whole about the reason they exist – to serve students. 

“I have high standards for our students and expect them to do great things, but even so, I am always impressed with how talented our students are," she said. "Hearing about their accomplishments inspires us to continue to challenge them academically and expose them to limitless opportunities.”

The following students and educators will be honored:

Missouri Middle School Principal of the Year

Dr. Jamie Jordan, principal of Brittany Woods Middle School, has been named the 2013 Missouri Middle School Principal of the Year by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). Jordan will receive the award at the annual MASSP Spring Conference at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Mo., Monday, March 25.

More than 400 middle school principals were considered for the honor. Jordan receives the recognition based on her impact in the areas of collaborative leadership, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and personalization of the learning environment. She was also named the 2012 Middle School Principal of the Year by the St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals. 

Two SSD educators honored with Building Block Award. 

Two Special School District (SSD) educators, Linda Johnson and LaVerne Sandidge, will receive the SSD Building Block Award. The accolade honors SSD’s outstanding paraprofessionals for their contributions to the lives of SSD students. The paraprofessionals, who teach University City High School students, will be recognized during the SSD Salutes Banquet Wednesday, March 6.

UCHS senior earns perfect score on ACT

Daniel Politte, a senior at University City High School, earned the highest possible composite score of 36 on the ACT college admission and placement exam. On average, less than one tenth of one percent of all test takers earn the top score. Among ACT-tested U.S. high school graduates in the class of 2012, only 781 out of more than 1.66 million students earned a composite score of 36. 

UMSL Distinguished Achievement Award

UCHS junior Deja Bowie received the 2013 Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Science Tuesday, Feb. 12, at a special banquet. Each year, the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Arts and Sciences honors the most outstanding juniors from the St. Louis area.

Elite Ecole TX Dance program scholarship

University City High School senior Dontel Pattman has earned a $1,500 scholarship to participate in the Elite Ecole TX program in San Antonio. The intensive 14-day program will be held July 7-20.