Jackson Park Teacher Honored by SSD

Special School District of St. Louis County recently honored 41 staff and community members at its annual SSD Salutes Banquet.

The district recognized teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and community members that have gone above and beyond when serving the district.

Award winners are as follows:

2012 Key to the Classroom

The Key to the Classroom Award honors SSD’s top teachers for their creative approaches to student learning, innovative programming and commitment to student success.

• Margie Holly, Ballwin, who teaches at  in the
• Nancy Abts, Kirkwood, who teaches at McGrath Elementary in the Brentwood School District
• Lynn Berger, Creve Coeur, who is an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired
• Kory Brown, Pacific, who teaches at Lafayette High School in the Rockwood School District
• Christine Haberberger, St. Louis, who teaches at Oakville Elementary in the Mehlville School District
• Cheryl Mulkey, Ballwin, who teaches in the Parkway School District
• Peggy Conroy Oge, St. Louis, who teaches at Litzsinger School in the Special School District
• Laura Petroff, St. Louis, who teaches at Ackerman School in the Special School District
• Kathleen Quilty-Sterns, Chesterfield, who teaches at Chesterfield Elementary in the Rockwood School District
• Topp, St. Peters, who teaches at Litzsinger School in the Special School District

Special Ambassador Award

The Special Ambassador Award is the highest recognition given by SSD. It is presented to members of the community who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the students and/or staff of SSD.

• Brenda Brown, St. Louis, is a school liaison with BJC Behavioral Health
• Dennis Buhr, Chesterfield, a volunteer with the Special Education Foundation
• Millie Beuc, Webster Groves, is a volunteer with Love on a Leash
• John Carney, St. Louis, is a radio personality at KEZK-FM and founder of the Carney’s Kids Foundation
• Brent Doering, Hazelwood, is a student at Hazelwood West High School in the Hazelwood School District
• Joan Esserman, St. Louis, is an educational surrogate
• Mary McFarland, St. Louis, is a teacher at Ritenour High School in the Ritenour School District
• Lorraine McNeil, Bellefontaine, is a teacher at North Technical High School in the Special School District
• Theresia Metz, St. Louis, is auxiliary coordinator at Bethesda Dilworth
• Matthew Phillips, Florissant, is principal at Brown Elementary in the Hazelwood School District
• Polly Ruh, St. Louis, is an educational surrogate
• W. Christopher Shocklee, St. Louis, is vice president at Drumtech Inc.
• Aaron Wills, Ballwin, is principal at Claymont Elementary in the Parkway School District

Building Block Award

The Building Block Award honors SSD’s outstanding paraprofessionals for their significant contributions to the lives of SSD students.

• Jessica Bolzenius, Union, is a paraprofessional at Ridge Meadows Elementary in the Rockwood School District
• Diane Daniels, Arnold, is a paraprofessional at Rogers Elementary in the Mehlville School District
• Cheryl Fleming, Florissant, is a paraprofessional at Glenridge Elementary in the Clayton School District
• Ericka Gulden, St. Louis, is a paraprofessional at Pattonville Heights Middle School in the Pattonville School District
• Carol Hoffman, Chesterfield, is a paraprofessional at Neuwoehner High School in the Special School District
• Brad Marquardt, St. Louis, is a paraprofessional at Bierbaum Elementary in the Mehlville School District
• Jannie Noise, St. Louis, is a paraprofessional at Webster Groves High School in the Webster Groves School District
• Diane Witte, St. John, is a paraprofessional at Northview High School in the Special School District

Lasting Impression Award 

SSD honors other dedicated individuals within the district through the Lasting Impression Award. Created in 2006, it is awarded to support staff who make a difference in the lives of students both within and outside the classroom.

• Laurie Dahle, St. Louis, is a physical therapist at Special School District
• Melanie Fitzgerald, Maplewood, is an early childhood special education behavior facilitator at Special School District
• Billy Hill, St. Louis, is a custodian at Neuwoehner High School in the Special School District
• Sheila Hoermann, St. Louis, is a bus monitor at Special School District
• George Neimeyer, Sunset Hills, is assistant principal at South Technical High School in the Special School District
• Rosina Palmer, St. Louis, is an instructional facilitator at South Technical High School in the Special School District
• Krista Sherman, O’Fallon, is a social worker at North Technical High School in the Special School District
• Richard Stephens, St. Louis, is a bus driver at Special School District
• Jo Anne Woodworth, St. Louis, is a speech-language pathologist at Concord Elementary in the Lindbergh School District
• Terri A. Young, St. Louis, is a speech-language pathologist at Southview School in the Special School District.