The Pattonville School District recognized staff and volunteers for their service and named its Teacher and Support Staff of the Year during District Appreciation Night on May 1. Take a look at this year’s honorees.
District Teacher and Support Staff of the Year
Jenny McDowell, left, a physical therapist at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center, was named Pattonville Support Staff of the Year, and Brittany Garcia, a fourth grade teacher at Drummond Elementary School, was named district Teacher of the Year. The announcements were made during Pattonville’s District Appreciation Night on May 1.
Pride of Pattonville
Ten individuals were chosen to receive the prestigious Pride of Pattonville award. The honor recognizes staff, parents and volunteers for outstanding service to the district. The 2022-2023 Pride of Pattonville honorees are, from left, front row, Janet Kuhn, family and consumer sciences teacher at Pattonville High School; Margaret Hall, French teacher at the high school; and Adam Seibert, history teacher at Pattonville Heights Middle School; second row, Laura Wick, executive secretary at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center; and back row, Mark Barnhart, Pattonville Fire Protection District captain; Andrea Snowden, parent volunteer and substitute teacher; Maria Farmer, fifth grade teacher at Willow Brook Elementary School; Jennifer Haub, paraprofessional at Willow Brook; and David Wright, school resource officer at Holman Middle School. Barry Mertz, volunteer at Pattonville High School, was also awarded Pride of Pattonville.
Rookies of the Year
Stepany Dominguez, nurse at early childhood, left, was chosen for Support Staff Rookie of the Year, and Holly Kopp, a second grade teacher at Willow Brook Elementary School, was honored with the certified staff Rookie of the Year award. Rookie of the Year honors those in their first or second year of service in the district.
Finalists for Teacher and Support Staff of the Year
Finalists for Pattonville Teacher of the Year were, from left, Emily Cook, second grade teacher at Remington Traditional School; Brittany Garcia, fourth grade teacher at Drummond Elementary School; and Jennifer Rogers, second grade teacher at Willow Brook Elementary School
Finalists for Pattonville Support Staff of the Year were, from left, Mallorey Burns, clerk at Pattonville Heights Middle School; Stephanie Kellner, secretary at Drummond Elementary School; and Jenny McDowell, physical therapist at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center.
Semifinalists for Teacher and Support Staff of the Year
District honorees and finalists for Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year were building-level honorees for the respective awards. Other building-level honorees/semifinalists for Teacher of the Year were: Sharon Wood, teacher at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center; Jessica Esquivel, first grade teacher at Bridgeway Elementary School; Abigail Beckermann, kindergarten teacher at Parkwood Elementary School; Joseph Reagan, PE teacher at Rose Acres Elementary School; Matthew Parker, science teacher at Holman Middle School; Wendy Mathis, math teacher at Pattonville Heights Middle School; and Danelle Emerick, history teacher at Pattonville High School. Shown are, from left, Emerick, Wood, Esquivel and Mathis.
Other building-level honorees/semifinalists for Support Staff of the Year were: Renee Davenport at Bridgeway; Jarrett Harrison at Parkwood; Vickie Moore, paraprofessional at Rose Acres; Christina Finazzo-Purl, SSD speech pathologist at Willow Brook; Malissa Fedrick, custodian at Remington; Caroline Burgess, secretary at Holman; Debra Dold, clerk at the high school; and Emily Groneck, printing specialist for the district services group. Shown are, from left, Moore, Davenport, Finazzo-Purl and Dold.
School Bell Awards
Each year, Pattonville recognizes staff members (Pattonville and SSD staff who work in Pattonville) who retire between each year’s District Appreciation festivities. All retirees have the option to receive an engraved School Bell Award recognizing their service. This year, 16 staff members were honored as retirees and thanked for their service in Pattonville. Shown are, from left, front row, Tonya Ferretti, English learner teacher at Parkwood Elementary School; Dr. Rosalyn Manahan, assistant principal at Pattonville High School; Julie Harder, librarian at Pattonville Heights Middle School; Mark Wallis, bus driver in transportation; and Dr. Tina Plummer, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning; and, back row, Stanley Greer, bus driver in transportation; Russell Behlmann, bus driver in transportation; Joan Hasamear, bus driver in transportation; and Jody Tedeschi, bus aide in transportation. View a copy of the District Appreciation Night program featuring bios of the retirees at bit.ly/DANProgram2023.
35 Years of Service
Roy Libhart, facilities supervisor in the maintenance department, was recognized for 35 years of service.
30 Years of Service
Employees honored for 30 years of service are from left, Marlon Gilkey, custodian at Rose Acres Elementary School, and Janet Kuhn, family and consumer sciences teacher at Pattonville High School.
25 Years of Service
Employees honored for 25 years of service include, from left, Tonya Ferretti, English learner teacher at Parkwood Elementary School; Steve Smith, PE teacher at Pattonville High School; and Jolene Hilligoss, special education teacher at Rose Acres Elementary School.
20 Years of Service
Employees honored for 20 years of service include, from left, front row, Brittany Garcia, fourth grade teacher at Drummond Elementary School, and Brenda Vitale, bus driver in transportation; and, back row, Michele Hill, English Learner teacher at Remington Traditional School; Karolyn Florence, television/audio teacher at Pattonville High School; Dr. Bill Casner, principal at Bridgeway Elementary School; and Jody Tedeschi, bus aide in transportation.
15 Years of Service
Employees honored for 15 years of service include, from left, Adam Hall, band teacher at Holman Middle School; Wendy Mathis, math teacher at Pattonville Heights Middle School; Stacey Hill, English learner teacher at Bridgeway Elementary School; Christina Poelker, bus driver in transportation; and Yulia Kotets, English learner teacher at Willow Brook Elementary School.
10 Years of Service
Employees honored for 10 years of service include, from left, front row, Josie Chapman, paraprofessional at Bridgeway Elementary School, and Ellen Serio, speech/langue therapist at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center; and, back row, Trina Cornell, reading teacher at Holman Middle School; Chardonnay Clay, paraprofessional at early childhood; You Ruan, custodian at Pattonville High School; and Bill Dinsmore, custodian at early childhood.
Five Years of Service
Employees honored for five years of service include, from left, front row, Pattonville Early Childhood Center paraprofessionals Cierra Brown, Munazza Faruqi and Tamara Henderson; second row, Van Tan Huynh, custodian at Pattonville High School; Robin Change, gifted teacher at Rose Acres Elementary School; Gregory Hayden, custodian at the high school; Dr. Matt Goodman, lead researcher, Pattonville Learning Center; and Lula Abraham, paraprofessional at early childhood; and, back row, Kent Booth, English teacher at the high school; Rebecca Byrne, science teacher at the high school; and Maria Saunders, secretary at the high school.
Support Organization officers
Pattonville honors parents and community members who volunteer their time to lead support organizations for Pattonville schools. Honored during District Appreciation Night were, from left, front row, Sarah Barth, treasurer of the Remington PTO; Laura Wick, treasurer of the Early Childhood PTO and of Band Boosters; Kenna Jenkins, treasurer of the Pattonville Association for Gifted Education (PAGE); Pollyana Appleton, treasurer of the High School PTO; Donette Green, president of the Pattonville Retirees Association (PRA); and Teree Davis, secretary of the PRA; and, back row, Jim Usry, president of the Holman PTA; Sharon Wood, president of the Early Childhood PTO; Kristi Stroud, secretary of the Pattonville Orchestra Parent Students Organization (POPS); Dean Linhardt, vice president of the Pattonville Alumni Association; Andrea Snowden, vice president and concessions manager of the high school PTO; Donna Burd, vice president of the PRA; and Becky Middendorf, treasurer of the PRA.
Find out more
View a copy of the District Appreciation Night program:
View a photo gallery from District Appreciation Night: