St. Louis Public Schools Foundation Celebrate Educators

ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis Public Schools presented its 2017-2018 Educator of the Year awards to 17 dedicated, inspirational educators and school leaders. To earn an Educator of the Year award, nominees must demonstrate excellence in the classroom or in a leadership capacity. Nominees are observed at their schools by a panel that includes former educators, community leaders and field-specific experts. 2017-2018 honorees are:

ALBERT SANDERS

ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Adelaide M. Schlafly Early Childhood Educator of the Year

ERICA YOWELL

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Gertrude Faust Potthoff Kindergarten Educator of the Year

CHEVELLE STEWART

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Elementary Math Educator of the Year

TRACI MILLER

OAK HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Dolores B. Malcolm/Follett School Solutions Elementary Reading Educator of the Year

DEBORAH MERTENS

MULLANPHY INVESTIGATIVE LEARNING CENTER

Elementary STEM Educator of the Year

JOSEPH WEIS

NAHED CHAPMAN NEW AMERICAN ACADEMY

Missouri Foundation for Health, Wellness and PE Educator of the Year

RHEA WILLIS

SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL

Dorothy R. Moog Special Education Educator of the Year

FLORENCE FIELDS

SIGEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Follett School Solutions Specialty Area Educator of the Year

KELLY WALSH

PIERRE LACLEDE JUNIOR CAREER ACADEMY

Dorothy Lustgarten Riekes Visual & Performing Arts Educator of the Year

RACHAEL FENNER

VASHON HIGH SCHOOL

Dr. Gerald L. Early Secondary English Language Arts Educator of the Year

JACOB NORMAN

MALLINCKRODT ACADEMY OF GIFTED INSTRUCTION

Thomas M. Stenger, Sr. and Mary Ann Stenger Humanities Educator of the Year

MICHELLE DAVIDSON

CENTRAL VPA HIGH SCHOOL

Secondary Math Educator of the Year

CARA CICCARELLI

GATEWAY STEM HIGH SCHOOL

Saint Louis Science Center Science Educator of the Year

DESIREE SPEED

GATEWAY STEM HIGH SCHOOL

College and Career Readiness Educator of the Year

STARLETT FRENCHIE

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Wells Fargo Elementary Leader of the Year

KACY SEALS

CENTRAL VPA HIGH SCHOOL

Enterprise Holdings Secondary Leader of the Year

NATHANIEL LISCHWE

CLYDE C. MILLER CAREER ACADEMY

Ameren Supporting School Leader of the Year

The 2017-2018 SLPS Educators of the Year were honored at an awards reception with family and colleagues at Palladium St. Louis. Director of Professional Development Dr. LaTisha Smith served Master of Ceremonies. SLPS Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams, Director of Talent Strategy & Management Haliday Douglas and Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund Administrative Director Dr. Alice Roach also served as program speakers.

Each winner received a trophy, a plaque for his or her school and a $1,000 award provided by donors to the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation. Honorees also received a $500 award through the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund.

All Subject-area SLPS Educators of the Year will now be considered for the District’s overall Educator of the Year award, which is determined by the SLPS Talent Strategy & Management Office. The winner will advance to represent SLPS in the Missouri Teacher of the Year contest.