 | Cindy Hettenhausen | | Ellis Elementary | | Reading Interventionist |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "A true leader does not try to influence the opinions, thoughts or actions of others, but instead supports and guides them through the decision making process." |
Ellis Elementary | | Reading Interventionist |
| | Cindy Hettenhausen |
As a reading interventionist, Cindy is heavily involved in ensuring student success. She leads the school’s Response to Intervention program and oversees the reading improvement program that helps struggling students. She also established Ellis’ Check and Connect program, which helps students who are struggling with behavior and self-confidence issues by pairing them up with a mentor teacher. |  | April D. Cotton | | Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School | | Intern Leadership Program Director |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | Educational leadership has guided my career to a place of excitement, innovation and gratification in what I do to help students succeed. I am excited about the opportunities that await my students. |
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School | | Intern Leadership Program Director |
| | April D. Cotton |
April Cotton mentors and guides students to achieve their very best. As director, she is the driving force behind the Intern Leadership Program, which provides incentives for talented African-America youth to live, work and become leaders in the St. Louis region. She works with students to advance their professional development skills and helps them land college internships with businesses throughout St. Louis. Her support and guidance fosters a dedication and strong work ethic in her students as they go on to achieve success. |
 | Meagan Bonnell-Yogi | | Gateway STEM High School | | Business Education Department Head |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | My philosophy of teaching is very simple. It is based upon relationships. A positive rapport with students helps them to feel safe in the classroom and also makes them want to succeed and have positive outcomes in their future. |
Gateway STEM High School | | Business Education Department Head |
| | Meagan Bonnell-Yogi |
As an 11th and 12th grade teacher, Bonnell-Yogi understands the impact that maintaining positive relationships with her students has on their overall educational experience. She believes respect, honesty and patience build successful relationships between her and her students and, in turn, improves their classroom performance. In addition to teaching, she serves as the head of Gateway’s Business Education Department and mentors new instructors by inviting them to observe in her classroom. She also created the school’s campus store and added an internship component to Gateway’s business program. |  | Karen Giesler | | Center for Creative Learning | | Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | “Leading is engaging my students’ families in our daily learning and continuing to address the challenge of seeking ways to further our two-way communication.” |
Center for Creative Learning | | Teacher |
| | Karen Giesler |
Karen is an innovative classroom teacher, who integrates excitement and rigor into curriculum and instruction. As an advocate for gifted students, she is devoted to meeting students’ social and emotional needs, as well as supporting their educational interests. As a Board Certified Teacher, Karen is a resource to educators across the country as she writes and shares curriculum, and networks with educators in person and through social media. She is deeply committed to educating young people, especially girls, about the beauty of science. |
 | LaTasha Maria McClelland | | Lexington Elementary School | | Lead Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | “I have developed a philosophy of active listening to steer my leadership style. Listening with an open mind and clear perspectives allows me to be more effective in strategic planning and interpersonal professional development.” |
Lexington Elementary School | | Lead Teacher |
| | LaTasha Maria McClelland |
As a third grade teacher, McClelland encourages her students to get involved in their community. In addition to providing an engaging classroom environment, outside the classroom she established a student-lead initiative that provides food baskets to students’ families who are in need during the holiday season. As a MAP Teacher Leader, McClelland collaborates and co-facilitates professional development and research-based workshops for Lexington Elementary’s teachers to develop new methods and improve student performance. |  | Andrew Goodin | | Soldan International Studies HS | | Chemistry Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | To lead students to conceptual understanding, I am not a lecturer, but rather a facilitator of structured learning experiences. I’ve observed that my students learn much more when I lead them to create meaning for themselves. |
Soldan International Studies HS | | Chemistry Teacher |
| | Andrew Goodin |
As a chemistry teacher, Andrew Goodin understands his students learn more when he leads them to seek meaning in their education. He incorporates real-world examples into his chemistry curriculum and instills the motto “Chem Is Try” among his students to encourage them and their ability to learn science. Goodin was the grand prize winner of the nationwide Shell Science Lab Challenge, which provided $16,000 worth of science materials and supplies to his school. Goodin also advises the Soldan Student Council and the Technology Club. |
 | Mary Russo | | Saint Louis University High School | | Science Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "It is this enthusiasm that I wish to depart to my students; life is all about perspective and a positive one can provide the courage to make change in the world." |
Saint Louis University High School | | Science Teacher |
| | Mary Russo |
Russo is passionate about challenging her students to reach their fullest potential, and gives them the confidence they need to excel at anything they put their minds to. She motivates and inspires her students to take on leadership roles. Outside the classroom, Russo is a junior class moderator and is the administrator of Saint Louis University High School’s junior retreat program, class service projects and canned good drives. |  | Tina Barisch | | Central Elementary | | Special Education Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "As an educator of our youngest students, I am privileged to be able to interact with these children every day. Young people have incredible energy and limitless imaginations. I try to feed off of their energy and enthusiasm to create not only a fun, but also a challenging learning atmosphere." |
Central Elementary | | Special Education Teacher |
| | Tina Barisch |
As Central Elementary School’s special education teacher, Barisch understands the value of individualized attention and focuses on her students’ specific educational needs. She embodies a leader outside of the classroom as well, serving as the co-chairman of the school’s “Girls Gotta Run” program that provides young girls with a non-competitive setting in which to enjoy team activities. Through this program, she helps foster the physical, social and emotional growth in her participants while strengthening their self-esteem. |
 | LaDonna Whitner | | Alton High School | | Director of Guidance |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | I believe leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. The core of leadership in education is generated from three critical building blocks: knowledge, critical thinking, and inquisitiveness. |
Alton High School | | Director of Guidance |
| | LaDonna Whitner |
LaDonna Whitner has been advocating for students for more than 35 years as an educator and currently as a guidance counselor. Whitner is a devoted mentor and role model as she encourages her students to work hard to fulfill their dreams and overcome hardships. She goes above and beyond to help students in need. She has helped many young adults living in abusive or neglectful homes by ensuring they have food, shelter, support and hope for the future. |  | Andy Brendel | | Triad High School | | Teacher & Vocational Director |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "On a daily basis, I work towards providing enthusiasm, innovation, and passion into the lessons I provide my students." |
Triad High School | | Teacher & Vocational Director |
| | Andy Brendel |
Andy is committed to instilling the quality of leadership within his students. He implemented Project Lead the Way, which allows pre-engineering students to apply their field knowledge towards college preparation. He sponsors the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Club and the Botball Robotics Club and coaches the cycling, cross country and track teams. Andy also serves as the district-wide career and technical education director, overseeing the business, family, and consumer science and technology education departments. |
 | Scott Taylor | | Crestwood Elementary School | | Principal |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "When you walk into Crestwood School you can feel the warmth and energy in our hallways. My students know that I love them and care about them and that I am here to serve them the best that I can." |
Crestwood Elementary School | | Principal |
| | Scott Taylor |
As principal, Taylor is an enthusiastic educator who is passionate about improving education. He sets the bar high for students and has led his school to achieve great success. Through his leadership, Crestwood Elementary was named a 2011 National School of Character and a National Blue Ribbon School, the only school in the nation to receive both awards last year. Taylor’s school is also the only school in Missouri to be named a 2009 and 2011 Missouri Gold Star School. |  | Keely Abeln | | Francis Howell Middle School | | Instrumental Music Director |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | “In my own educational practice, I bring enthusiasm and respect for my students. No knowledge I have, or teaching technique I know, will be completely effective if the students do not know I genuinely like them and am devoted to their success.” |
Francis Howell Middle School | | Instrumental Music Director |
| | Keely Abeln |
As the instrumental music director, Abeln fosters a passion for music in her students. She encourages them to strive for excellence, and continuously promotes the value of hard work. Abeln supports community engagement and coordinates special student concerts at venues throughout St. Louis. In 2010, she developed the Family and Friends Band, which includes parents, faculty, community members and current and former students. |
 | Farrell Shelton | | Eureka High School | | Social Studies Teacher and Head Varsity Football Coach |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Teaching values allows students to consider how they will treat others as a leader. When I look at successful teams, camaraderie is the main characteristic that I see and this is enhanced when the best players serve others and are not there for their personal glory." |
Eureka High School | | Social Studies Teacher and Head Varsity Football Coach |
| | Farrell Shelton |
As a social studies teacher and head varsity football coach, Shelton encourages his students to become positive and compassionate leaders in the community. In the classroom and on the football field, he helps students develop a vision of what they want to accomplish and how they can help make a difference. Farrell makes everyone feel like they are part of the team and invites students with developmental disabilities to participate in sports by helping to keep score or handing out water to players. |  | Susan Sullivan | | Chesterfield Day School | | Math Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Teaching has been my passion for as long as I can remember; it has been a career, not a job, and one requiring me to model lifelong learning." |
Chesterfield Day School | | Math Teacher |
| | Susan Sullivan |
Sullivan takes the term “math teacher” to a whole new level by incorporating innovative techniques to keep math learning at Chesterfield Day School at a high standard. She adopted the Singapore Math curriculum and is responsible for spearheading efforts to allow her students to operate the school’s store, in which they have a hand in store operations such as purchasing, pricing, managing and selling inventory. Sullivan’s outside-the-box teaching methods helped her students win 13 Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics Awards this year. |
 | Kelly Longo | | Francis Howell High School | | Communication Arts Department Chair and Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I hold my students to high expectations, but also give them the personal supports they need along the way to reach success. I challenge them to excel, which in turn brings about self-pride." |
Francis Howell High School | | Communication Arts Department Chair and Teacher |
| | Kelly Longo |
As teacher and chair of the communication arts department, Longo strives to challenge her students to excel daily and believes her mission is to enhance and improve the lives of those entrusted to her through education. She helped develop the school’s Response to Intervention program, which helps ensure every student is reading at their grade level. The program was recognized by the Missouri Department of Education and Secondary Education as the model for other schools to follow. |  | Rich Bickel | | O'Fallon Township High School | | Principal |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I believe the most effective leadership is rooted in the ability to inspire people to achieve success. I have devoted my entire adult life to seeking methods and opportunities for advancing student excellence on every front within the educational arena." |
O'Fallon Township High School | | Principal |
| | Rich Bickel |
As a beloved and respected principal and school leader, Bickel inspires educators and students to achieve success. He is devoted to education and has served in every capacity—from substitute teacher and Early Bird class instructor to head coach and department chair. His passion for improved education is infectious as he encourages everyone in the school community to strive for their own personal best. |
 | Therese Hembruch | | Triad Middle School | | 7th Grade Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Students need to see and hear information, but also feel and move while learning. When lessons are presented with different learning styles in mind, deeper connections are formed for students." |
Triad Middle School | | 7th Grade Teacher |
| | Therese Hembruch |
Hembruch is a creative educator who incorporates movement and interaction in her lessons. As a former dancer, she takes kinesthetic learning to a whole new level with unique hands-on learning experiences. Her students participate in a meiosis square dance when studying cells in science class. In social studies, Therese has her students meet in the gym to re-enact the Battle of Bunker Hill. She is a life-long learner who encourages her students to feel and move while learning. |  | Matthew Phillips | | Brown Elementary School | | Principal |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "As a leader, I need to think about what the students and the community will need long after I am gone and help develop sustainable systems which allow for renewal and growth." |
Brown Elementary School | | Principal |
| | Matthew Phillips |
As principal of his school, Phillips fosters a nurturing and collaborative community where everyone is invested in academic excellence. He focuses on teaching students to be respectful and responsible by setting high expectations. Phillips is committed to the success of his students and takes great pride in ensuring that multicultural diversity is celebrated at his school. |
 | Julie Burchett | | Webster Groves High School | | Social Studies and Experiential Learning Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Education should provide opportunities to connect to the outside world. This can be done through innovative collaborations with other educational institutions, service organizations, and community business partners." |
Webster Groves High School | | Social Studies and Experiential Learning Teacher |
| | Julie Burchett |
Burchett is a social studies teacher and coordinator of non-traditional and experimental learning at the high school. She dedicates herself to creating extracurricular programs that pave the way for her students to achieve success. She created Webster Groves High’s Statesman Center, a program that helps students in at-risk situations accomplish their goals, and the Experiential Learning Center, which provides all students with means to apply their classroom education to real-world experiences. Burchett strives to develop ways in which her students can take action in the world around them. |  | Travis Klein | | Illini Elementary School | | Principal |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "You can never go wrong with a decision as long as you have asked yourself: "Is this what is best for kids?" This kid-centered attitude is what has always guided my career, brought me great success, and happiness in my work." |
Illini Elementary School | | Principal |
| | Travis Klein |
As principal, Klein is dedicated to character education and encourages his students, faculty and staff to give back to the community. He gets his school involved in a variety of service programs throughout the year including, the St. Jude Hero Run, Candy for Troops, Toys for Tots, the Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Pasta, in addition to various food and blood drives. He also strives to get parents engaged in school activities and has organized family trivia nights and monthly parent breakfasts. |
 | Karen Olsen | | Collinsville High School | | School Counselor |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I get to know my students on a personal level. This can be rather challenging, but I know that students need a counselor who cares about them personally and who has a connection with them. As this rapport is built, the student and I work together to discover what career and educational path they should pursue. Together we plan their future." |
Collinsville High School | | School Counselor |
| | Karen Olsen |
As school counselor, Olsen is an advocate for students as she helps them realize their dreams for the future. She offers sincere support and social, emotional and career counseling to more than 430 students. She has spearheaded programs to recognize student achievement and introduce students to a variety of unique career opportunities. |  | Jennifer Haney | | Community School | | Upper Division Music and Choral Director |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I feel strongly that is it my responsibility to make my music room a safe learning environment where all students can thrive, be themselves, and reach their utmost potential. Not just the aural learner, but the visual and tactile learner as well." |
Community School | | Upper Division Music and Choral Director |
| | Jennifer Haney |
Haney believes education is a partnership between the community, parents, students and educators. As a music teacher, she collaborates with classroom teachers and specialists to execute an innovative arts integration program within the school’s upper-division academic and music curriculum. Jennifer also introduced a new chorus elective class, which puts on several concerts a year. In addition, she serves on the school’s Arts Integration and Research and Development committees. |
 | Bradley Behrmann | | Notre Dame High School | | Director of Music and Journalism Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Leaders in education recognize the mind does not operate independently from the heart and soul. I have greater goals for my students than learning to read quarter notes or citing a source properly. My hope is that they will touch beauty, feel deeply, lover others, and know God." |
Notre Dame High School | | Director of Music and Journalism Teacher |
| | Bradley Behrmann |
Behrmann excels in teaching students to love the visual and performing arts. In addition to award-winning school productions, he creates opportunities for students to perform for the broader St. Louis community at the Cathedral Basilica, Our Lady of the Snows Shrine, at nursing homes and charitable events throughout the area. His students achieve accolades at state music and journalism competitions and have received gold star awards from The Cappies for being top performers among area high school stage artists. |  | Maggie Klonsky | | Marian Middle School | | Language Arts Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I strive to ensure that instruction is relevant and purposeful to engage students. In my lessons, I use their interests and real-world purposes to make the learning more meaningful." |
Marian Middle School | | Language Arts Teacher |
| | Maggie Klonsky |
As a language arts teacher, Klonsky believes literacy is the key to a student’s ultimate empowerment. She leads a school-wide reading program in which students work towards individual goals and receive public recognition for accomplishing them. Last year, she received a grant that allowed her to visit 15 of the school’s most struggling readers in their homes to give them high-interest books and teach their parents strategies for boosting their reading performance. |
 | Stephen Schwartz | | Valley Park Elementary School | | First Grade Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I like to think of my methods as similar to that of Sherlock Holmes. He prepares for his mysteries by learning everything he can about a case and meticulously going over each detail. This is what I do in the classroom. My students are the mysteries that I spend hours researching, thinking and implementing countless methods until I find the correct one. My philosophy of education is to never give up." |
Valley Park Elementary School | | First Grade Teacher |
| | Stephen Schwartz |
Stephen is a passionate teacher who gets students excited about learning. He motivates his students to be active participants in the learning process. With the use of music, costumes and props, his lessons are always unique. He secured grant funding for the Challenger Learning Center, a mini-NASA experience, so that all students could learn what it’s like to be an astronaut for a day. |  | Laura Gallaher | | St. Gabriel the Archangel School | | 2nd Grade Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "As a teacher, it is my responsibility to create an environment filled with activities that will stimulate the desire to learn. Each student has his/her own learning style; therefore, I use differentiated instruction in my classroom to meet each child's needs." |
St. Gabriel the Archangel School | | 2nd Grade Teacher |
| | Laura Gallaher |
As a second grade teacher, Gallaher’s classroom is a caring, safe and fun environment, where each student blossoms and grows. She encourages students to become responsible members of the classroom community by using strategies, such as class meetings, positive discipline and self-monitored student jobs. In showing students how to become responsible for themselves, she teaches them how to live successfully and become leaders. Gallaher understands the unique needs of students with hyperactivity, or attention deficit disorders, and incorporates the right amount of movement in the day to meet each child’s unique sensory needs. |
 | Tiffany Dill | | Parkview Elementary School | | Special Education Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "It is my personal mission to work cooperatively with families, students, community, colleagues, and other professionals in order to promote each student's success and well-being as he/she prepares for their future." |
Parkview Elementary School | | Special Education Teacher |
| | Tiffany Dill |
Starting her career working as a high school teacher, Dill implemented a program to help struggling students and founded a program to help students prepare for college. Her successes in establishing these programs led to her hiring at Parkview Elementary as a special education teacher. Dill is dedicated to identifying and meeting the diverse needs of students through individualized education. She realizes the most diverse needs of her special education students deal with communication, and she strives to give each of them a voice. |  | Christopher Preston | | Parkway North High School | | Teacher, Special School District - Autism Program |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "As educators, our most important job is to provide students with tools to discover answers, not just provide the answers. They will need confidence and skills not only to tackle tests they face in school, but life tests like answering questions at a job interview and managing their households." |
Parkway North High School | | Teacher, Special School District - Autism Program |
| | Christopher Preston |
As leader of the Autism Program at Parkway North, Christopher prepares students for the transition to adulthood. He encourages students to recognize their talents and interests and helps them to prepare for careers after high school. Christopher provides thoughtful training to educate faculty and staff on autism spectrum disorder. His work helps ensure that students have the best experience possible and teachers have the tools they need to help students with autism. |
 | Jenna Schneider | | Marissa Elementary School | | 2nd Grade Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "I spend countless hours creating lessons, games, and activities to make learning fun and more meaningful to my students. Once I find or create something I think will benefit a particular grade or ability level, I share it with my colleagues." |
Marissa Elementary School | | 2nd Grade Teacher |
| | Jenna Schneider |
As a second grade teacher, Schneider believes that she must be a leader for her students inside the classroom as well as a leader for her colleagues and community outside the classroom. To fulfill these roles, Schneider stays active in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), coaches cheerleading and has helped build a successful Response to Intervention program at Marissa Elementary. She understands the power of leading by example, and that as a leader in education, her job is to inspire the people around her to push themselves to be better. |  | Rega Wesley-Stewart | | McCluer High School | | Mathematics Teacher |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "You must have the desire to educate every child in your class, regardless of what prior knowledge, experiences, or difficulties they come with. Most importantly, you need a passion for it; you need to love doing it. Teaching has to be in your spirit and soul." |
McCluer High School | | Mathematics Teacher |
| | Rega Wesley-Stewart |
As the mathematics teacher, Wesley-Stewart is dedicated to her school community and is respected by colleagues, students and parents. She encourages her fellow educators to teach with both their hearts and minds and developed motivational videos to inspire and energize faculty and staff. Wesley-Stewart has also created many supportive programs for students, including “Get It Done! Turn it In!,” an initiative to motivate students to turn in assignments on time. |
 | Cathy Westbury | | Stanton Elementary | | Counselor |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "Helping students take their project proposals from dreams to reality is amazingly rewarding as we create tomorrow's successful and happy leaders. Student engagement, trust, release, love, and collaboration have always been the key!" |
Stanton Elementary | | Counselor |
| | Cathy Westbury |
As an elementary school counselor, Westbury guides students to recognize their unique talents and gifts and helps them to develop their skills for future success. She encourages students to make a difference in the community, and has led students to help others through various service projects. She is a leader in bullying prevention and has trained educators throughout the state on “NoMOre Bullying” curriculum. |  | Lanny Hradek | | Logos School | | Government and Health Instructor |
2012-2013 Region 1 Honoree | | "As my career progresses and my teaching methods evolve, three basic principles always guide my philosophy: honesty, assertiveness, and dignity." |
Logos School | | Government and Health Instructor |
| | Lanny Hradek |
Hradek lives by his motto that “nothing should ever get in the way of a child getting an education.” He came out of retirement to help students in need and works with at-risk youth, encouraging them to work hard and believe in themselves. He is a champion for student clubs and athletics and works to ensure funds are available for students’ extra-curricular activities. |
