Rookie of the Year
Starting in 2021, Pattonville School District began to name two staff — one teacher and one support staff employee — as the recipients of the Rookie of the Year award. The awards recognize staff who are in their first or second year in the district for their hard work and dedication to Pattonville's students.
Process
Students, staff, family members and people from the Pattonville community nominate staff for the Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year programs. Eligible staff who are in their first or second year in the district will automatically be put in the running for the Rookie of the Year award. Using the submitted nominations, a committee of their peers will select one teacher and one support staff to be named Rookie of the Year. Those honorees will be surprised in April and recognized during District Appreciation Night in May.
Eligibility
All staff who are eligible for the Teacher and Support Staff of the Year awards and are in their first or second year in the district are eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. Staff who are selected as the Rookie of the Year are not eligible to participate in the program in the future, but can participate in the Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Program in their third and later years if eligible based on all other criteria.
For more information about the Teacher and Support Staff of the Year programs, click here.
Current Honorees
Teacher Rookie of the Year
Andrea Daud
Andrea Daud is a dedicated and integral part of the English learner (EL) team at Bridgeway Elementary School. She came to Pattonville with two years of teaching experience. She has high expectations for her students and works diligently, using many strategies, to support their success and potential that she strongly believes in.
Daud is also talented with technology, a skill that benefits students and staff alike. She creates engaging and interactive lessons, presentation slides and activities for her students and readily helps other staff members create these same materials for their own lessons and events. A strength she has shown during her two years in Pattonville is working with incoming EL students.
“She advocates for these students to make sure they can be as successful as possible in class, even with limited English,” EL teacher Stacey Hill said. “She helps to make phone calls home in Spanish or English depending on the home language to gain background information that will help teachers know how to help their students.”
Daud builds positive relationships and works well with all students and staff in the building. She finds creative ways to connect with students and their cultures. This year, she sponsored the Pulsera Project Club where students meet and learn about jewelry making and how this craft can support and empower artists in other countries.
Support Staff Rookie of the Year
Jody Brent
Before coming to Pattonville, Jody Brent spent over 15 years working with children and families in clinical settings and a year at Marian Middle School in St. Louis. In her first two years with Pattonville, Jody Brent has made a big impact on the Drummond Elementary School community.
School nurse Livviya Boyle said Brent consistently reaches out to teachers and students to see how she can support them. Boyle describes Brent as an amazing teammate and a reliable co-worker. In her role, Brent works to foster an environment at Drummond where students feel safe and cared for. She connects with students by learning details about their experiences at school and home.
“She can quickly ease students’ nerves with a joke and laugh to get them to open up to her,” Boyle said. “Jody’s kindness and patience with students consistently makes them feel comfortable with sharing big or small problems with her.”
Brent values giving kids a space to talk about what is on their mind, helping them figure out what they need to feel successful and developing the strategies to do so. She prioritizes building relationships with students and their parents/guardians to build success for the whole family.
Previous Winners
Teacher Rookie of the Year
2021 — Kelsey Hibbits
2022 — Kyle Schaper
2023 — Holly Kopp
Support Staff Rookie of the Year
2021 — Reem Tahsin
2022 — Tomi Benney
2023 — Stepany Dominguez