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 6. Take a look at this year’s honorees.

District Teacher and Support Staff of the Year

Audrey Masek, left, a fourth grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School, was named district Teacher of the Year, and Anaisabel (Ana) Garofalo, an English learner (EL) paraprofessional at Bridgeway Elementary School, was named Pattonville Support Staff of the Year. The announcements were made during Pattonville’s District Appreciation Night.

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 2023-2024 Pride of Pattonville honorees are, from left, front row, Brandon Lynn, building custodial supervisor at Pattonville High School; Kevin Hughes, PE teacher at Drummond Elementary School; Kevin Couty, school resource officer (SRO) at Drummond; Kenny Krieg, paramedic/firefighter at the Pattonville Fire Protection District; and Travis Williams, PE teacher at Pattonville Heights Middle School; and, back row, Anna Braswell, PE teacher at the high school; Julie Hilker, district interpreter at the Pattonville Learning Center; Kim Dannegger; principal at Willow Brook Elementary School; Kim Dickinson; library technology specialist at Willow Brook; and Michelle Evans, paraprofessional Parkwood Elementary School.

Rookies of the Year

 Andrea Daud, English learner (EL) teacher at Bridgeway Elementary School, left, was honored with the Teacher Rookie of the Year award and Jody Brent, social worker at Drummond Elementary School was chosen for Support Staff Rookie of the Year. Rookie of the Year honors those in their first or second year of service in the district. 

Teacher of the Year

Finalists for Pattonville Teacher of the Year were, from left, Kathleen Gengler, science teacher at Pattonville High School; Audrey Masek, fourth grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School; and Lisa Kraemer, seventh grade teacher at Remington Traditional School. To watch videos made for each finalist with an interview with their nominator, see the links at the bottom of the page. 

The above 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: Kelsey Hibbits, special education teacher at early childhood; Mollie Ahlers, art teacher at Bridgeway; Tanner Lynn, special education teacher at Drummond; Sarah Carter, fifth grade teacher at Rose Acres; Maria Farmer, fifth grade teacher at Willow Brook; Edward Stevens, history teacher at Holman; and Melissa Wetzel, English teacher at at Pattonville Heights. Shown are, from left, Ahlers, Hibbits, Lynn and Wetzel.

Support Staff of the Year

Finalists for Pattonville Support Staff of the Year were, from left, Anaisabel (Ana) Garofalo, English learner (EL) paraprofessional at Bridgeway Elementary School; Carole Marsden, paraprofessional at Drummond Elementary School; and Rungsee Suvansri, paraprofessional at Rose Acres Elementary School. To watch videos made for each finalist with an interview with their nominator, see the links at the bottom of the page.

Other building-level honorees/semifinalists for Support Staff of the Year were: Lula Abreha, paraprofessional at early childhood; Shani Thompson, paraprofessional at Parkwood; Barbara Boddy, lead cook at Willow Brook; Alejandra Wohldmann, paraprofessional at Remington; Brenda Labbe, custodian at Holman; Brittany Edinger, secretary at Pattonville Heights; Maria Saunders, secretary at Pattonville High School; and, representing the district services group, Christy Kasprzyk, accounting payroll specialist at the Learning Center. Shown are, from left, Kasprzyk and Abreha.

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 recognizing their service. This year, 29 staff members were honored as retirees and thanked for their service in Pattonville. Shown are, from left, front row, Judith Chabot, French and Spanish teacher at Pattonville High School; Carla Gardner, social worker at Bridgeway and Parkwood elementary schools and Pattonville Heights Middle School; Diana Crossland, bus driver in transportation; and Carole Garret, special education teacher at Bridgeway; second row, Michael Burgio, science teacher at Pattonville Heights; Laura Lancaster, counselor at Pattonville Heights; Jolene Hilligoss, special education teacher at Rose Acres Elementary School; Kimberly Walsh, special education teacher at Bridgeway; Amy Taylor, reading specialist at Drummond Elementary School; and back row, Roy Libhart, second shift facilities supervisor in maintenance; Vanessa Divine, library and technology aide at Bridgeway; Dr. Sarah Moran, principal at Holman Middle School; Dr. Greg Schnatmeier, assistant principal at Holman; Sarah Funderburk, district technology specialist at Rose Acres; Branda Vitale, bus driver in transportation; Kathleen Phillips, bus driver in transportation; and Denny McFarland, instrumental music teacher at the high school. View a copy of the District Appreciation Night program featuring bios of the retirees at bit.ly/DANProgram2024.

35 Years of Service

Employees honored for 35 years of service include, from left, Sarah Funderburk, district technology specialist at Rose Acres, and Mark Werner, security guard at the Learning Center.

30 Years of Service

Vincent Licameli, PE teacher at Willow Brook, was recognized for 30 years of service.

25 Years of Service

Employees honored for 25 years of service include, from left, Lori Yudovich, reading specialist at Bridgeway; Denise Overman, kindergarten teacher at Parkwood; Nicole Hubbard, kindergarten teacher at Rose Acres; and Chandler Young, custodian at the high school.  

20 Years of Service

Employees honored for 20 years of service include, from left, Jason Lammert, science teacher at the high school; Teisha Ashford, principal at the high school; Shareefah El-Amin Fox, special education teacher assistant at Remington; Ida Cothrine, secretary at the Learning Center; and Stephanie Sliefert, speech and language therapist at early childhood.

15 Years of Service

Employees honored for 15 years of service include, from left, Brian Heyman, multimedia communications specialist at the Learning Center; Cynthia Kiankhooy Fard, special education teacher assistant at Drummond; Gary Wierzbicki, custodian at the high school; and Glenna Evans, cook at Drummond; back row, Dr. Odetta Smith, director of innovation and life readiness at the Learning Center; Florida Jenkins, clerk at Remington; and Lora Monroe, registered behavior technician at early childhood.

10 Years of Service

 Employees honored for 10 years of service include, from left, front row, Sheila Thomas, evening lead custodian at Holman; Leslie Jones, administrative intern at Bridgeway; Danica Johnson, seventh grade teacher at Remington; and Andrea Baldwin, Parents as Teachers paraprofessional at early childhood; back row, Mallory Delgado, English learner paraprofessional at Drummond; Kim Dickinson, library technology specialist at Willow Brook; Nicole Mikel, library technology specialist at Rose Acres; Luis Miranda, English learner teacher at Drummond;

Five Years of Service

Employees honored for five years of service include, from left, front row, Jackie Perales, secretary at the high school; Vickie Moore, paraprofessional at Rose Acres; Reem Tahsin, English learner paraprofessional at the high school; Catherine Eaton, counselor at Parkwood; Lindsey Jones, early childhood teacher; Veronica Green, bus driver in transportation; and Jim Troxel, director of transportation; second row, Mauronda Burgess, special education teacher at Remington; Tanner Lynn, special education teacher at Drummond; and Andrea Wagner, first grade teacher at Rose Acres; back row, Chaun Tate, successful transition teacher at the high school; Liz Pace, instrumental music teacher at Pattonville Heights; Stephenie Phillips, bus driver in transportation; Ingrid Daggs, bus driver in transportation; and Tariq Faruqi, paraprofessional at early childhood.

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, Danita Stewart, president of the Varsity Drill Team Booster Club; Jerome Littlejohn, vice president of the Pattonville Association for Gifted Education (PAGE); Letty Goering, president of PAGE; Monyelle Dotson, president of the Pattonville Heights PTO; Summer Johnson, vice president of the Pattonville Heights PTO; and Kristin Simpson, secretary of the Pattonville Heights PTO; second row, Michelle Evans, president of the Bridgeway PTO; Cassie Weber, treasurer of the Parkwood PTA; Lisa Williams, vice president of the Remington PTO; Sarah Barth, treasurer of the Remington PTO; Michelle Soltysiak, president of the Drummond PTO; Julia Hulsey, vice president of the Drummond PTO; Shannon Leonberger, treasurer of the Drummond PTO; and Kelly Monroe, treasurer of the Pattonville Orchestra Parent Student Organization (POPS); back row, Sharon Wood, president of the Early Childhood PTO; Laura Wick, treasurer of the Early Childhood PTO; Sarah Pyle, secretary and fundraising for the Pattonville High School PTO; Frank Spell, vice president of band and guard of the Pattonville Band Boosters; Andrea Snowden, vice president and concessions of Pattonville High School PTO; Monica Brown-Harris, hospitality coordinator of the Pattonville High School PTO; Tricia Ruby, president of the Holman PTA; Sue Silverstein, vice president of the Holman PTA; and Teree Davis, secretary of the Pattonville Retirees Association (PRA).

Find out more

View a copy of the District Appreciation Night program: bit.ly/DANProgram2024

View a photo gallery from District Appreciation Night: bit.ly/psdDAN2024

Watch the Videos

Kathleen Gengler

Lisa Kraemer

Audrey Masek

Ana Garofalo

Carole Marsden

Rungsee Suvansri