Emerson awards SSD teacher grant to boost work experience program

Ken Holzapfel, a Special School District of St. Louis County teacher at McCluer High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, recently received an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Gold Star Grant totaling $2,500.

The grant will support the work experience entrepreneurship program at McCluer High, which features a small barbecue catering business to teach students with intellectual disabilities skills they can take with them into the work field after they graduate.

The funds will be used to purchase a commercial refrigerator, barbecue pit and other tools for the program. The school will also receive $2,500 from Emerson.

Emerson donates annually to teachers' educational initiatives through its Gold Star Grant Program, which is open to current and recent Excellence in Teaching award recipients.