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Special School District of St. Louis County, the largest specialized education provider in the state, equips and empowers students of all learning abilities to excel to their greatest potential. This is realized through an inclusive, collaborative approach, supported by our comprehensive resources and deep expertise - all of which is centered on each student’s unique needs.
SSD Headlines
![Melissa Maness Named Regional Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1752597097/ssdmoorg/jajvtd4dnbtz5i6hvtju/ManessWeb1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1752597097/ssdmoorg/jajvtd4dnbtz5i6hvtju/ManessWeb1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1752597097/ssdmoorg/jajvtd4dnbtz5i6hvtju/ManessWeb1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1752597097/ssdmoorg/jajvtd4dnbtz5i6hvtju/ManessWeb1.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1752597097/ssdmoorg/jajvtd4dnbtz5i6hvtju/ManessWeb1.png","width":1500}])
South Tech culinary instructor Melissa Maness has been named a 2025 Regional Teacher of the Year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is one of 34 educators across the state to receive this recognition and will now be considered for the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year award.
![Karista Koehler to Serve as Director of CTE]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1752590101/ssdmoorg/yxdzde8qkkiyjjzlpsfs/KoehlerWeb.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1752590101/ssdmoorg/yxdzde8qkkiyjjzlpsfs/KoehlerWeb.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1752590101/ssdmoorg/yxdzde8qkkiyjjzlpsfs/KoehlerWeb.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1752590101/ssdmoorg/yxdzde8qkkiyjjzlpsfs/KoehlerWeb.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1752590101/ssdmoorg/yxdzde8qkkiyjjzlpsfs/KoehlerWeb.png","width":1500}])
During the July 8, 2025, Board of Education meeting, Karista Koehler was approved to serve as director of career and technical education.
![John Klein Named Director of Finance]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1751379435/ssdmoorg/jqkx4gzgpt4e7ttvztwc/KleinWeb.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1751379435/ssdmoorg/jqkx4gzgpt4e7ttvztwc/KleinWeb.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1751379435/ssdmoorg/jqkx4gzgpt4e7ttvztwc/KleinWeb.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1751379435/ssdmoorg/jqkx4gzgpt4e7ttvztwc/KleinWeb.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1751379435/ssdmoorg/jqkx4gzgpt4e7ttvztwc/KleinWeb.png","width":1500}])
During the June 24 Board of Education meeting, John Klein was approved as the director of finance for SSD.
![Caitlin Leibovitz to Serve as Southview Assistant Principal]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1751315972/ssdmoorg/rsosyjiiocyabdqzkbjx/LeibovitzWeb.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1751315972/ssdmoorg/rsosyjiiocyabdqzkbjx/LeibovitzWeb.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1751315972/ssdmoorg/rsosyjiiocyabdqzkbjx/LeibovitzWeb.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1751315972/ssdmoorg/rsosyjiiocyabdqzkbjx/LeibovitzWeb.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1751315972/ssdmoorg/rsosyjiiocyabdqzkbjx/LeibovitzWeb.png","width":1500}])
During the June 24 Board of Education meeting, Caitlin Leibovitz was approved as assistant principal at Southview School.
![The SSD Board Room has a dais with chairs sitting in front of a green chalkboard and the American and Missouri State flags]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721828764/ssdmoorg/qgapsdjiopnrqpxukfnm/BoardBrief.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1721828764/ssdmoorg/qgapsdjiopnrqpxukfnm/BoardBrief.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1721828764/ssdmoorg/qgapsdjiopnrqpxukfnm/BoardBrief.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1721828764/ssdmoorg/qgapsdjiopnrqpxukfnm/BoardBrief.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721828764/ssdmoorg/qgapsdjiopnrqpxukfnm/BoardBrief.png","width":1366}])
The Board Brief is a review of actions taken by the SSD Board of Education. It is one more way SSD works to be transparent and improve communication, helping keep our community informed.
![Dr. Catina Lyles Featured on Wake Up and Teach Podcast]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750704657/ssdmoorg/qai06idhmairsgr5u1p0/LylesPodcast.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750704657/ssdmoorg/qai06idhmairsgr5u1p0/LylesPodcast.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750704657/ssdmoorg/qai06idhmairsgr5u1p0/LylesPodcast.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750704657/ssdmoorg/qai06idhmairsgr5u1p0/LylesPodcast.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1750704657/ssdmoorg/qai06idhmairsgr5u1p0/LylesPodcast.png","width":1500}])
Dr. Catina Lyles, SSD’s Chief Human Resources Officer, was recently featured on Wake Up and Teach, a national podcast produced by Kelly Education.
![Communications Department Earns NSPRA Award of Excellence]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1750175291/ssdmoorg/vw7skrg40ujp9tryj9sj/COMMSTeam.jpg","width":2200}])
Special School District's Communications Department has been honored with three national awards in the 2025 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Publication and Digital Media Excellence Awards.
![Building Trades Academy Unlocks Students’ Passion for Construction]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1750083608/ssdmoorg/vu4h6rm2lmyjjkq9c7lt/DSC_0031.jpg","width":2200}])
Twenty students from across St. Louis County participated in the second annual Building Trades Academy last week at North Tech High School.
SSD Calendar
![July 2025]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1751385157/ssdmoorg/shtxkbgi2qbl5ambhpvq/CopyofDSC_00501.jpg","width":2200}])
July 2025
Events
Keep up to date on all the latest happenings around Special School District!