Special School District of St. Louis County

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  •  2023 SSD Teachers Recognized by Emerson

    SSD Teachers Recognized by Emerson

    Nov. 29, 2023 - The Emerson Corporations’s Excellence in Education Award program recognizes educators in the St. Louis metropolitan area. This year, six SSD teachers were selected to receive Emerson's recognition. Each teacher each received an engraved crystal apple and were praised for their professional achievements and commitment to education.

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  •  SEF Funds SSD School Projects

    SEF Funds SSD School Projects

    November 27, 2023 - The Special Education Foundation (SEF) Women’s Leaders provided over $11,000 in funding to support SSD schools, including the Juvenile Detention Center and Bridges Program. 

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  •  Student prepares a tray of Thanksgiving food for her classmates.

    Students Practice Job Skills at Fine Dining Day

    November 21, 2023 - Every year a few days before Thanksgiving, instead of having an ordinary lunch, Ackerman students indulge in a delicious meal of turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, apple cobbler and chocolate chip cookies to celebrate the holiday. 

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  •  Winter Health Guidance from the SSD Health Service Department

    Winter Health Guidance 2023-24

    Nov. 20, 2023 - As we say goodbye to the summer heat, families are preparing for cooler weather, holiday celebrations, and the need to take preventative measures against illness. Sickness is on the rise throughout St. Louis County and contagious respiratory viruses (like flu, COVID-19, and RSV) can spread easily. SSD schools are experiencing an increasingly high rate of illness in our student and staff population. All three of these illnesses are expected to surge during the fall and winter seasons.

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  •  Candidate Filing Opens Dec. 5, 2023 for Two Seats on the SSD Board of Education

    Candidate Filing Opens Dec. 5, 2023 for Two Seats on the SSD Board of Education

    Nov. 17, 2023 - Candidate filing for two open seats on the Special School District Board of Education opens at 8 AM on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, and continues until 5 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The terms of current Vice President Dr. Meredith Byers, Subdistrict 5 and Director Ms. Tiffany Hudson, Subdistrict 6, expire in March 2024.

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  •  Board Brief

    Board Brief

    Nov. 15, 2023 - The Board Brief is a review of actions taken by the SSD Board of Education during the Nov. 14, 2023 meeting. It is one more way SSD is working to be transparent and improve communication, helping keep our community informed. Agenda items are linked, where applicable, to the meeting items on BoardDocs. Official meeting minutes will be posted on BoardDocs.

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  •  Cynthia Vaughn Director of Finance

    Cynthia Vaughn Announced as Director of Finance

    Nov. 15, 2023 - During the Nov. 14 Board of Education meeting, Cynthia Vaughn was approved as the director of finance. Vaughn has been serving SSD since 2008, when she joined the District as a budget analyst.

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  •  Litzsinger teachers and students look through a pile of books to keep.

    KidSmart Donates Supplies to Litzsinger

    November 7, 2023 - Representatives from KidSmart and Carney’s Kids Foundation, visited Litzsinger School in November to provide $7,500 worth of school supplies and books for all 24 classrooms.

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  •  SSD Leadership Change

    SSD Leadership Change

    Nov. 3, 2023 - On Friday, Oct. 27, the SSD Board of Education announced that Dr. Michael Maclin would be assuming the role of acting superintendent while current superintendent Dr. Keenan remains on an administrative leave of absence. Read Dr. Maclin's message to SSD staff and families...

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  •  Scholarships for SSD Students - Apply Soon!

    Scholarships for SSD Students - Apply Soon!

    Nov. 1, 2023 - Scholarship applications are being accepted until Dec. 13, 2023, from high school seniors who receive at least one service or technical education from SSD and plan to pursue post-secondary education.

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  •  Nominate a Staff Member for a Salutes Award!

    Nominate a Staff Member for a Salutes Award!

    Nov. 1, 2023 - If you know an SSD staff member who truly goes the extra mile, consider nominating this person for one of the District's Salutes Awards! The last day to nominate is Jan. 5, 2024.

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  • Theresa Thoene accepts check from the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation.

    Theresa Thoene Awarded Patty Dean Memorial Special Education Grant

    Nov. 2, 2023 - Theresa Thoene, registered behavior technician (RBT) at Parkway Schools, won a Patty Dean Memorial Special Education Grant from the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation (MRTA).

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  •   Bryce Brady, Hazelwood homecoming king, shows off his homecoming king crown.

    Bryce Brady Crowned Hazelwood Homecoming King

    October 30, 2023 - Bryce Brady, 12th-grader at Hazelwood West High School, couldn’t help but jump for joy when his name was announced at one of the biggest events of the school year. 

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  •  Ackerman mother and son smile for the camera after getting a hot dog and chips.

    Ackerman Event Promotes Family Engagement

    October 24, 2023 - Ackerman families were greeted by friendly faces for the school's fall family engagement event, Ackerman Family Happy Hour. The event is an opportunity for families to learn more about the school, how they can support their kids' educational needs at home, and meet Ackerman staff. 

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  •  A student watches as the stuffed animals race along the track.

    Northview Barbecue Creates Community Engagement

    October 20, 2023 - Students and their families experienced an evening of fun and community engagement at Northview’s sixth annual barbecue and transition fair. The event is held every year to allow families to network and give them the opportunity to meet the staff who work with their children every day. 

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2022-23 News

  • Board Brief

    Board Brief - June 27, 2023

    June 29, 2023 - The Board Brief is a review of actions taken by the SSD Board of Education during the June 27, 2023 meeting. It is one more way SSD is working to be transparent and improve communication, helping keep our community informed. Agenda items are linked, where applicable, to the meeting items on BoardDocs. Official meeting minutes will be posted on BoardDocs.

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  •  Coming Soon - New Application Portal

    New Application Portal for Special School District

    June 21, 2023 - SSD will use the TalentEd application portal beginning Saturday, July 1, 2023. The new application portal will allow the Office of Employee Success and Engagement (OESE) to track applicants throughout the hiring process, improve data collection and analytics, and better serve job seekers and supervisors.

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  •  Juneteenth - June 19, 2023

    SSD Celebrates Juneteenth

    June 19, 2023 - Today, June 19, SSD celebrates Juneteenth as a day of recognition and celebration of African American freedom and achievement. SSD stands in solidarity with all students, staff, and community members who have experienced hardships, mistreatment, or harassment due to the color of their skin.

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  •  SSD maintenance department stands in front of school busses.

    SSD Earns 10th Consecutive State Transportation Award

    June 15, 2023 - For the 10th year running,  SSD’s Transportation Department passed the 2023 Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s annual school bus inspection program with flying colors. The District received an overall score of 97.9%, which is just over 10% higher than the national average of 87.2%. 

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  •  Dr. Erica Karius North Tech Assistant Principal

    Erica Karius Announced as North Tech Assistant Principal

    June 15, 2023 - During the June 13, 2023, Board of Education meeting, Dr. Erica Karius was approved as the assistant principal at North Tech High School. Karius has served as the associate principal of Hazelwood Central High School since 2019 and will begin her tenure with Special School District on July 1, 2023. 

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  •  We welcome your feedback

    Board Offers Virtual Listening Session: Community Engagement Plan

    June 9, 2023 - SSD's Board of Education will host a virtual listening session on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 6 PM to gather feedback on their community engagement plan. We welcome our families and partners to attend and share their thoughts.

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  •  Carmen Stayton SSD Board of Education Director Subdistrict 1

    SSD Elects New Subdistrict 1 Board Member

    June 6, 2023 - At the June 5 Governing Council meeting, Carmen Stayton was elected to the SSD Board of Education for Subdistrict 1, representing Hazelwood, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Jennings school districts. The special election was held to fill the open Board seat due to a lack of quorum at the March Governing Council meeting.

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  •  Spotlight cover graphic

    Spotlight - News About SSD Students, Families, & Staff

    June 2, 2023 - Catch up on the latest SSD news in the Spotlight newsletter, emailed to SSD families and staff on the first Friday of each month. The newsletter contains information about events, Board of Education actions, student activities, and staff recognitions.

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  •  SSD Celebrates Pride Month

    SSD Celebrates Pride Month

    June 1, 2023 - Special School District is celebrating Pride Month! We are proud of our commitment to creating a safe, caring, and respectful environment for all students, families, and staff and celebrating the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community.

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  •  SDNEA Awards Mini-Grants, Scholarships at BOE Meeting

    SDNEA Awards Mini-Grants, Scholarships at BOE Meeting

    May 25, 2023 - Special District National Education Association (SDNEA) presented its annual round of student scholarships and teacher mini-grants at the SSD Board of Education meeting on May 23, 2023. Funding these projects has been part of the organization’s mission for many years and demonstrates its support of extraordinary teaching and learning among SSD’s population.

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  •  Diamond Lewis, 7th grader at Rockwood South Middle School, poses in the library.

    Diamond Lewis HMH Award Winner

    May 18, 2023 - Diamond Lewis, 7th grader at Rockwood South Middle School, is a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) 2022 Student Award Winner. Nominated by her teacher, Helen Allinder, the award is given to students who have overcome learning challenges and experience growing success every day.

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  •  Neuwoehner student Evelyn Bret holds up her Character Captured Award certificate.

    Students Awarded for Exhibiting Excellent Character

    May 15, 2023 - Students and staff at Neuwoehner High School rallied together to celebrate the success of service-learning projects and Character Captured Award recipients in May. During the ceremony, eight students and four projects from each learning community were acknowledged.

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  • Ackerman students transplant flower and vegetable starts in the school's garden.

    Students Excel in Culinary Arts and Gardening

    May 12, 2023 - As the weather gets warmer and the grass gets greener, students and staff at Ackerman School anxiously await restarting the seasonal culinary arts and gardening programs. 

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  •  SSD Partnership Highlight: Schnucks

    Partnership Highlight: Schnucks

    May 11, 2023 - There is a lot that happens in a grocery store. Keeping items on the shelf is only part of the equation. Items must be turned to face forward, stocked by date, removed if expired, and placed in the correct spot. These are just a few of the tasks required to make sure grocery items get from the store to your home, and at Schnucks in Des Peres, SSD students are completing them.

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  •   Miles Miller, 8th grader at Valley Park Middle School, works on a classroom assignment at his desk

    Hancock Place Students End School Year with Improved Grades and Behavior 

    May 10, 2023 - Be ready. Be responsible. Be respectful. These expectations are known as the three R’s at Hancock Place Middle School, and students in Special Education Teacher Amy Bortle’s class have been working to excel in these areas since the beginning of the academic school year. 

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