Kimberly Barry
Paraprofessional
Bellerive Elementary, Parkway Schools

“When I think about SSD’s mission statement, Kim is the first person who comes to mind. Watching her work with students is truly heartwarming and inspiring. When she retires in May, I can say without a doubt that Kim will be immensely missed. Her positivity, kindness, and dedication will be remembered by students, staff, and families for years and years to come.” -Sydney Morris

Elizabeth Croskey
Paraprofessional
Central Middle School, Parkway Schools

“Mrs. Croskey has built a great relationship with the students in her care. She is patient and kind and seems to always know just what they need. She knows when to push them and when to give them a break. She is always ready to jump in and do the difficult jobs without complaining. She also goes above and beyond in all aspects of her job.” -Stacey Cannon

Nancy Daake
Paraprofessional
Mehlville High School, Mehlville School District

“For nine years, Nancy has gone above and beyond to create meaningful relationships with students as a paraprofessional. She is kind, hard-working, positive, and passionate. She goes above and beyond to make sure that every student is cared for and successful without ever expecting anything in return. She is an irreplaceable employee that truly makes a difference in the lives of many.” -Claire McCarthy

Nick DiMartino
Paraprofessional
Brown Elementary, Hazelwood School District

“Mr. Nick is a blessing both within my classroom as well as in the general education setting where he also supports our students. He is always looking for ways to improve his support and is an incredible communicator,  keeping others posted on what students are working on in my classroom as well as informing me about the skills they are working on in other classes. He is always positive and I truly could not do my job without him. Though thank you will never be enough - thank you, Mr. Nick!” -Kennedy Rice

Mary Fogerty
Registered Behavior Technician
Lindbergh Early Childhood Center, Lindbergh Schools

“Mary has changed the lives of countless children in her career through her kindness and her ability to meet children where they are each and every day. She exemplifies SSD's mission to help children reach their fullest potential while supporting the staff around her. She is a wonderful asset to the district and a blessing to the children and families influenced by her work." - Marcie Huelsing

Lisa Goldstein
Paraprofessional
Early Childhood Center, Ladue Schools

“Lisa makes an incredible difference in the lives of children by supporting their success in every way. She has a huge impact on staff through her friendship, respect, trust, and joy. There is really no way to measure or even convey in words the impact that Lisa has on the SSD community. She has positively altered the lives of countless young learners with hearing loss, as well as those of us working alongside her.” -Ellie White

Erica Reece
Paraprofessional
Pershing Elementary, School District of University City

“Erica is a wonderful paraprofessional who truly wants to help her students succeed, both academically and as individuals. She uses engaging and functional activities, relationship building, and social emotional supports to help students learn and feel confident in the school environment. Erica is a great colleague and our school is lucky to have her!” - Caroline Claywell

Joyce Reinitz
Paraprofessional
Meramec Elementary, Clayton Schools

“Mrs. Reinitz works so hard each and every day for all students. She creates environments where students feel safe to share, they feel supported, and she is instilling compassion and understanding to these students through the personal stories she shares. Having Mrs. Reinitz around truly makes the most positive difference in our classroom and we all cannot thank her enough for all that she does.” -Liz Vasilopoulos

Lynda Sahs
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Northview High School, Special School District

“Lynda Sahs is a wonderful Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant! She puts the needs of her student's first. She uses meaningful, holistic ways to increase independence in all areas of her student's lives despite obstacles and setbacks students of all abilities have an increased chance of success!” -Christy Hagy

Madison Smith
Paraprofessional
Litzsinger School, Special School District

“Ms. Madison does a prodigious job working not only in her assigned classroom, but within her department and school community as well. She thinks outside the box to find creative ways to connect with and motivate students to help them reach their full potential. Her contribution to our team is undeniable and I don't know how we would have done this year without her.” -Kari Hei