A Fox C-6 School District elementary special-education teacher whose influence expands beyond the school where he teaches and a high school custodian recognized by numerous students received special awards this year.
Lone Dell Elementary School special-education teacher Brett Walters was named the district’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, and Rick Schwartzmeyer, a Fox High School custodian, was named the Support Staff Member of the Year.
“(Walters) has a great heart for kids and does whatever it takes to make sure kids have the best chance to be successful,” Superintendent Paul Fregeau said. “He is an unbelievable person who truly exemplifies what it means to be a quality educator.
“(Schwartzmeyer) was nominated by seven students who recognized the care and thought he puts into making sure they have a great classroom every day to learn in. To have that many kids nominate you says it all.”
Walters was among 19 building teachers of the year in the running for the district award.
Other building teachers of the year were: Antonia Elementary first-grade teacher Carrie Salsman, Antonia Middle special-education teacher Ruth Ann Korn, Bridges Alternative School teacher Christopher Moffis, Clyde Hamrick Elementary kindergarten teacher Jennifer Winschel, Early Childhood Center teacher Megan Kreutz, Fox Elementary second-grade teacher Amanda Teague, Fox High social studies teacher Neil Richardson, Fox Middle English/language arts teacher Grace Alsbury, Guffey Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jamie LeGrand, Hodge Elementary kindergarten teacher Jennifer Missey, Meramec Heights Elementary special-education teacher Pamela Cook, Ridgewood Middle School family and consumer sciences teacher Brianne Fox, Rockport Heights Elementary music teacher Anne Rainwater, Seckman Elementary kindergarten teacher Bridgette Triplett, Seckman High math teacher Valerie Adkins, Seckman Middle math teacher Bradley Cookson, Sherwood Elementary fourth-grade teacher Christine Girardi and Simpson Elementary fourth-grade teacher Laura Abernathy.
“I feel incredibly honored and grateful,” Walters said of being named the teacher of the year. “I get the privilege to work with so many amazing educators throughout our district doing outstanding work every day, so to be selected is very humbling. It motivates me even more to continue growing and doing the best I can for my students.”
Walters will now have the chance to represent Fox C-6 as a St. Louis Regional Teacher of the Year.
Schwartzmeyer was among 20 support staff members up for the district award.
Other building and department support staff members of the year were: Antonia Elementary teacher’s assistant Douglas Sarver, Antonia Middle diagnostician Jenna Summers, Clyde Hamerick Elementary teacher assistant Savannah Sherp, Fox Elementary building secretary Sheryl Earls, Fox Middle building secretary Sarah Meier, Guffey Elementary speech/language pathologist Tara Glore, Hodge Elementary diagnostic secretary Susan Vanburen, Lone Dell Elementary custodian Terry Pinnell, Meramec Heights Elementary occupational therapist Rachel Barbagallo, Ridgewood Middle diagnostic secretary Diana Louer, Rockport Heights school resource officer Josh Crites, Seckman Elementary kitchen manager Ke’alohilani Benz, Seckman High maintenance employee Steven Davis, Seckman Middle custodian Sabrina Benson, Sherwood Elementary custodian Michelle Heib, Simpson Elementary teacher’s assistant Deborah Bargar, Don Earl Early Childhood social worker Jen Wallis, bus driver David Campbell and IT Department staff member Brayden Williams.
“I had no idea I had a chance to win the honor or that I was going to get it,” Schwartzmeyer said. “It is a great honor to get it.”
The teachers and support staff members of the year were honored along with the Masterpiece Award winners at a dinner this month.
Walters
Walters, 33, of Oakville has been a special-education teacher at Lone Dell for 12 years.
Lone Dell Principal Paul Tramel said Walters is a district pillar. He said Walters is the person the director of special services calls when any Fox C-6 student needs a breakthrough.
“He handles the most difficult situations with a level of empathy and creative problem-solving that is rare to find,” Tramel said. “He has been nominated by his peers year after year because we all recognize that he is an indispensable asset to our entire educational community.”
Walters said he was surprised when he was named the district’s teacher of the year during a school assembly. Before Walters received his honor on March 26, Lone Dell third-grade teacher Paige Smith was named a Masterpiece Award recipient.
“I felt a mix of shock, gratitude and humility,” said Walters, whose family was also at the assembly when he was honored. “Teaching is such a team effort, and I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people at Lone Dell who support me and work alongside me every day to make it such a special place. I truly wouldn’t be half the teacher I am without my team, and this recognition is just as much theirs as it is mine.”
Tramel said Walters is central to the culture at Lone Dell. He said Walters has created traditions such as the coffee cart, which has taught students life skills and professionalism, and the haunted forest, which brings the school community together every fall.
“When you have someone like Brett, who is so humble and focused on the success of his students, seeing him recognized at the district level feels like a win for everyone,” Tramel said. “The staff was beaming because we know how hard he works behind the scenes, and the students were thrilled because they truly see him as their champion.”
Walters is teaching this year for the first time in eight years without TJ, a German shepherd who was a touch therapy dog in his classroom. Walters said TJ, who retired at the end of last school year, died on July 25.
TJ was diagnosed with cancer in February.
Walters said he has rescued another German Shepherd, named Luther, who may be trained to be a therapy dog.
“Not every dog is meant for that role, but we’re continuing to work through training and see where it leads,” Walter said. “Regardless of how that turns out, seeing the impact TJ had on my students and our community has made me strongly believe that every school could benefit from the presence of a therapy dog.”
Rick Schwartzmeyer, a Fox High School custodian, was named the Support Staff Member of the Year.
Schwartzmeyer
Schwartzmeyer, 71, of Arnold has worked as a custodian at Fox High for nearly 12 years. Before coming to the high school, he said he was a welder.
Fox High School Principal Joe Salsman said Schwartzmeyer is a constant presence in the school’s athletic and shop areas. He said Schwartzmeyer always makes sure the school’s facilities are clean and ready to use.
“He understands how important it is for our students to have a safe, clean learning environment,” Salsman said. “Rick is a very humble person and was quite surprised when he received this award. The first thing he wanted was to make sure he was able to get a picture with the students.”
Schwartzmeyer said it was great that so many students nominated him for the building support staff of the year award.
“I really like the students,” he said. “I do whatever I can for the students. If they need something, I help them out. I always have time for them. I will stop what I am doing to help them out.”
Schwartzmeyer said he was told there was a meeting in the library he needed to attend on March 26, when he received the award. He said he still didn’t know he was going to receive the award, even though there were about 30 in the library.
“I walk into the library, and there were all of these people there,” Schwartzmeyer said. “I still didn’t know what was going on until Mr. Salsman called my name and said, ‘Come on up here.’ He then gave me the award. Everybody started taking pictures. I was dumbfounded.”
Schwartzmeyer said working at Fox High is more than a job to him.
“I feel it is partly my school, and I should treat it accordingly,” he said. “I really appreciate all of the kids, teachers and administration. I live half a mile from the school, and I’m always willing to drop everything and run there.”