Fox C-6 School District officials surprised two staff members with yearly awards near the start of April.
Melissa Leuthauser, a Fox Elementary School kindergarten teacher, received the district’s Teacher of the Year Award on April 3, and Robyn Stoien, a psychological examiner at Ridgewood Middle School and Antonia Elementary School, received the Support Staff Member of the Year award on April 9.
“As always, that is one of the best parts of giving out the award, the authentic surprise and appreciation by the recipient,” Superintendent Paul Fregeau said of delivering the awards.
Leuthauser was among 19 building teachers of the year in the running for the district award. Other building teachers of the year were Antonia Elementary special education teacher Denise Bowler; Antonia Middle social studies teacher Todd Hulen; Bridges High business teacher Vincent Milford; Clyde Hamrick Elementary counselor Juliana Stanley; Fox High math teacher Kristin McKinnon; Fox Middle special education teacher Andrea Schanz; Guffey Elementary fifth grade teacher Emily Lammert; Hodge Elementary fourth grade teacher Kathryn Crandall; Lone Dell Elementary fourth grade teacher Sara Malle; Meramec Heights Elementary second grade teacher Kristin Kuepfert; Ridgewood Middle social studies teacher Shanen Shreve; Rockport Heights Elementary fifth grade teacher Jayme Green; Seckman Elementary special education teacher Jennifer Richardson; Seckman High science teacher Erin Ray; Seckman Middle special education teacher Jennifer Ems; Sherwood Elementary fourth grade teacher Brandy Chapman; Simpson Elementary fourth grade teacher Stacey Michel; and Don Earl Early Childhood teacher Amelia Duckworth.
Leuthauser will now represent the Fox C-6 district as a St. Louis Regional Teacher of the Year.
Robyn Stoien, a psychological examiner at Ridgewood Middle and Antonia Elementary schools, received the district’s Support Staff Member of the Year award on April 9.
Stoien was among 20 support staff members up for the district award. Other building and department support staff members of the year were Antonia Elementary lead secretary Kerry Deveydt; Antonia Middle teacher assistant Stacy Rodnick; Clyde Hamrick Elementary diagnostics secretary Amanda Aldridge; Fox Elementary teacher assistant Madison Flotho; Fox High school resource officer Kevin Wilson, an Arnold Police officer; Fox Middle kitchen manager Tiffany Jokerst; Guffey Elementary teacher assistant Mary Schroeder; Hodge Elementary aide Amanda Turner; Lone Dell Elementary teacher assistant Kris Kincaid; Meramec Heights Elementary nurse Katherine Calhoun; Rockport Heights Elementary speech language pathologist Deanna Stuart; Seckman Elementary Building Blocks aide Jennifer Tolliver; Seckman High maintenance staff member Steven Davis; Seckman Middle lead secretary Kimberly Joseph; Sherwood Elementary lead secretary Nicole Butram; Simpson Elementary teacher assistant Amanda Hess; Don Earl Early Childhood teacher assistant Kimberly Miller; bus driver Ron Hoelker and maintenance and custodian staff member Larry Greene.
The teachers and support staff members of the year, as well as the Masterpiece Award winners, were honored at a dinner in April.
Fregeau said it is important for the district to recognize teachers and support staff members every year.
“People are changing kids’ lives, and their work needs to be honored,” he said. “They are a key part of the village that is in place to support our students.”
Leuthauser
Leuthauser, 41, of Arnold has taught kindergarten at Fox Elementary for 14 of the 16 years she has worked for Fox C-6.
She began her career as a seventh and eighth grade communications arts and leadership teacher at Seckman Middle, and she taught at Seckman High for one year.
Leuthauser said when she received the award, she believed the school’s staff and students were assembling in the gym for a presentation by Arnold Police Officer Mike Prusinowski, the Fox Elementary and Middle school resource officer.
“The kids were all lined up. Another coworker and I were working on the ABC countdown for the end of the school year, and all of a sudden (Principal Jennifer Fritz) came up and was like, ‘Hey, Mrs. Leuthauser.’ Then I just saw all these people start swarming in.”
Leuthauser said at first she thought something might be wrong, but then Fregeau announced that she was named the Fox C-6 Teacher of the Year.
“It was very overwhelming,” she said. “I did not do well with (being put on the spot). I’m OK in front of 5- and 6-year-olds all day long, but in front of everyone, my peers and colleagues, it is a different feeling. It makes you a little anxious and excited.
“Listening to the stories and things people say, the waterworks start. I couldn’t get it together after that.”
Leuthauser said her husband, Scott Leuthauser, the Fox High assistant principal and activities director, and their three children – Barrett, 8; Remy, 6; and Sloane, 2 – were at the school when she received the award.
Fregeau said the biggest reason Leuthauser won the award was because she goes “above and beyond” in everything she does.
Leuthauser said it means a lot to receive the award, especially since the district has so many great teachers.
“It is not that teachers look for gratification or need it, but it is nice because it is like a thank you for being there and putting your all into the kids,” she said. “That is what it is truly about – the kids.”
Stoien
Stoien, 47, of Barnhart has been a psychological examiner at Fox C-6 for the past seven years.
She started her career as a teacher in the district, and after seven years of working in the classroom she became a school counselor.
Stoien said when she received the award, she was surprised by Ridgewood Middle Principal Courtney Meagher and other Fox C-6 officials in the school’s foyer. Stoien’s daughter, Lexi, was there for the surprise announcement, too.
“I walked out into the foyer of my school and there were balloons and a cake,” Stoien said. “I felt overwhelmed with emotion when I found out that I won the award.
“I think the way our district honors and recognizes the support staff members makes a person feel really special and appreciated.”
Fregeau said Stoien received the award because of her commitment to kids who need extra help.
“Robyn is very detailed in her work but also has a great heart for kids,” he said. “She is very important to ensuring kids are provided the proper services they need to grow academically.”
Stoien said she is proud of the award but added that said she didn’t earn the award on her own.
“I could not do this job without all the amazing staff I work with on a daily basis,” she said. “We are a team and I am grateful that I am part of it.”