Hazelwood SSD News & Updates

SSD is hiring all summer long! Come join the amazing SSD HSD instructional team!

An awesome benefit of working at a school is that you have the same schedule as your child! Pictured below are just a few of the positions currently available countywide - in Hazelwood, we specifically need teachers and paraprofessionals. We have openings in middle schools and elementary schools from the West side of the district to the East. We have open opportunities to work with students in general education classrooms, special education classrooms, collaboratively taught classrooms (two teachers - one HSD & one SSD), essential skills classrooms, and classrooms for students with our highest support needs.

Please also share this information with friends and family looking for a collaborative, equitable, and committed work culture, outstanding benefits, and competitive salaries.

Click here for more information about working for SSD.

Click here to see a current list of job vacancies on the SSD website.

Click here to contact a special education coordinator to ask about opportunities at a specific school or in a specific classroom.

If you're interested in working for SSD in one of the Hazelwood schools but can't commit to a full-time job, please consider applying to Kelly Education Services. Kelly Education Services hires and places all substitute teachers and paraprofessionals requested by SSD for daily absences as well as long-term/temporary assignments. This is a great way to earn extra cash, become more involved in your child's education, and work in a fun and friendly environment.

Please click here or check out the link below and apply today!

SSD HSD welcomes three new Special Education Coordinators to the Administrative Team.

Amanda Barton comes to HSD from the Fort Zumwalt School District where she was an educational diagnostician responsible for the special education process. Prior to this, Ms. Barton served as a special education director at St. Elizabeth School District in the Lake of the Ozarks region. In addition to having teaching experience with multiple levels of student needs and supports, Ms. Barton also has experience in working with and knowledge of the struggles of English Learners.

Stephanie Hudson is a seasoned special education coordinator who has been with SSD for almost 2 decades! Ms. Hudson most recently was a special education coordinator for University City; prior to that, she was an SSD administrator in the Riverview Gardens School District. Before becoming an administrator, Ms. Hudson had a very successful teaching career, working with students with a wide spectrum of abilities. Hazelwood will absolutely benefit from Ms. Hudson's perspective from her experience in other county school districts.

Dr. Leigha Wetter is a Hazelwood original, having been a teacher in Hazelwood for the past 10 years. She completed her student teaching at Hazelwood West High School, taught at Arrowpoint Elementary School, and, most recently, she was a teacher, data-team leader, and leadership committee member at Northwest Middle School. Dr. Wetter is a graduate of the SSD Leadership Academy; she was Northwest Middle School's Teacher-of-the-Year in 2017, and was SSD's Teacher-of-the Year in 2019.

Please see below for the new coordinators' building assignments for the 2022-2023 school year.

SLCL and Operation Food Search are teaming up to provide lunches to children this summer at select SLCL locations.

Nine SLCL branches offer a nutritious lunch along with activities for kids from 12:00–1:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. Meals will be available free of charge for children 18 and under.

Groups, please contact hosting branch at least 24 hours prior to attending so that the proper amount of meals may be ordered.

The summer lunch program will be offered at the following branches:

• Bridgeton Trails Branch, 3455 McKelvey Road, Bridgeton
• Florissant Valley Branch, 195 N. Florissant Road S., Florissant
• Jamestown Bluffs Branch, 4153 N. Highway 67 Florissant
• Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd. St. Louis
• Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis
• Parkview Branch, 8400 Delport Drive St. Louis, MO 63042
• Rock Road Branch, 10267 St. Charles Rock Road St. Ann
• Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Road St. Louis

Operation Food Search is an equal opportunity provider.

Email: kidzone@slcl.org
Website: https://www.slcl.org/summer-lunches#:~:text=Meals%20will%20be%20available%20free,%3A00%2D5%3A00%20p.m.
Phone: 314-994-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STLCoLibrary/

The highly successful SSD Parent Leadership Institute that has had more than 280 participants since 2007 is once again being offered under a new name of Family Leadership Institute (FLI).

The Institute will be Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm at SSD Central Office: October 12, 19, 26 and November 2.

If you are a parent or family member who makes the educational decisions for a child with a disability, investing the time to attend these four Wednesday evening sessions will provide:

• VISION: for the future of your child.
• KNOWLEDGE: to help effectively participate in your child's education.
• LEADERSHIP SKILLS: to improve the educational climate for all children.
• ACCESS: to new resources, friends, and experts to help you on your journey.

Apply today https://SSDPEDA.as.me/FALL2022FLI

Email: ssdpeda@ssdmo.org
Website: https://SSDPEDA.as.me/FALL2022FLI

Congratulations to Jean Goldstein (pictured below), SSD teacher at Brown Elementary, on her 2022 Gold Star Grant from Emerson's Excellence in Teaching awards program! Jean was awarded a $5,000 grant, which will go towards the purchase of an interactive whiteboard table for her classroom.

Click here to learn more about Ms. Goldstein, the grant, and plans for use of the award.

Hazelwood was very well represented at the SSD Salutes 2022 awards banquet and ceremony, held on May 12, 2022. We are so proud to celebrate our amazing staff. The annual Salutes Awards honor the teachers, paraprofessionals, District staff, and community members who support us in realizing our mission and who stand out in their positions. Of the 4 categories of awards, Hazelwood was represented in 3 categories!

The first photo below features Key to the Classroom winner Kim Brandt (Teacher, Russell Elementary) and Lasting Impression award winner Kim Terrell (Literacy Coach). Pictured left-to-right are Kristen Ottenlips (Speech Language Pathologist, Russell Elementary), Kim Terrell, Dr. Jana Schaefer (Special Education Director), and Kim Brandt.

Not pictured at the banquet is Building Block award winner Rosemary Graham (Paraprofessional, Brown Elementary).

Please click here to read more about the amazing SSD Hazelwood 2022 winners and the work that they do. Nominations for excellent educators for 2023 will open after winter break.

Are you still thinking about what to do this summer?

The PEDA Summer Resource Packet can help!

PEDA 2022 Summer Resource Packet

Other helpful resources:

St. Louis Recreation Council www.recreationcouncil.org

Blueprint for Summer https://blueprint4.com/stl/

St. Louis County Parks Activity Guide https://bit.ly/3LHpRsp

Early Childhood Summer Resource Guide https://adobe.ly/3vSuol1

The Hazelwood SSD Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a cross-categorical group of parents of children receiving services from the Special School District. It is a volunteer organization made up of parents, SSD and Hazelwood administrators who are committed to identifying and building upon the strengths of all children in the Hazelwood School District. Hazelwood Parent Advisory Council provides a forum for parents to meet other parents and share information concerning their children and resources.

If you would like to become involved in the Hazelwood SSD PAC or if you would like more information about Hazelwood SSD parent supports and resources, please complete the survey found here: Hazelwood Parent Involvement Survey

The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health is now offering COVID-19 booster doses for children ages 5-11. Booster doses are available at neighborhood vaccine pop-up events and three DPH health clinics (Berkeley, Pine Lawn, and Sunset Hills). Appointments are available and walk-ups are welcome at the vaccination events.

To see a completed list of upcoming vaccination events, visit ReviveSTL.com.

Website: ReviveSTL.com

If you have any questions feel free to contact us at any of the following:

Special School District of St. Louis County

www.ssdmo.org

12110 Clayton Road

Town & Country, MO 63131

Phone: 314-989-8100

Hazelwood School District

www.hazelwoodschools.org

Director of Special Education for Hazelwood

Dr. Jana Schaefer

Meet the SSD Team

Hazelwood Special Education Coordinator Contacts

Email: mrlong@ssdmo.org
Website: https://www.ssdmo.org/ssdmo
Phone: 314-989-8221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo/
Twitter: @ssdstlco