Affton School District Announces SOAR Award Winners

Eighteen staff and volunteers were honored at the Affton School District’s Service and Outstanding Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Awards on April 10, the school district announced in a news release.

“I am impressed by the dedication and contributions of each of the nominees,” Doug Beck, president of the Affton School District Board of Education, said in the release. “They strive to make a difference, and each of them make the Affton schools and community a better place.”

Six nominees received the prestigious SOAR Award:

• Jana Caselli, attendance secretary at Affton High School; 
• Carol Hall, speech and language pathologist at Gotsch Intermediate; 
• Clare Iffland, special education teacher at Rogers Middle; 
• Zandra Jackson, kindergarten teacher at Mesnier Primary; 
• Amy Rose, fifth-grade teacher at Gotsch Intermediate; 
• Patti Vogt, speech and language pathologist at Gotsch Intermediate.

Dave Walters, manager of Buildings and Grounds for Affton School District, received the 2013 Superintendent’s Award for his work on the planning, development and opening of the Affton Early Childhood Center, according to the release.

“Without Dave’s experience and attention to detail, we would not have been able to provide such a top-notch facility for the Affton Early Childhood program on time and under budget,” superintendent Dr. Steve Brotherton, said in the release. “He is a valuable member of our team, and I am pleased to publicly recognize his hard work.”

The Affton Early Childhood Center opened in August 2012 and is home to over 140 pre-school students, ages 3 to 5. Renovations to the 19,000 square-foot former warehouse facility began in December 2011.

Twelve other staff members were nominated and honored at the ceremony, according to the release: Nick Corley, custodian at Mesnier Primary; Denise Dolan, volunteer; Patty Driscoll, volunteer; Mary Guinta, athletic secretary at Affton High School; Chuck Hahl, groundskeeper for Affton School District; Julie Livingstone, kindergarten teacher at Mesnier Primary; Alison Muehlhauser, personnel manager for Affton School District; Debbie Reid, counselor at Gotsch Intermediate; Ashley Roberts, teacher at Affton Early Childhood; Mary Jane Sciales, second-grade teacher at Mesnier Primary; Sherry Timmons, instructional staff assistant at Mesnier Primary; and Allyson Wall, science teacher at Affton High School.