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HSD Names 2010 Emerson Excellence In Teaching Awardees
The Hazelwood School District has named Ashley Gerald and Estela Neel as recipients of the 2010 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. For more than 20 years, the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards Program has recognized outstanding examples of educational excellence, and serves to “express collective admiration and gratitude for the dedicated individuals who teach children.”
Award winners are selected by district administrators for their contributions to the teaching profession and the students they teach.
Ashley Gerald, a kindergarten teacher at Grannemann Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, was named a recipient of a 2010 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. Shown here are Tyrone McNichols, asst. supt., school accountability; Kamina Hunter, principal; Gerald and Supt. Steve Price.
Gerald teaches kindergarten at Grannemann Elementary School. Neel teaches seventh and eighth grade Spanish and sixth grade learning skills at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School. Both received surprise visits at their schools and were presented with a bouquet of flowers from Steve Price, superintendent, and Paula Brown, federal programs coordinator.
Gerald was having lunch in the teacher’s lounge when Principal Kamina Hunter walked in, followed by Price and Brown. She was speechless and covered her mouth in surprise. Her fellow teachers clapped and said they knew she’d win.
“I am very honored to be chosen by my peers for such a humbling award,” Gerald said. “The award means a lot. I teach among a great deal of wonderful teachers, so to be singled out is an outstanding honor,” she said.
Estela Neel, a Spanish teacher at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School, was named a recipient of a 2010 Shown here are” Steve Sandbothe, asst. supt., school accountability; Neel; Willicia Hobbs, principal, Hazelwood Northwest Middle School; and Steve Price.
Neel was assisting with lunch duty in the cafeteria for the seventh-grade class when she was greeted by Supt. Price. She appeared stunned, yet graciously moved by the moment. Students cheered as the announcement was made of her award.
“I was so excited and amazed to receive such an honor. It means so much more to me because I was selected by the administrative team at my school, who are people that actually know the quality of my work,” said Neel.
“I feel like I have been recognized for being a good teacher, a good mentor, and that I have set a good example for my students,” she continued.
This is Gerald’s fourth year at Grannemann Elementary. She has experience teaching first grade as well, and has only worked for HSD.
Neel has been teaching at Hazelwood Northwest Middle for 11 years. She has 16 years of experience and previously taught in the Parkway School District.
Annually, more than 100 teachers in the St. Louis metropolitan area are honored through the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards Program. Recipients will attend a ceremony and a reception in November at Sheldon Concert Hall.
