Engagements/Weddings
Marisa Bryan, third grade teacher at Marion Elementary, is excited to share that she got engaged to Gabriel Marrero on Nov. 19.
Nathan Campo, Wyland Elementary counselor, married Keri on Nov. 11. (Photo credit to Lauren T Photography)
Jill Hodges, second grade teacher at Marion Elementary, and husband Ryan celebrated the marriage of their youngest son Marc Hodges to Ella Thomas on Jan. 7 in Alabama.
Maggie Wasilewski, a second grade teacher at Iveland Elementary, celebrated her engagement to Bill Diehl over winter break among Wild Lights at the St. Louis Zoo. They are planning a wedding for October 2024.
Babies
Karen Musemic, Adult Education and Literacy coordinator, became a first-time grandmother on Dec. 27 when she celebrated the birth of her granddaughter, Alinea Ly. Alinea’s proud parents are Kelli Ly and Khoi Ly.
Kudos
Ritenour High School English language arts teachers Lauren Beamer, Christina Andrade Melly and Ron Steinschreiber all presented at the Missouri Powerful Learning Conference in January. Beamer and Steinchreiber shared information on student-centered literature circles. Melly shared two sessions on building school systems that are healthy for students and staff, and finding the joy in teaching.
Michelle Clover, who will be retiring at the end of February as the assistant to the Superintendent and Ritenour Board of Education secretary, was honored at the Feb. 9 school board meeting by Missouri Rep. Doug Clemens with a proclamation from the Missouri House of Representatives.
Kevin Daniels, a math teacher at Ritenour High School, is proud to share that his wife, Meredith Ruben Daniels, published the book, The Aligned Teacher: A Guide to Sanity When You Just Want to Quit. Kevin says, “I am so proud of her, and I know the strategies in the book can really help a lot of teachers out there. Her support of me has helped me be the best Husky I can be these last 17 years.”
Cathy Hudson, a Special School District teacher at the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education, is excited to share that her 9-year-old granddaughter, Parker M. Hudson, is featured on a billboard near Costco at the intersection of I-170 North and Olive Boulevard. The billboard celebrates young entrepreneurs for Black History Month. Parker runs her own business called Magical Bath, which specializes in bath and bedtime products for people with sensitive skin.
RHS Band Director Hadley Haux has assumed the conducting duties of the Northwinds Community Concert Band, as of this spring. The Northwinds Band has been performing and entertaining St. Louis-area residents for about 50 years, and has provided a continuing musical outlet for musicians of all ages, including quite a few current and former Ritenour students. Northwinds members have performed concerts for Ritenour residents, assisted in pits, and have volunteered to run clinics and masterclasses for Ritenour band students in recent years. Haux has been a member of the band for 12 years.
Christina Andrade Melly, RHS English language arts teacher at 2023 Missouri Teacher of the Year, was honored by Missouri Sen. Brian Williams on Feb. 10 with a proclamation from the Missouri Senate.
Rhonda Olson, a longtime active parent in Ritenour, is excited to share that after being a permanent substitute, she now is an academic teacher’s assistant at Ritenour Middle School. When she’s not at RMS, she is busy as the PTO president at Ritenour High School and being a concession stand lead for the school’s music boosters.
Valerie Stanfill, a teacher at the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education, received a grant from STL Books for Kids. Each of the school’s 228 students received at least two new books to take home. STL Books for Kids donated a total of 551 books.
Hannah Vesper, a school counselor at Buder Elementary, recently earned her National Counselor Certification after passing a rigorous exam and completing several other requirements in clinical counseling. She joins a strong cohort of school counselors in Ritenour who also are nationally certified: Jennifer Espenschied (Buder), Judith McGrath, a bilingual therapist (elementary schools), Bethany Buescher (HMS), Lisa Brougham and Shauna Cunningham (RHS); Kristy Coffin (Marvin)
