Special Education Foundation's Starfish Awards
About the Starfish Awards
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The Starfish Award is reserved for individuals who have brought about significant change through seemingly small yet deeply meaningful actions. Ideal candidates for this honor exhibit the following qualities:
- Consistently demonstrates unwavering compassion and kindness.
- Leaves a remarkable imprint on the lives of students and families within the Special School District and the 22 partner districts in St. Louis County
- Offers vital support during challenging circumstances.
- Their actions generate a ripple effect of positivity, creating a nurturing environment for all.
Announcing the 2025 Starfish Award Winners
Jamee Heidmann - Speech/Language Pathologist
Westridge Elementary School - Rockwood School District
Wendy Hopkins - Paraprofessional
Parkway South High School - Parkway School District
Shunna Joshua - Paraprofessional
Michelle Obama ECAC - Riverview Gardens School District
Bridget Linders - Teacher
Iveland Elementary School - Ritenour School District
Amanda Moran - Teacher's Assistant
Dressel Elementary School - Lindbergh School District
Community Starfish Award- MaryLee Burlemann
Special Education Foundation Volunteer
Community Starfish Award - Debbie Smith
Fred Saigh Leadership Coordinator
Stay tuned to see more selected awardees for this year's event as we share their surprise!
The Inspiration Behind the Starfish Award
See the 2024 Starfish Award recipients here and view the photos from the event on June 13 at CITYPARK!
Powered by the Women Leaders
The Special Education Foundation's Women Leaders is an active women’s group committed to helping children and youth with disabilities. More specifically, to fund special projects that support students with disabilities served by the Special School District of St. Louis County. It was established in 2009 based on guests’ interests at a friend-raiser in how they could help.
The Special Education Foundation's Starfish Award recognizes the unsung heroes who may not seek the spotlight but, through their daily efforts, embody the belief that every small action can create waves of positive change in the world around us.
It is a powerful reminder of why we honor SSD educators and staff like Shunna, whose dedication quietly transforms lives every day.
This week, we’re honored to introduce you to two more of our 2025 Starfish Award winners. Their surprise moments were filled with joy, pride, and heartfelt emotion—and we're excited to share this amazing news with you!
Mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor more incredible educators and support staff making a difference in the lives of students with disabilities.
Save the Date for 2025!
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DateJune 12, 2025
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Location
The Reverie
17089 N Outer 40 Rd
Chesterfield, MO 63005 -
Time6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thank You to our 2nd Annual Starfish Awards Sponsors
