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Deborah Rae Gauard has been on the St. Louis School Faculty for the past thirteen years. She is an energetic teacher, very enthusiastic, and knows how to help her students reach their potential. Her classes are interesting since she uses a variety of teaching styles as well as teaching aids to keep her students involved and on task.

Mrs. Gaurard is well informed in elementary curriculum and through her efforts the school has adopted the Accelerated Reading and Accelerated Math programs. Deborah stays abreast of the technological advancements that can be used in the classrooms.

She devotes many extra hours to her teaching profession assisting the principal; colleagues, and students. For these reasons, I nominate Deborah Rae Gaurard for the Red McCombs School House Award.

Barbara Martinez is an example of an educator who places others above herself. She not only performs her assigned job in an exemplary fashion, but she volunteers to help in any area needed to benefit children. She helps in the office when calls and visitors overwhelm the secretary; she uses her artistic gifts to decorate for school events; she organizes and supervises extracurricular events; she teaches innovative digital art classes; she assists teachers and students with technology usage; she supervises university work-study students in the after-school program; and she does whatever is needed for the school to run smoothly. Before a problem is detected, often Barbara has performed preventative actions. She exhibits a commitment to her school, her colleagues, and above all, the students. And I cannot fail to mention that Barbara Martinez does all these things as a single parent while working on her degree from the university. She is multi-talented and with her technology skills she could easily find a job that would pay her what she is worth but she chooses to continue working as a paraprofessional in a private school. She believes that she is following Gods will as she ministers to children in the school.

As her supervisor and principal of the school, I believe that God sent Barbara as a very special influence at St. Martin Hall. She enriches the lives of all she knows and is truly a partner in education who deserves recognition for her contributions to the educational system.

I am honored to submit this Letter of Nomination for Mrs. Laura Rodriguez, Assistant Athletic Director At Antonian College Preparatory High School.

Upon becoming Principal of Antonian College Preparatory High School in 1985, I had an opportunity to visit the classrooms and meet some students. While there I asked the students what they wanted me to focus on as principal. Among the may answers came three that were the most profound. The first spoke about wanting teachers to teach just a little bit more, the next spoke about allowing more debate in Religion classes and the last spoke to the issue of gender equity and how the girls wanted to be treated fairly and equitably in terms of resources and athletics. Because Antonian was al all boys school, this was particularly pressing for the young ladies. Knowing that gender equity in athletics needed to be a primary focus, I looked for an individual who could assist in the development of the girls’ athletic program and one who would assure our success. This is when I hired Mrs. Rodriguez.

Ten years later the established goal of gender equity in athletics has been fulfilled due in large part to the leadership of Mrs. Rodriguez. The school will forever be in her debt. During her ten years at Antonian she has taught Physical Education and Spanish, coached softball, Volleyball and Basketball and has served as the Assistant Athletic Director. Among the various roles she has filled, being a softball coach is the one she most relishes and the one that has allowed her to teach the traits of character to her players including responsibility, respect, integrity, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

As a coach, Mrs. Rodriguez passionately teaches the game of “softball” for the love of the game and for the sake of giving her players an opportunity to gain confidence and to learn success amidst the winning and the losing. In addition, Mrs. Rodriguez teaches her players right from wrong and the moral duty to be “good” and to do the “right” thing, “instills” a deep belief in family and togetherness and demands and models ethical conduct.

I contacted various people who have been a part of Coach Rodriguez’s life from her parents to her high school coach to her colleagues at the high school and university levels and asked that they give me some works that describe Coach Rodriguez. People described her using many words. Some included persistence, honesty, dedication; kindness, compassionate, determined, successful, fair, loyal, energetic, caring and honorable.

When Michael came to our school, our financial situation was adequate, but business operations were precarious, and physical plant was deteriorating.

Michael reorganized the office and engineered the installation of new financial controls. He changed maintenance management, improving efficiency and morale. The entire set of classrooms has been rehabilitated and reorganized. Michael has survived two formal audits with high marks.

Michael also serves as a Catholic Deacon at our school masses both weekends and at monthly all-school liturgies. He works at least hours a week and often comes in on our free days to stay ahead.