Staff Celebrations: February 2026

Babies

• Nathan Campo, a Marion Elementary counselor, and his wife welcomed twins on Nov. 23.  Avery Grace made her debut at 6 lbs. 5 oz, and Everett Maxwell made his debut at 6 lbs. 11 oz. Their big sister is Emerson Mae.
  
   
• Marianne Maddox, a Marion Elementary kindergarten teacher, and her husband Craig, are excited to announce the adoption of their newest member of the family, Summer Maddox, age 3, on Feb. 3. She joins big sister Janelle.
  

 

• Connie Schlueter, a Wyland Elementary cook, welcomed the arrival of her second grandson, Gabriel Michael Goewey, on Jan. 21, weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz. and was 21 in. long. 

Kudos

• Ms. Brandi Belger, a Kratz Elementary kindergarten teacher, is proud to share that her daughter, Kamryn Belger, has officially graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Training and earned the title of United States Marine. Kamryn completed one of the most demanding military training programs in the world and was meritoriously promoted in recognition of her outstanding performance, leadership and dedication during boot camp.
  
  Kamryn now joins her brother, who serves in the Army National Guard, making Brandi the incredibly proud parent of two children serving in the United States military. 
  
  Brandi said, “While each of their paths is unique, both have chosen a life of service, discipline, and commitment to something greater than themselves.”

  ​

• LaKisha Fouché, a Marvin Elementary interventionist, and her family celebrated the graduation of her oldest daughter, Samia Fouché on Dec. 19. Samia graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s in communication and certificates for her minors in journalism and Black studies. She is an RHS class of 2021 graduate as well as a Mizzou Legacy graduate, following in the footsteps of both parents. 
  
   
• Husky Academy's Director Tavonda Palmer Harvey and her husband, Stanley Harvey, are children’s book authors whose book, “Kash & Palmer Present…I Love Myself!” has been selected by Forest Park Forever, St. Louis Public Library and St Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature to be featured in a Storybook Walk in Forest Park near the Anne O'C Albrecht Nature Playscape. This experience brings their book to life by placing its pages along a walking path, allowing families to read together while enjoying the outdoors and promoting literacy, connection and wellness. 
  
   
• Congratulations to Tangela Oatis, a 2008 RHS graduate and assistant coach for the Husky’s varsity volleyball team, for being named Volleyball Assistant Coach of the Year for Class 5!  She will be honored at a luncheon during a coaches clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 17 in Columbia. In her ninth season as assistant coach, Tangela has received many accolades from Head Coach Ellen Kim, volleyball players and their families. 
  
   
• Anastasia Preston, a teacher of the Keeping Pace Program/Positive Transition Program at Husky Academy, is excited to share kudos for herself and her students for successfully completing a rigorous unit about Mesopotamia at the end of first semester.
  
  Anastasia said students worked hard at completing assignments, projects and presentations throughout the unit, and their final project was outstanding. To end the semester, they presented a showcase of their work and effort: vocabulary study, assessment accomplishments, essays, the creation of positive behavior and expectations, and an abbreviated debate. Professionals from across the district were invited to be an audience for the presentation. 
  
  In all, four students represented their class by presenting answers to the essential questions of the unit by performing an abbreviated debate to the following questions: What effect do governments have on society? What does it mean to be civilized? Do people form societies in order to survive in life, or to be fulfilled in life? Where do I fit into society? Each student created authentic answers with a built in question of their own to the audience for each question asked.
  
   
• Ronald Pleas, lead custodian at the School for Early Childhood Education, and his wife, Ebony Pleas, were ordained as ministers in October 2025 with The Christian International Apostolic Network. They are the current pastors at Homer G. Phillips Senior Apartments in St. Louis. 
  
   
• Brenda Schnettler, a Project Lead the Way and science teacher at RHS, is proud to share that her oldest son, Tommy, 21, was on the President's List last semester at Ranken Technical College.
   
• Congratulations to Tracy Weber, a Ritenour High School science teacher, who earned her second master’s degree in November. Her newest degree is a master’s of education in educational technology and instruction design from Western Governors University.