Saint Louis Public Schools

ST. LOUIS, MO. January 14, 2013 – The St. Louis Public School District has presented Ms. Linda Smith, a preschool teacher at Dewey International Studies Elementary School, with the Adelaide M. Schlafly Preschool Teacher of the Year Award.  She will join Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of Schools, today in Jefferson City for a meeting with Governor Jay Nixon about the importance and future of Early Childhood Education.

An educator with the District since 2007, Linda Smith stood out from her peers for creating a classroom community that fosters learning in a fun and engaging environment by involving parents and empowering students to become leaders within the class.

“Forming a partnership with parents is key to their child’s success in school,” said Smith, who serves as the school’s home visit coordinator for the HomeWorks! program, which encourages teachers to make two home visits a year to talk with students and their parents. She also sends home a newsletter, a student report, a list of classroom activities, and homework focusing on reading, mathematics, and fine motor practice each week to keep parents informed and involved.

Subsequently, she holds high expectations for her students and encourages them to assume a leadership role in her class community by letting them decide the class rules. “This year our rules are: Be here at school and play; play with somebody nicely; show you know something; listen to the teacher; give hugs and high-fives; help each other; and share,” she said. 

As the year progresses, she expands leadership roles by letting students take on individual tasks as daily “class helpers.”  As a result, students are taught responsibility by taking care of their personal needs, solving conflicts on their own, and asking for help when needed.

“Ms. Smith is an excellent preschool teacher, a valued member of the Dewey school community, and a person who genuinely cares about students’ learning,” said Dr. Jeanine Zitta, principal of Dewey International Studies Elementary School, who nominated Smith for the award.

As the 2012 Adelaide M. Schlafly Preschool Teacher of the Year, Ms. Linda Smith was honored with an awards reception at the Carondelet Historical Society and presented with a $1,000 award from the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation.  In addition, she received a trophy, a plaque, and a $500 award for classroom supplies and/or professional development through the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund. 

For more information please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 345-2367.

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