Hazelwood West High Teacher Named Special School District’s Teacher of the Year

Hazelwood West High Special School District teacher Denise Inman didn't know it, but her student's had something brewing in appreciation for her dedicaton to the profession.

Karyn Jones, one of her students, nominated her for the Special School District of St. Louis County's (SSD) Teacher of the Year Award. She was announced as the winner in March.

Inman, an 11 year SSD teacher, is the Hazelwood West High School (HWHS) special education department chair, and has done so for six years, according to the Hazelwood School District (HSD).

Inman earned the honor for her dedication to students and her innovative efforts to help them achieve their full potential. SSD honored staff, teachers, paraprofessionals and community members at its annual SDD Salutes Banquet last month. 

Some of the reasons for her win include her dedicatoin. Inman sponsors the HWHS chapter of the Future Educators Association. She also coordinates a co-op work experience program for students with special needs and helps lead the Project Walk dropout prevention program, according to HSD.

Rashaun Fentress, a junior at HWHS, was elected Missouri Future Educators Association president for this school year. At that time of the announcement, he praised Inman for getting him to be a part of the association. 

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Additional HSd staff was selected for SSD honors. SSD’s Key to the Classroom Award honors top teachers for creative approaches to SSD student learning and commitment to students’ success, according to SSD's website.

Jill Wyatt, Lawson Elementary School teacher, and Alexis Moore, a teacher at Townsend and Granneman elementary schools, were selected as Key to the Classroom Award winners.

HWHS senior Tim Schutzenhofer was given SSD’s 2013 Special Ambassador Award. The award is presented to community members and organizations who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to the district’s students and staff, according to SSD's website.