The Ladue School District Board of Education held their fifth meeting of the school year Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. 

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as remarks from Board President Marissa Rosen and Superintendent Jim Wipke. Following these introductory statements, the Board delved into the content of the meeting. 

The Board proceeded with Committee and Liaison Reports, praising several involved board members on the growth of the Olivette Recreational Youth Sports League. Programs offered by this league include youth soccer, basketball, softball and baseball. It’s become a pillar of the community, utilized not only by Ladue students but those from several other districts including University City, MICDS and Clayton. 

The Board then began with the student recognition section, showing their appreciation for all of the students who took part in the Leadership committee for Ladue Night Lights, an event which occurred Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. Students recognized include Allie Glidewell who managed PR for the event, Emily Rosen who is a coordinator for the Best Buddies program, as well as Manon Hernandez, Joshua Brown and Kate Lackey who assisted in the organization of the event. Ladue Night Lights raised $7,000, some of which will go to Best Buddies International to facilitate the general operation of the organization. The rest of the money will contribute to sending Ladue Students to Best Buddies leadership conferences, enabling the school to better its own program.

Proceeding with the evening’s staff recognition, the focus remained on Ladue Night Lights and the people who contributed to its organization. Teacher Maureen Rocco and Activities Director Gregory Kendall were recognized by the board for sponsoring the event, and providing their professional guidance to the students on the Leadership board. 

Later in the meeting, the tax hearing for the 2025-26 school year was delivered for the board, announcing an increase for this term. Following this, the board announced their decision on the Missouri School Board Association as the hiring firm for a new Superintendent, following current Superintendent Jim Wipke’s retirement effective June 30, 2026. 

The board further discussed policy updates, largely focused on clarifying their commitment to collaboration with virtual learners that reside within district bounds. They announced that all students who are forced to transition to virtual courses due to behavioral issues will be granted due process via trial, in addition to finalizing the policy which opens all Ladue extracurricular and athletic activities open to all virtual students who live within district bounds, so long as they meet standing requirements. 

The Board also confirmed future plans to continue the renovation and expansion of the school’s parking lots, approving payment to paving contractor Accurate Asphalt. 

Concluding the meeting, College and Career counselors Chad Sisk and Diana Redden, along with Director of Student Services Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson gave a presentation regarding the effects of the school’s counseling and involvement on the class of 2025. They boasted the diverse college outcomes of this and past classes, noting that students took a plethora of different routes, from small liberal arts colleges to large scientifically focused universities. The counselors also reaffirmed their commitment to focusing more on career advice for students who don’t want to take the approach of a traditional four year college. 

The highlight of the evening, as proclaimed by the evening’s announcer, was the presentation of the Excellence in Education Award to social studies teacher and golf coach Riley Keltner. Keltner has been working at Ladue for eight years. A video containing glowing testimonies from numerous friends and colleagues was shown, including fellow social studies teacher Rebecca Rubin-Schlansky and hit podcast “APUSH 4 All” co-stars Mike Hill and Zachary Garrison was played before the award was distributed. All told stories of Keltner’s care for her students and colleagues, and dedication to making Ladue a better place. 

Following the video, Building Principal Brad Griffith stood to give testimony about Keltner’s contributions to the Ladue Community. He noted that he had attempted to nominate Keltner for the teacher of the year award several times, only for her to reject them each time. As Keltner stood to give her own testimony and thanks, she remarked that she hadn’t always wanted to be a teacher.

“I really got into teaching because of how much I love history,” Keltner said,  “Teaching just seemed like the best way to use that excitement. But even though I got into this job for the teaching, I stuck around for the kids.”

Many of Keltner’s colleagues, referred to by Griffith as her Ladue family, came to the ceremony to support her. High school social studies teachers Kelly Krejnik and Mike Hill, English teacher Jennifer Hartigan, 3rd Grade teacher at Reed Elementary Katie Courtwright and many more were all in attendance. Most notably, they toted prints of a photo of Keltner’s face glued to large popsicle sticks, which they held in front of their faces as they cheered for her. 

The Board of Education will hold another open session Oct. 29, the exact time and location yet to be determined. All Ladue students and families are welcome to attend.