The Special Education Foundation (SEF) looks forward to your nominations for the 4th Annual Starfish Awards, taking place on Friday, June 11, 2027, at The Reverie STL in Chesterfield. This special event celebrates the extraordinary individuals in the Special School District (SSD) community whose compassion, dedication, and everyday actions make a meaningful difference in the lives of students with disabilities.
Inspired by the beloved Starfish Parable, the awards recognize a simple but powerful truth: one person can make a difference. In the story, a child walks along a beach covered with stranded starfish, tossing them back into the ocean one by one. When someone points out that the child cannot possibly save them all, the child replies, “I made a difference for that one.”
That message captures the heart of the Starfish Awards. Every day, individuals throughout the SSD community make a difference through small acts of kindness, moments of encouragement, and a commitment to helping students reach their potential.
Starfish Award nominees embody this spirit in countless ways. They are educators who find creative ways to meet students' individual needs, paraprofessionals who offer encouragement and celebrate every milestone, bus drivers who greet students with a smile, and school staff and administrators who lead with compassion and understanding. They are the people who notice when a student needs extra support, take the time to build meaningful relationships, and go above and beyond to help every student feel valued.\
If you know someone who shares these acts, we invite you to nominate them today. Here are a few examples of our Starfish Award winners and what their nominators had to say about them:
“Jennifer Paris has been an extraordinary source of support, providing guidance, training, and hands-on assistance during challenging situations throughout the school year. She consistently went above and beyond by helping staff develop behavior and crisis plans, modeling strategies during crises, training paraprofessionals after hours, and securing safety resources to protect both students and staff.
Jennifer Paris - Instructional Coach - Rockwood School District“Gail assists students with finding a way to restore relationships with their classmates and teachers when harm is done. She also provides positive opportunities for students to focus their attention on, such as involvement in the Black History Program, 8th Grade Graduation, and other school activities. When other adults may see the student as troublesome, Gail looks to find their talent and encourages them to look to their future and create goals.”
Gail Ross - Teacher Assistant - Ackerman SchoolThese everyday acts can have a lasting impact. A kind word can build confidence. A little extra patience can help a student overcome a challenge. A caring relationship can give a student the encouragement they need to keep going. The Starfish Awards shine a light on the individuals whose dedication helps make these moments possible.
The awards are supported by SEF's Women Leaders, who are passionate about recognizing the extraordinary individuals who support students with disabilities. Through their efforts, the Women Leaders help celebrate the people whose commitment and compassion make a difference every day.
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? We invite you to nominate an outstanding member of the SSD community whose dedication, kindness, and support make a lasting difference in the lives of students with disabilities. Nominations are open through Sunday, December 20, 2026.
Help us recognize the people who make a difference — one student, one moment, and one act of kindness at a time. Submit Your Starfish Award Nomination Today!
