Awards

Open to Students, Staff Members and Employee Groups

Do you know someone who deserves extra recognition? School and department leaders are invited to nominate students, staff members or employee groups for a Recognizing Our Own (ROO) Award. Nominees may be recognized for accomplishments or contributions such as:

• Academic, artistic or athletic achievements recognized at the state or national level
• Top placements in state or national competitions by individuals or teams
• Significant contributions that improve the school environment or support others
• Professional recognition or major achievements by staff members
• Efforts that go above and beyond regular responsibilities and positively impact students, staff or the broader school community

These examples are not exhaustive. Please use this form to nominate for ROO. Include a brief description of the accomplishment or contribution and why the individual or group deserves recognition. 

Submit a nomination

This year, ROO Awards will be presented at 6 p.m. in the CHS Library on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and Wednesday, April 28. The deadline to submit nominations for the Nov. 18 celebration is Monday, Nov. 2. Nominations received after that date will be considered for the April 28 event.

Nominations will be reviewed by District leaders to ensure they meet the award criteria. Selected honorees will then receive an invitation from the executive assistant to the superintendent and Board of Education to attend an Awards Night.

For questions, please contact Communications.

Open to K-12 School District of Clayton Teachers

The School District of Clayton is proud to recognize one outstanding educator each year through the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards program. Each fall, a committee of past recipients reviews the nominations and selects the District’s honoree. The recipient is then surprised with the news at their school and later recognized at the District’s annual employee awards, MayFair.

What to Know About the 2026 Emerson Award Process

• Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.
• Emerson honorees from across the region will be celebrated at a special event at The Ritz-Carlton. Additional details will be shared at a later date.
• Clayton’s Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award recipient may also be submitted by the District for consideration in Missouri’s Teacher of the Year program.

Submit a nomination

Emerson has sponsored this program since 1989 as part of its commitment to promote quality education throughout the St. Louis area. View past winners of the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award.