Mehlville School District’s Classified Employee of the Year is always there for students and families
Posted on 04/24/2025
Macheal Amelung, an administrative assistant at Hagemann Elementary School, was named the 2025 Mehlville School District Classified Employee of the Year at the district’s Recognition Night ceremony on April 23, 2025.
Amelung has spent nearly three decades as part of the Hagemann Elementary School community. Prior to working for the school for the past 14 years, she was also active when her children attended Hagemann as students.
“Hagemann is just in my soul and feels like home,” said Amelung. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”

Image: Amelung receives the Mehlville School District Classified Employee of the Year award from the Mehlville Board of Education members.
In addition to being a smiling face that greets school visitors and answers the phone, Amelung also plays an important role in supporting students in the classroom.
“I see how hard she works every day, and the kids just love her,” said Brenda Griffin, an administrative assistant. “She helps them with their Chromebooks so they don’t have to go through the IT department and can get back to learning right away.”
Amelung is also someone the Hagemann staff knows they can go to when they need help.
“She’s very nurturing and caring,” said Dr. Julie Durham, Hagemann Elementary principal. “She is also in charge of attendance and enrollment and always welcomes new families to our building.”
This the first time in several years that Mehlville School District has named a District Classified Employee of the Year.
Our Classified Employees of the Year
At Recognition Night, the district also honored all of the school-level classified employees of the year for the 2024-2025 school year. Congratulations to these incredible support staff members!
- Casey Ridenour, Mehlville Early Childhood paraprofessional
- Tricia Cash, Beasley Elementary School administrative assistant
- Megan Brandon, Bierbaum Elementary School paraprofessional
- Erika Ackermann, Blades Elementary School teacher assistant
- Alicia Yarbrough, Forder Elementary School paraprofessional
- Macheal Amelung, Hagemann Elementary School administrative assistant
- Adam Mundinger, MOSAIC Elementary School custodian
- Leslie Vaughn, Oakville Elementary School paraprofessional
- Michelle Cook, Point Elementary School administrative assistant
- Tim Wucher, Rogers Elementary School custodian
- Kevin Brown, Trautwein Elementary School custodian
- Madison Miller, Wohlwend Elementary School nurse
- Chris Scott, Bernard Middle School administrative assistant
- Cindy Buatte, Buerkle Middle School nurse
- Lisa Gastreich, Oakville Middle School substitute teacher
- Mary Rutledge, Washington Middle School paraprofessional
- Jackie Cordes, Mehlville High School administrative assistant
- Torre Tessmer, Oakville High School custodial supervisor
- Thomas Wilson, SCOPE and Central Office custodian
- Randy Smith, Facilities Department filter technician
- Kathleen Rysanek, Technology Department SIS data specialist
- Leonard Chirco, Transportation Department bus driver
Thank you to our sponsors

Thank you to the following Platinum and Gold sponsors for their support of district recognition activities: Reinhold Electric, Century Credit Union and William G. Cocos Plumbing Co.