Krystal Florez, a first grade teacher at Spoede Elementary, received the December Excellence in Education Award at the Dec. 12, 2016, Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to Krystal on this prestigious recognition!
Krystal has worked for the Ladue School District since 2010, when she took a position teaching at Old Bonhomme Elementary. She is the type of person who can juggle many balls and manage not only to keep them in the air, but also make it look easy. During her time with the district, she already has many accomplishments under her belt. In addition to working on her master’s degree in reading, she has also taken on a leadership role at Spoede serving as chair of the Character Education Committee and the Assembly Committee. And last year she was recognized as Spoede Elementary’s Teacher of the Year!
Principal Dr. Kim Stallons had this to say about Krystal’s work ethic: “As a teacher, Krystal’s goal is to educate and nurture the whole child. She sets high expectations for her students in all areas. With her as a model, Krystal’s students know what is important: Do your best, try your hardest and never give up! Her students stay motivated because they know that she will never give up on them.”
In addition to all of her work at Spoede, Krystal is making time to raise her three daughters. Krystal is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. Krystal and Cordez Vaughn have been together for one year, and she has three daughters: MaKayla, who attends Lincoln College; Rylee, who attends LHWHS; and Jaelyn, who attends LMS.
Krystal received her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Harris Stowe University. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in Special Reading K-12 from Lindenwood University.