CNSTC: August 22, 2018

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August 22, 2018

A champion for children

Around Town

Save the date for Celebrate St. Peters at Lakeside 370 Park. Pg. 4

Healthy Living Strokes: what to know. Pg. 3

School Wentzville educator selected as finalist for presidential teaching award. Pg. 8

Features

Photo courtesy Wentzville School District Cheri Thurman (wearing the robe) is presented the Spirit of Crazy Horse Award by Larry Brendrto, Martin Brokenleg and Steve Van Bockern, authors of “Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the Future,” and creators of the Circle of Courage.

Wentzville Assistant Superintendent of Student Services wins international award for supporting and advocating for vulnerable youth By Brett Auten Cheri Thurman has always been there for the underdog, the outcast and the ignored. Thurman is the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services for the Wentzville School District and has worked in special education for over 40 years. In July, she was named the 2018 recipient of the Spirit of Crazy Horse Award by Reclaiming Youth International. The international award is given each year to an individual whose distinguished contributions through practice, policy development or research, creates courage for discouraged children and helps reclaim our most vulnerable youth. Thurman has been with the Wentzville School District since 1985. She has a Mas-

ter of Science in Special Education, with an emphasis in students with social and emotional challenges, from the University of Idaho. Early in her career, she co-managed a classroom for severely emotionally troubled students that was recognized as a Model Program by the state of Oregon. From there she moved to Missouri, where she started the Therapeutic Learning Center at Wentzville, which was recognized by the state of Missouri as a Model Program and was the first in-district, on-campus, day treatment model in the state. For 29 years, she has been working in the Wentzville School District as a district-level administrator, teaching staff to connect with students who struggle with emotional disorders. Throughout her career, Thurman

has been a champion of children who need someone to value them as unique individuals and look beyond their self-defeating behavior patterns. She sees a child’s behavior as a means of communication. “Children are telling us they have a need. If we will listen, they will talk; and if we are genuine, they will trust,” Thurman said. “In order for children to thrive, they need a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.” This yearning to help be the voice of these children has its roots close to home. “I think I came from a situation that occurred when my brother was in school,” Thurman said. “He was very intelligent but struggled some and his experiences were See ‘CHAMPION’ page 2

Serving St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln Counties | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol.20 No.34 | 636-379-1775

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4

Weather FRIDAY Scattered Storms 84/70 SATURDAY Isolated Showers/ Storms 92/71 SUNDAY Sunny 94/74 FirstWarn Weather

prepared by meteorologist Nick Palisch. For the latest updates visit www.facebook.com/nickswx.


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