Forever Rockwood: Aug. 28, 2025

"Forever Rockwood" is a series in which the Rockwood School District features alumni from Eureka, Lafayette, Marquette and Rockwood Summit high schools who make a lasting impact on their communities.

Read some of their stories below. If you have a "Forever Rockwood" candidate in mind, please send information about them to commdept@rsdmo.org.

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Trish Floyd (Lafayette Class of 2009), founder, Sophia's Crowns Flower Shop

Throughout her 12 years as a student in the Rockwood School District, Trish Floyd learned valuable skills and lessons that she still uses.

"My Rockwood education provided a strong academic foundation and opportunities to grow socially and personally," Floyd said. "It shaped my values, work ethic and the importance of community and prepared me well for the next steps in my education and life."

Floyd attended Stanton Elementary from first through fifth grade, then Wildwood Middle before Lafayette High. A first-generation college student, she earned her Master in Healthcare Administration from Lindenwood University and went on to start her own business.

She earned the St. Louis American Young Leader Award in 2024 and was honored with a formal resolution by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 2022.

"Since walking the halls of LHS, I have dedicated my life to civic leadership, public service, entrepreneurship and advocacy for marginalized communities," Floyd said. "My journey began at Lafayette, where I learned the importance of leadership, excellence and resilience. I carry those values with me into every space I enter."

One of her favorite Rockwood memories involves Field Day during her senior year, when the whole class came together for a day of fun and celebration.

"I’m grateful for the teachers, staff and peers who supported me along the way," Floyd said. "The lessons and friendships from my time in Rockwood continue to influence and inspire me today."

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Jonathan Sumner (Eureka Class of 2006), activities director, Lafayette

Jonathan Sumner is part of a strong family tradition in the Rockwood School District.

His father, Tom, was longtime teacher and coach at Eureka High. His brother, Jake, is a physical education teacher at Eureka and the Wildcats' current football head coach, and Jake's wife, Emily, is a math teacher at LaSalle Springs Middle.

Jonathan's wife, Jessica is an assistant principal at Kehrs Mill Elementary, and their four children go to Lafayette High, Rockwood Valley Middle, Babler and Kehrs Mill.

"My Rockwood education has meant so much to me. I've been a student, am now an employee, and all of my children are currently enrolled in Rockwood schools," Sumner said. "The district offers incredible educational and extracurricular opportunities and has some of the best staff around. I'm thankful to have been a student - now a colleague - and to have my children educated here."

As a student, he attended Green Pines (kindergarten through part of fourth grade) and Pond (part of fourth and all of fifth grade) elementary schools, LaSalle Springs and Wildwood - where he was in the first eighth-grade class - middle schools and Eureka High. He also worked as a part-time custodian for two summers at Eureka and, when he was home from college, spent four years on the district's summer painting crew.

Sumner has spent his entire career in education at Lafayette, starting as a student teacher and assistant wrestling coach before becoming a social studies teacher at the school. He also was the head wrestling coach, an assistant football coach and ran the school's summer strength and conditioning program before becoming activities director in 2018.

"I have so many great memories from my time in Rockwood as a student and staff member, but what has stuck with me the most are the teachers, mentors, coaches and administrators," Sumner said. "They helped and supported me throughout my educational career, and without them, I wouldn't be the person and educator I am today."

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Layla Torgoley (Marquette Class of 2013), college and career counselor, Marquette
Sean Torgoley (Marquette Class of 2006), science teacher, Rockwood Summit High

Layla and Sean Torgoley navigated their Rockwood experiences seven years apart as students, starting at Kehrs Mill before moving on through Crestview Middle and Marquette.

Now, they also work only 15 miles apart as educators in the district: Sean as a science teacher at Rockwood Summit and Layla as a college and career counselor at her alma mater.

"My Rockwood education has always been more than just school; it’s been a true community from the very beginning," Layla said. "It is also so fun to share being a Rockwood employee with my brother and see our family go through Rockwood. It is a sense of community unlike any other."

Sean says he had a bit of a rebellious streak when he was going through school, and support from his Rockwood teachers, coaches and school communities helped him stay on the right track.

He also found a conducive outlet in the wrestling team.

"One of the best decisions I've made in my life was to walk on the wrestling team as a freshman," he said. "I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought it was WWE wrestling with chairs, ladders and submissions! The four years on that team helped transform so many aspects of my life: academics, responsibility, discipline, the list goes on and on, but the sense of belonging to something bigger than myself helped me grow into a better human."

Layla still reflects on her senior year at Marquette with fondness, recalling camaraderie shared at events such as the Wacky Olympics, senior field trip and lock-in. She also made lifelong connections with fellow students and staff members, such as assistant principal Dr. Rick Regina, who kept in touch throughout graduate school as Layla was looking to begin her career as an educator.

"The connections I built here carried me through high school, into college and have now come full circle as I work in the very building that gave me so much," she said. "Rockwood is a community that continues to give back, and I’m proud to still be part of it."