Distinguished Educator Award | dallas-school-dist

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DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2021-2022

2020-2021 Winners

2019-2020 Winners

November 2021 - Ron Snively

Congratulations to Mr Ron Snively being recognized as the November 2021 Distinguished Educator. One of his students spoke up today and said, “these people [referring to Mr Snively and the new options staff] have become like family to me.” We think that sums up what this award represents. Thank you to Mr Snively and to all our Dallas SD teachers for what you do to help, educate and lead our kids.

October 2021 - Joyce Garland

What a privilege to present Joyce Garland with the October 2021 Dallas distinguished educator award.

There was no shortage of comments from community and staff alike that Joyce embodies what it means to be a dedicated and caring educator and friend. Congratulations Mrs. Garland

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2020-2021

May 2021 - Janet Lebold

Congratulations to Janet Lebold for being named the May 2021 Distinguished Educator! Janet is currently working at Whitworth as a long term sub teaching 5th grade but is a familiar face at Dallas School District.

Congratulations Janet!

November 2020 - Bill Fischer

I am pleased to share that Bill Fischer was celebrated earlier today as the November Distinguished Educator for Dallas School District. Bill is a teacher at Morrison Campus and has been an educator all of his life. Bill was nominated by Vickie Boer and her family. Vickie is a former educator in Dallas School District and each of her kids attended our schools. Today's celebration was held via Zoom and included Morrison staff members, students, former students, Bill's family, board members and friends. This was a surprise for Bill and he shared (in classic Bill style) how the success of Morrison students is the result of all educators who taught our students along the way. Here are a couple of quotes from his nomination -- "Bill Fischer is a true master educator, mentor and ultimate cheerleader for these young teens who are finding their way." "The heart, compassion, listening and true caring for each individual are what makes Bill and the Morrison team so special. He is a caring listener, is able to help students identify their personal and educational strengths and emulates his warmth and concern for each student."

Please help me in congratulating Bill Fischer as the Distinguished Educator for November!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2019-2020

April 2020 - Darrell and DeeAnn Hiebenthal

March 2020 - Kellie Ackerman

February 2020 - Jack Davis

October 2019 - Ann Ludwig

Ann Ludwig, Kindergarten teacher at Oakdale Heights Elementary School, received the Distinguished Educator Award for October 2019. She was nominated by a previous parent, Natalia Loomis.

Here are some of the things Natalia had to say:

Mrs. Ludwig radiates positive energy with her sincere smile and fun spirit.
Kindergarten has been a fun and enriching experience for my son thanks to Mrs. Ludwig.
Mrs. Ludwig is creating good listeners in and out of the classroom by listening to students and creating opportunities for them to practice positive communication.
During field trips, she enjoyed herself as much as her students did, including herself in the wonder and silly fun that occupied them.

Please join us in congratulating Ann Ludwig!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2018-2019

June 2019 - Keeton Luther

Keeton Luther, 4th grade teacher at Whitworth Elementary, received the Distinguished Educator Award. His nominator was Desiree Harris, a parent.

Here are some of the things Desiree had to say...

He has been great support in my daughter's emotional, social and academic growth.
He listened and took everything shared into perspective.
His support has given my daughter the desire to attend school.
She has grown socially and emotionally.
He feels like she fits in, she feel like she belongs.
I can't give enough thanks.

Here are some of the things Mr. Luther's students had to say.....

He's very funny!
He's nice
He shows his emotions
He's very generous and things about others
One of the best teachers I have ever had!

Please join us in congratulating Keeton Luther!

May 2019 - Melissa Nielson

This week we had the opportunity to honor a distinguished educator from Oakdale Heights Elementary, Melissa Nielson. Her nominators were Emily Forsythe and Trina Gloria.

Here is what they had to say....

She is always encouraging her students
She keeps learning fun
The climate of the classroom is always positive
She gets to know each student in her class
She always has a smile on her face

Her first grade students stressed she never gives up.

Please join us in celebrating Melissa Nielson, Distinguished Educator for May 2019

March 2019 - Melissa Glazner

On Friday, March 22 Melissa Glazner was recognized as a Distinguished Educator. Melissa teaches at Morrison. She was recognized for her "magic way" of designing classes to be engaging and foundational in building academic success for students who come in at varying academic levels. She supports students with tutoring to help them pass their state assessments. Melissa is invested in not only her students' academic achievements, but their general well-being in life.

Student comments....

She actually cares about us and listens to us
She treats us all like family
She is really fun to joke with and she gets our jokes
She makes it fun to be in class
She works hard with everyone to make sure they understand
I wish she was my mom
Her teaching style is serious with a fun twist

Please join us in celebrating Melissa as a Distinguished Educator.

November 2018 - Erin Sutro

Erin Sutro was awarded our November Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Cole Ratzlaff.

Here's what Cole had to say:

Mrs. Sutro helps kids that need it and checks us frequently.
She has a hard job and comes to school when she's sick (but not contagious).
She makes sure each and every student knows what is going on and understands what she is teaching.
She is dedicated to us students.

Please join me in congratulating Erin Sutro!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2017-2018

May 2018 - Stacie McGraw

Stacie McGraw was awarded our May Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was David Gray, parent of a DHS student.

Here are some of the things Mr. Gray shared about Stacie McGraw:

She is a DHS graduate and her "local" roots provide her with special awareness for the needs and desires of the students she serves.
It is clear that this counselor of high school students truly relates to and forms bonds with her high school students.
She is always super-friendly, upbeat, and willing to help.
Her smile and energy are infectious, and she is always a real joy to be around.
She goes above and beyond to respond to questions and concerns, even on the week-end.
She is like a "second mom" to her students.
In speaking of his own student, "there is no other person who has come close to being so helpful and influential in my child's growth, development, and education.
He is thankful from the bottom of his heart for all she has done for his daughter.

Please join me in congratulating Stacie!

March 2018 - Blair Cromwell

Yesterday Blair Cromwell, theater and drama teacher at Dallas High School, received the March 2018 Distinguished Educator Award.

She was nominated by Jana Fogg, parent of a current student.

Here are some of the things Jana shared about Blair:

She sees the potential in all her kids, even when they don't see it in themselves!
She gives them the gift of compassion and strength.
Her shows are amazing and her theater kids are amazing!
She teaches in a loving way, it comes from her heart.

Here are some things students shared about her:

In the last four years she has made a huge different in my life. I wouldn't be the same without her.
She always makes sure I'm ok even with all the students she has.
She knows I'm having a bad day even before I know it.
She says and practices, "we never leave anyone behind no matter what."
She gets to know all of her students.
She makes me feel at home.
She gives us lots of confidence even when we are scared.
She always comes to school with so much energy and a smile, making everyone feel alright.

Please join me in congratulating Blair!

February 2018 - Rachel Orbistondo

Mrs. Orbistondo, third grade teacher at Lyle, received the February 2018 Distinguished Educator Award.

She was nominated by a former student and his mom, Zackery and Rita Nelson.

Here are some things Zachary Nelson wrote about Mrs. Orbistondo:

She makes learning fun.
She has us get our wiggles out by doing fun brain breaks.
If we give her our sports schedule she comes to them.
She wants us to be kind and respectful to others.

Here are some things Rita Nelson wrote about her:

She teaches with energy and passion.
Her enthusiasm for learning is contagious.
She is concerned not only for the academic growth of each child but also focuses on their social and behavioral growth.
She is connected to the hearts of her students.

Here are some things students said about Mrs. Orbistondo:

She's kind.
She's nice.
She's fun.
She's awesome.
She's the best teacher I've ever had.
She is the nicest person in the whole world.
She's really funny.

Please join us in congratulating

Rachel!

January 2018 - Julie Schneidecker

Ms. Schneidecker, teacher at Dallas High School, received the January 2018 Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Jennie White, parent and co-worker.

Here are some of the things Jennie shared about Ms. Schneidecker:

She looks beyond student behavior to what they need and helps them where they are.
Her door is always open, whether they need someone to talk to, food to eat, or a place to sleep.
She helps the students build and mend relationships with their teachers and peers.
She treats all kids the same way and makes them feel respected.

Here are some things Ms. Schneidecker's students shared about her:

She's always awesome. She always helps me with math.
Leadership has a lot going on and she keeps us grounded.
She's pretty awesome.
When she started working with Leadership it changed for the better. She steps outside the box which makes us step outside the box.
She never loses her cool even with how stressful Leadership is.

Here are some things Ms. Schneidecker's colleagues shared about her:

She is a great role model for the kids and her co-workers.
She always gives time back to the school.
She supports other special education teachers and meets them early in the morning.
Who else could get boys to make quilts!
Before the school year started she would open her doors to the students early in the morning.

Please join us in congratulating Julie!

October 2017 - Brian Hughes

Mr. Hughes has been selected as October's Distinguished Educator. Mr. Hughes teaches math at LaCreole Middle School.

Here are some of the things students said about him:

He motivates us to do our best in math.
Mr. Hughes makes learning fun with jokes and laughter.
I like how he always makes me happy when I am sad.
He motivates students to learn.
He likes to make the classroom joyful.
Inspires students to do their best.
His beard is blue.
And of course...."he helps me find my goat."

Please join us in congratulating Brian!

September 2017 - Candi Pedersen

Her nominator was Heidi Clegg, parent of a former 3rd grade student.

Here are some of the things Heidi shared about Mrs. Pedersen:

She takes each student under her wing and helps them achieve goals they themselves don't think they can.
She never gave up on my daughter who was having a very hard time reading and comprehending.
Mrs. Pedersen continued to encourage her students and taught that they could accomplish difficult things.
Because of Mrs. Pedersen, my daughter participated in Battle of the Books and placed second. She now loves to read!

Here are some of the things Mrs. Pedersen's colleagues shared about her:

She has such a heart and empathy for her students.
She is calm, cool, and collected.
She is great at building relationships with her students.
She is an amazing and collaborative team member.
She prepares her students for the real world.
She finds talent in every student.

Please join us in congratulating Candi!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2016-2017

March 2017 - Chris Lund

On June 13, 2017, Chris Lund, 5th grade teacher at Whitworth Elementary School, was presented with the

March Distinguished Educator Award.

His nominators were John Wagner and Lisa Reamer former teacher and current teacher at Whitworth Elementary.

They gathered comments from Mr. Lund's students including some of the following:

He pushes me to do my best, and I like that in teachers
I know that I will have a smart mind in the future because of his teaching
He helps us by making stuff interesting so we actually want to learn
Mr. Lund is helpful, he makes sure you get what you are doing. He helps us improve
He has good tricks to help us learn
He makes learning fun
He taught us to never give up even if we don't think we can do it
He's very kind to us and respectful

His nominators worked with him for several years and believe he is a wonderful caring and effective educator who is deserving of the Distinguished Educator Award.

Please join me in congratulating !

January 2017 - Brandy Dickerson

Today Brandy Dickerson, biology teacher at Dallas High School, was presented with the January Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominators were Ed and Lori Dressel (parents) and Isaiah Dressel (student).

They shared these comments about Ms.Dickerson:

She goes above and beyond her calling as a teacher
The material she presented was excellent, her expectations always high, and her commitment to our student's success a priority
Materials were readily accessible and up to date on her website
The variety of learning styles she captured, gave opportunity for success
The material was challenging, but not unreachable
She set high expectations for herself as well
It was a huge blessing to have someone who was on our team, cheering on our student to reach high and keep going

Please join me in congratulating Brandy!

November 2016 - Rachel Baer

Rachel Baer, educational assistant at Lyle Elementary School, was presented with the November Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Elizabeth Blake, teacher at Lyle Elementary

She shared these comments about Mrs. Baer:

She has a tender and caring heart for her students
She is so patient as she works with students on writing
She makes an effort to connect with each of them individually
She holds her students to a high standard
Her students love her

The students shared drawings and writings to Mrs. Baer, expressing their appreciation for all the help she gives them with writing. Her students think she is the best!

Please join us in congratulating Rachel!

October 2016 - Barb Buchan

On November 28th, Barb Buchan, 3rd grade teacher at Lyle Elementary School, was presented with the October Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Brenda Hess, parent of a 3rd grade student.

She shared these comments about Mrs.Buchan:

She is kind, patient, and artistic
She individualizes learning to the child's ability
She encouraged my son's natural gift in science and math by allowing him to explore special projects
She has impacted my son's life greatly
She creates a safe, connected, and thriving learning environment in her classroom

Here is what other students had to say about Mrs. Buchan:

Thank you for teaching us new things and for being polite
Thank you for all the fun times with us
Mrs. Buchan is very kind to us
Thank you for teaching us new math
Thank you for teaching us every single thing
Mrs. Buchan is very kind and helpful

Please join me in congratulating Barb!

September 2016 - Teresa Larios

On October 27, Teresa Larios, 6th grade teacher at laCreole Middle School, was presented with the September Distinguished Educator Award at a 6th grade assembly.

Her nominator was Amy McFarland, colleague at LaCreole Middle School.

She shared these comments about Mrs. Larios:

She is encouraging, kind, caring, and compassionate to students
She always goes above and beyond for her students
She makes learning fun and has such a big heart
She is calm and patient
She has had a positive influence on my daughter's education and helped make reading enjoyable for her.

Here is what other students had to say about Mrs. Larios:

She is the best teacher ever
She's funny and makes good jokes
She makes everything really fun
She is a great teacher
She is very encouraging

Please join me in congratulating Teresa!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2015-2016

April 2016 - Susan Jones

On Friday, May 20, 2016, Susan Jones, Educational Assistant at Whitworth Elementary School, was presented with the April Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Kathy Slack, parent of a child she assisted with.

She shared these comments about Mrs. Jones:

She is very caring, compassionate, understanding, helpful, an all-around amazing person.
She has helped my child with his home to school transition.
Whenever I’ve asked for help, she is there without question.
She has a calm, caring presence.
We never feel judged or rushed.
I will be forever grateful for her genuine concern for my child and our family.

Here is what other students had to say about Mrs. Jones:

She is the most amazing person in this school. She is loving, caring, and kind to everyone. Even when it is hard she is so caring.
She is a sensitive caring teacher. She is one of the nicest in this school.
When I’m angry, she helps me calm down.
She’s a good recess teacher.
She helps people.
I love her!
She helps people do what they want.
There’s no words to describe it, she is the best!

Please join me in congratulating Susan!

March 2016 - Julie Janssen

On Wednesday, April, 13, 2016 Julie Janssen, Behavior Specialist at LaCreole Middle School, was presented with the March Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Rhonda Hays, colleague of Julie

She shared these comments about Mrs. Janssen:

She is nothing short of exceptional at whatever she does.
She goes above and beyond to support staff, students, and parents daily.
Staff love and admire her.
She is always patient and kind.
She works hard to redirect students towards better behavior, and they love her for it.
She advocates for students and thinks outside the box as to how to best support them in whatever they may be going through.
There are no limits to Julie's creativity as she finds ways to offer support to our students.

Here is what others had to say about Mrs. Janssen:

She is really nice and helpful to everyone.
She helps everyone with their problems.
She is a considerate person and does her best to take care of people.
She is kind.
She's an excellent thinker.
She's amazing!

Please join me in congratulating Julie!

February 2016 - Stephanie Hofferber

On Friday, March 4, 2016, Stephanie Hofferber, 1st grade teacher at Lyle Elementary, was presented with the February Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Andrew Woolsey, parent of a former student.

He shared these comments about Mrs. Hofferber:

She played a critical role in helping my son make measurable academic gains but also in his willingness to learn.
She gave my son something to really enjoy about school and always kept us updated on his progress.
She was extremely observant with his behavior and was able to provide feedback to really help my son.
She played an active role as an advocate in other meetings and reviews which really showed how much she cared.
Her dedication to her students and genuine care for their well-being will change the lives of many of our future generations.

Here is what others had to say about Mrs. Hofferber:

She has kindness.
She cares for others.
She helps teach us.
She cleans up messes.
She helps us.
She shows love to us.
She’s beautiful
She cares for us.

Please join me in congratulating Stephanie!

January 2016 - Deanne Harms

Friday, February 19, 2016, Deanne Harms, Media Specialist at Whitworth Elementary was presented with the January Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Dori Grzybowski and students Morgan Smith, Emma Smith, Colby Smith and Kenna Rosenbalm.

They shared these comments about Mrs. Harms:

She serves as a bright, technical resource to both students and staff.
She is passionate about augmenting technology and provides staff and students with an outstanding role model.
She is curious, self-motivated and very open and adaptive to change.
She is an amazing teacher that helps everyone when they need it.
She makes learning fun and easy by using technology and other fun stuff, she does fun projects that everyone loves.
She is very nice and has taught me many things in technology I didn’t know.
She got me interested more in reading.
Every morning I walk into the library she has a shiny smile on her face – she is ready for the day.
She’s nice, works hard, and helps people understand technology.

Here is what others had to say about Mrs. Harms:

She always suggests books.
She’s kind.
She makes Battle of the Books and other assignments fun.
She’s a tech wizard.
She explains things nicely.
She has a kind heart.
She never gives up.

Please join me in congratulating Deanne!

December 2015 - Stacy Fagin

On Friday, January 8, 2016, Stacy Fagin, 1st grade teacher at Lyle Elementary was presented with the December Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Lee Letsch, parent of two students from Mrs. Fagin's class.

She shared these comments about Mrs. Fagin:

Stacy's warm personality and rapport with her current and past students is excellent.
Her willingness to adapt her classroom lessons and try new strategies continually demonstrates her motivation towards her students.
I can honestly say she is one of the best teachers they have had.
She helped my son get started on his speech delays and got him the help he needed, she constantly pushed him to be better and try harder.
She makes a difference in the lives of her students by her ability to create a rapport with them that helps each one understand what her classroom expectations are and how to meet them.

Here is what other students had to say about Mrs. Fagin:

We work quietly a lot.
She lets us have extra recess.
She reads us a story
She's amazing
She helps us learn to know better

Please join us in congratulating Stacy!

November 2015 - Tammie Hall

On Friday, December 4, 2015, Tammie Hall, educational assistant at Oakdale Heights Elementary was presented with the November Distinguished Educator Award.

She had two nominations, one from Jennifer Reinhardt, former special education teacher at Oakdale and David McCarty, parent of a student Tammie Worked with.

They shared these comments about Mrs. Hall:

She always makes us see that there is hope and to not give up.
She is such a positive influence on my son and he can't seem to remember anything else he did during the day except for with Mrs. Hall.
She is a genuine Rock star.
She has tremendous skill in working with children with special needs and building relationships with them.
She is true to her word and trustworthy to many kids who are incapable of trust.
She never stops seeking to improve her teaching skills and is happy to share her knowledge with others.
She loves kids, they know even when they mess up she will love them.
She has such wisdom with children who struggle with behavior.
I have seen many children benefit from her work in their lives.

Here is what others had to say about Mrs. Hall:

I really feel like we are a family in this classroom and she is the heart of the family.
She has the best in mind for staff and students.
We couldn't do it without her and I am blessed at having her in our classroom.
She puts her heart and soul into those kids and is a huge part of the success of this program.
Tammie is always coming up with fun, new ideas for staff and students to use in the classroom. We couldn't do it without her!

Please join us in congratulating Tammie Hall!

October 2015 - Trenda Locke

Monday, October 26, 2015, Trenda Locke, PE teacher at Lyle Elementary was presented with the October Distinguished Educator Award at an all-school event.

Her nominators were colleagues from Lyle Elementary School.

They shared these comments about Mrs. Locke:

No one is more deserving than Trenda
She is an outstanding PE teacher and leader
She is a respected colleague and friend
Her students love her because she makes PE fun
Trenda has the heart for the "hard kid", she is able to see the best in them and encourages others to see it too
She is passionate about her commitment to Lyle and the entire school district
She is involved with countless committees and groups
She was instrumental in getting the Dragon Run off the ground
She is always positive and self-reflective
She is the consummate team player who will help others, she strives to make a difference

Here is what some of her students had to say about Mrs. Locke:

She's the best teacher because she is cool
She is our good luck teacher
She's the greatest teacher in the whole wide world
She teachers us sports
She is the best teacher
She is really cool

Please join us in congratulating Trenda!

September 2015 - Craig Button

Craig Button, PE teacher at Whitworth Elementary was preseseted with the September Distinguished Educator Award.

His nominators were students from Mrs. Ackerman's 4th grade class, Amy McFarland, former colleague at Whitworth Elementary, and Sheila Myers parent of two students in Mr. Button's PE class.

They shared these comments about Mr. Button.

He shows how to fix mistakes kindly.
He's fun, helpful, and takes time to memorize our names.
He has awesome activities like glow in the dark dodge ball and pogo sticks.
He is funny, he's always playing funny songs during PE like the Gummy Bear song.
He's easy going and caring.
He goes above and beyond organizing fun events for students such as the bike ride, field day, staff vs. 5th grade basketball game, plus many more!
He teaches students good sports etiquette and the importance of being physically fit.
He inspires kids to do their best.

Here is what other students had to say about Mr. Button:

He's awesome because he lets us play fun games.
Mr. Button takes us bowling in 5th grade.
He's always there to help us.
He's kind.
He keeps us healthy and makes sure we are fit.
He never gives up on us.
He calls us funny names.
When you fall down, he'll help you up.

Congratulations, Craig Button!!!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2014-2015

May 2015 - Carmel Hanes

Today, Carmel Hanes, school psychologist for our district was presented with the May Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominators were Yvette Allen and Diana Christensen, colleagues at Whitworth Elementary.

They shared these comments about Mrs. Hanes:

She always gives thoughtful new ideas and strategies about how to work with students
She has a way of looking at students in such a positive, compassionate way
She has probably helped improve the lives of students in this district more than anyone with her wise advice, useful trainings, and compassionate, empathetic view of our students
I appreciate how she is always researching and finding out the latest and best ways to help students and staff
She is approachable and willing to share her knowledge
She has an awesome sense of humor

Here are few things other colleagues had to say about Mrs. Hanes:

· I wouldn’t of had the success I’ve had without the help she’s offered

· I benefited from her wisdom

· She made me a better teacher

Please join me in congratulating Carmel!

April 2015 - Brian Williamson

Friday, Brian Williamson, 5th grade teacher at Whitworth Elementary School was presented with the April Distinguished Educator Award.

His nominators were Sophia Baughman and Lilly Garrett, current students.

They shared these comments about Mr. Williamson:

He is an amazing teacher because he teaches math, writing, and reading so well
He shows he cares about our learning by encouraging us and making learning interesting and fun
He is such a good teacher because he teaches us strategies and shortcuts and makes math fun and easy
He makes writing interesting and encourages our best effort on everything
He trains our brains with daily reading activities which help us with our tests
He is an expert teacher, encourages us and makes learning fun in hundreds of ways!

Here is what the other students had to say about Mr. Williamson:

He’s really loud if you’re right next to him
He’s an excellent teacher who tries to help us pay attention more
He’s plain awesome
He’s fun so we don’t get bored
He has an amazing personality
He tries to say good morning to every classroom
He’s funny
He’s good at helping us read

Please join me in congratulating Brian!

March 2015 - Blake Shinn

Friday, Blake Shinn, 6th grade math teacher at LaCreole Middle School was presented with the March Distinguished Educator Award at an all-school assembly.

His nominator was Kimberly Noack, parent of one of Mr. Shinn’s students and colleague at LaCreole.

She shared these comments about Mr. Shinn:

He is a teacher that exemplifies what every good teacher should be, a supporter of student learning
He spends countless hours before school, during lunch time, and after school
He believes that students and their learning should always come first
He is dedicated to current and former students and willing to help all in gaining math skills
He encourages students and helps them push through frustration until success and understanding is reached
He shows respect to his students and is positive in all his interactions, even when giving correction
He brings a realistic approach to our 6th grade team, which helps keep us all grounded and focused

Here is what the other students had to say about Mr. Shinn:

He doesn’t flip out if we don’t get the answers right
He helps us understand problems
He is nice and pretty helpful
He always has a smile on his face
He is very patient!

Please join me in congratulating Blake!

February 2015 - Kari Witt

Today, Kari Witt, Kindergarten teacher at Lyle Elementary School was presented with February’s Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Amy Lieuallen, parent of a Kindergarten student from Ms. Witt’s classroom last year. She shared these comments about Ms. Witt:

I am impressed by the amount of learning she can squeeze into a 2.5 hour day
She always makes the students feel like she has time to listen
She does not rush them even when she’s pressed for time
She is an effective teacher, gently serious when she needs to be
She provides a fun learning environment for her class and is extremely caring
A significant number of students have met the writing standards in her Kindergarten classroom – not a small task!
When I asked my son about Miss Witt he said “she does fun stuff, we do fun math games”

Here is what the other students had to say about Ms. Witt:

She teaches us to be respectful, responsible, and to make good choices!
She’s a good teacher and knows how to work good
She always does good and helps people learn everything she knows
She helps kids work and be good
She’s always nice and helps people

Please join me in congratulating Kari!

January 2015 - Lynden Jones

Today, Lynden Jones at Whitworth Elementary School was presented with January’s Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominators were Jeff and Jaime Hevener, parents of a student in Mrs. Jones classroom.

She shared these comments about Mrs. Jones:

She has greatly impacted our child’s life
She was very willing to work with us to help our child overcome the challenges he faces
She communicates frequently to keep us informed of his progress and see if adjustments need to be made
She has always shown a positive attitude and is so friendly
She has been eager to do whatever it takes to help our son
Words cannot describe how much it has meant to us as parents for a teacher to care so much about our child
Our child has made such progress with his challenges
When we asked our child about Mrs. Jones, he replied “Dad, I have had a lot of great teachers so it is hard to pick one. But, Mrs. Jones is pretty awesome. I would say she is my favorite teacher that I have ever had.”

Here is what the other students had to say about Mrs. Jones:

· She explains things well

· She is really nice to us

· She is a really good teacher

· She cares about our feelings

· She goes step by step

· She teaches us love

Please join us in congratulating Lynden!

November 2014 - Ann Ludwig

Ann Ludwig, Educational Assistant at Oakdale Heights Elementary School was presented with November’s Distinguished Educator Award.

Her nominator was Courtney Wehner, Kindergarten teacher that Ann assists in the classroom.

She shared these comments about Mrs. Ludwig:

I cannot think of anyone more deserving
She truly loves the students
She is caring, diligent, and very dedicated to her job
She stays late to make sure we are prepped and ready for the following day
She selflessly takes personal days to volunteer for the school’s jog-a-thon
She was the creator of our school’s Harvest Festival and has volunteered every year since then to ensure the event is perfect for our students
She is our school’s “go to” photographer and makes sure every student has their picture taken for the end of the year slideshow she puts together
She creates posters of advertisement for our monthly movie nights as well as attends our Literacy and Math nights.
She does ALL these things PLUS works in my classroom

Here is what the Kindergarten students had to say about Mrs. Ludwig:

I love her
She’s helpful
She’s a great teacher
She’s very nice
I love her
She plays with me
She’s always smiling

Please join us in congratulating Ann!

October 2014 - Jon Petersen

Jon Petersen, PE Teacher at Oakdale Heights Elementary School was presented with October’s Distinguished Educator Award.

His nominator was JoAnn Ekstrand a volunteer at the school and grandparent of two students who have Mr. Petersen as a PE teacher. She shared these comments about Mr. Petersen:

He has the kids enthusiastically participate and demonstrates “fun in action”
In spite of children rotating in and out every half hour, he is aware of the kids strengths and areas they are working on
He focuses on learning to have fun playing games (even if you lose)
He teaches the important rules of sportsmanship, empathy for one another, and the joy of being active

Here is what other students had to say about Mr. Petersen:

He lets us play with some stuff
He’s nice
He lets us go around and play on other things
He’s a great teacher
He’s the best PE teacher
He lets us play with the rope

Please join us in congratulating Jon!

September 2014 - Dobie Long

Dobie Long, counselor at Dallas High School was presented with the Distinguished Educator Award for September.

Dobie was nominated by Kathy Cole, a parent of three students who graduated from DHS. She shared these comments about Ms. Long:

Dobie is always willing to give me time and explain things to me no matter what else she has going on.
She follows through with each request and always answers my questions.
I felt like she truly wants all of the students to succeed and is always willing to give everyone her time.
She treats everyone as though they are special.

Here is what other students had to say about Ms. Long:

Dobie gave me the encouragement to follow my dreams
She is kind and warm hearted
Dobie is absolutely fantastic – she always follows through
“The best person in the world”
Not only does she do all her counseling work, she also plays music perfectly for our school plays

Please join us in congratulating Dobie. She is a very special person and a great asset to DHS and Dallas School District!

Distinguished Educator Mission Statement

Our mission is to recognize excellence in teaching and learning.

Excellence that extends beyond the classroom walls;

Excellence that makes a life changing impact for our students;

Excellence that builds our future…one student at a time!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2013-2014

June 2014 - Travis Godkin

Friday the Distinguished Educator committee awarded Travis Godkin, Biology teacher atDallas High School the Distinguished Educator Award for June.

Mr. Godkin was nominated by Tony Olliff and the entire DHS Science Department. They shared these comments about Mr. Godkin:

Even though Travis knew his stay would be brief, he was intent on leaving this place better than he found it
He shaped the classes he taught, adding rigor, emphasizing writing and technology
He used his perspective and connections at the University level to point students in the direction of higher education
Of equal importance, Travis trained his colleagues
He has left DHS better than he found it!

Here is what other students had to say about Mr. Godkin:

I love the way Mr. Godkin teaches
He makes learning fun
I love that he can be sarcastic with us
He’s freakin’ awesome Mr. Godkin is extremely patient

Mr. Godkin is leaving Dallas High School and moving to New York with his family. Travis’ wife has accepted a tenure track positions at a University in New York and they will be closer to family.

Please join us in congratulating Travis and expressing our appreciation for the work he did in our district and for our students.

May 2014 - Kellie Ackerman

Friday, Kellie Ackerman, 4th grade teacher at Whitworth Elementary School was presentedwith the Distinguished Educator Award for May in a school-wide assembly.

Her nominator Benjamin Nelson was a student in her classroom last year, here are some of the comments he shared about Mrs. Ackerman:

It felt good to be in her classroom
She makes learning fun and has a good relationship with her kids
She is a really great teacher
She has a fun personality
She has games and hands on activities that you really learn from and stay in your head
If you don’t tell anybody, I kind of didn’t mind going to school when I was in her class because she made it fun
She makes us feel valued and important and cares about her students
Her discipline made it peaceful and actually a lot easier to do work
She was very strict but also very understanding

Here is what other students had to say about Mrs. Ackerman:

Mrs. Ackerman is really awesome, she was my first Whitworth teacher
If we are stuck on a problem, Mrs. Ackerman helps us out
She doesn’t shout as us, she just helps us
She does Accelerated Reader points for the whole school
She takes us to Astoria for our field trip
Mrs. Ackerman is really nice
She is always happy to help
She is hilarious
She always helps us understand our problems
She isn’t afraid to help kids
Mrs. Ackerman is an awesome science teacher
She takes time out of her day to help
She doesn’t give up on us

Please join us in congratulating Kellie! Another amazing educator in Dallas School District!

April 2014 - Mark Hess

Friday Mark Hess, Alt Ed and PE teacher at LaCreole Middle School was presented with the Distinguished Educator Award for April in a school-wide assembly.

His nominator Julie Janssen works with him at LaCreole, here are some of the comments she shared about Mr. Hess:

I am amazed at the patience and love he shows his students
He gives his job his all and never complains
He takes the time to get to know students
He motivates the unmotivated
He goes beyond the normal parameters of what is expected of a teacher
Mark makes kids smile and laugh, it is a joy to watch him interact with his students
Mark encourages, motivates, and diligently prepares for his classes to give students the best he has to offer every day

Here is what other students had to say about Mr. Hess:

He is nice but also strict when he needs to be.
Mr. Hess always tells really good jokes.
He always hangs out with us at recess.
He is the definition of swag!
Mr. Hess is an awesome PE teacher and really nice to all of us.

Please join us in congratulating Mark he is an awesome educator and great colleague to many of us!

February 2014 - Tracy Jackson

Today, Tracy Jackson, PE teacher and head football coach at Dallas High School waspresented with the Distinguished Educator Award for January.

His nominators Ryan Spencer and Caleb Naughton, were coached by Mr. Jackson for the past two years. Here are some of the comments they shared about Coach Jackson:

I have been able to learn and grow because of the life lessons he has taught me and the example he has shown me.
He taught us how to be men.
He taught us how to apply ourselves on the field, but also in school, at home, and with our relationships.
As much as he cared for a win on Friday night, he cared more for a win in our life and in our schooling.
Mr. Jackson is more than deserving of the distinguished educator award. He has been a blessing in my life as well as many others.
He has succeeded in his goal of making us champions on the field as well as in life!
He has outstanding dedication and talent in developing the emotional well-being of his football team.
He always stressed, “family first”. Coach Jackson made it clear that the goal and priority for us was to be the best men we could possibly be; men who would grow to be great husbands and fathers.
Through his genuine interest in us, we were able to come together as a team.
He always taught by example, through his positive interactions with his sons.

Here is what other students had to say about Mr. Jackson:

Mr. Jackson makes stuff fun for us.
He isn’t afraid to call us out when we do something wrong.
He cares about the students and players.
As a student teacher, I appreciate how willing Tracy is to share his classroom with me.
We need to exercise a LOT!
Mr. Jackson cares more about a win in our lives than on the field.
He has taught us that family comes first.

Please join us in congratulating Tracy! He is awesome in the classroom and on the field and is an exceptional role model for all of our students.

December 2013 - Theresa Lehman

Today, Theresa Lehman, 2nd grade teacher at Oakdale Heights Elementary School was presented with the Distinguished Educator Award for December by her former students Heather Ebner.

After presenting her roses, Heather shared the following regarding Ms. Lehman:

She is the best second grade teacher for these three reasons:

First, she teaches us lots of fun subjects, she makes math very interesting, helps us to understand what we read, and also teaches us how to write about the Patricia Gallagher books.
Second, she is a very nice teacher, she always supports and encourages us to do our best. She cares about us.
Third, she makes school very fun every single day.

Here’s what her other students had to say about her when asked “What makes her an awesome teacher?”:

Miss Lehman is funny!·
She is the best teacher on earth!
Because she never leaves us behind.
She is a little crazy.
She teaches us a lot and is really helpful.
Miss Lehman doesn’t give us hard homework.
She learns us very well.
She is fun, nice, and sweet!

Please join us in congratulating Theresa!

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2012-2013

December 2012 - Ruth Wagner

Today Ruth Wagner, 1st grade teacher at Lyle Elementary was presented the Distinguished Educator Award in her classroom. She was extremely surprised and couldn’t help but ask her husband John why he hadn’t told her. Given it was pajama day at Lyle, we were just pleased Mrs. Wagner was not wearing pajamas!

Her nominator was Elizabeth Blake, mom of two students that she taught and currently a colleague at Lyle.

Here are some of the comments she shared in her nomination of Ruth:

She is well-known for enhancing the learning environment for her students by offering a variety of activities that students love.
She goes above and beyond to do what is best for students.
She successfully recruits and parents and community members to volunteer in her classroom helping to run small group activities.
She is dedicated to student success and giving students the opportunity to shine within small groups.
She is a colleague who would happily purchase any materials she finds that she thinks will help even one child.
She gives of her own time and money to further the education of students in this community.

Here is what her 1ST grade students had to say about her:

She makes good jokes!
She’s a really good teacher
She teaches well
She has beautiful hair
She is really good with reading groups
She is thirsty*

*Another staff member gave me the background to this story as I was leaving Lyle. There is a young lady in Mrs. Wagner’s class who is extremely active and busy. One strategy Ruth put into place for her was to strategically have large water bottles in various locations nearby for this student to go retrieve when she was especially having trouble sitting still. This would allow the student to expend a bit of energy and come back ready to learn! She is amazed at how “thirsty” Mrs. Wagner is.

January 2013 - Gretchen Schmoyer

Yesterday, Gretchen Schmoyer, 4th grade teacher at Whitworth Elementary was presented the Distinguished Educator Award in her classroom.

Her nominators include two students (current and former) and their grandmother, and colleagues at Whitworth. Here are some of the comments shared in their nomination of Gretchen:

She is very skilled at challenging and assuring the success of all kinds of learners.
She has an outstanding ability to differentiate instruction and make learning fun for all of her students.
She makes learning fun, she should get this award because most people don’t realize her greatness (student).
I really like the way she teaches science (student).
Comments from colleagues: I LOVE working with Mrs. Schmoyer. She is always positive in her work and willing to help other staff members or students.
She is very organized and has a smile any part of the day.
She is the leader of our 4th grade team. She is hard-working, consistent,
She is a very dedicated teacher and I’m delighted to have her as a colleague.

Here is what her 4th grade students had to say about her:

She is nice to us but makes us work hard
She helps us learn
She lets us make up work so we understand what we are learning
She makes learning fun
Best teacher ever!
She is fair with all her students

Please join us in congratulating Gretchen! She is another one of our outstanding educators.

February 2013 - Shannon Ritter

Today Shannon Ritter, Language Arts teacher at Dallas High School was presented the Distinguished Educator Award in his classroom. See a picture of the presentation on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DallasSchoolDistrict?ref=stream#!/DallasSchoolDistrict

His nominator was Daniele Peterson, one of his students. Here are some of the comments she shared in her nomination of Shannon:

Mr. Ritter has so much passion and love for his classes that one cannot resist the class.
As a teacher, he has gone above and beyond to help me achieve my goals.
He takes teaching to another level, to make sure his students understand.
He doesn’t just lecture in his class, but students interact and learn with his guidance.
He is one of the hardest teachers I have ever encountered.
He doesn’t allow you to fail as long as you try.
He is not only an outstanding teacher, but an outstanding person who believes in each one of his students.
Mr. Ritter is by far the most inspirational teacher I’ve ever had and he deserves this award.

Here is what other students in his class had to say about him (condensed version J):

Ritter listens to your views and gives you a perspective that may be different than yours.
He gives us a point of view to view the subject.
I have had him for nearly every semester since he has been here and is the best teacher I have had.
He is personal with every student, sits down with each student, holds students to a high standard and wouldn't let me fail.
He is a great teacher.
Most of my classes seem normal, but I look forward to this class every day.
His passion for the subject makes me passionate for the subject.
He never lets a student slide by, he helps every student achieve at the highest level.

Please join us in congratulating Shannon Ritter! His high school students had great things to say about his passion for teaching, his passion for the content and most importantly his passion for his students!

March 2013 - Ken Guffey

Last Friday Ken Guffey, Science teacher at LaCreole Middle School was presented the Distinguished Educator Award in a school-wide assembly.

His nominator was Nick Nelson, one of his students. Here are some of the comments he shared in his nomination of Ken:

Mr. Guffey is one of the best teachers I have ever had.
He explains why the subject is important, why it affects you in real life or in the future.
He is always trying to find better ways to teach us and he asks our opinion about what helps us learn.
He makes sure nobody falls behind.
He is full of energy.
Some people say he is loud, but I think he is like that to keep everyone awake!
He wants us to eat healthy and work to be strong.

Here is what other students at LaCreole had to say about him:

He has the best personality.
He is a great teacher and he does fun things.
He teaches us what we need to learn and helps us when we need it.
He is funny and weird like me.
He is strict when needed and plans fun activities.
He treats everyone with respect. Please join us in congratulating Ken!

April 2013 - Judy Stuck

Today Judy Stuck, teacher at Morrison Alternative School, was presented the Distinguished Educator Award in a school-wide gathering.

Her nominators were Cameron Steptoe and Scott Autry, two of her students. Here are some of the comments they shared in their nomination of Judy:

She has helped me progress from no plan to graduate to a plan where I will graduate.
She is always eager to help and answer questions.
I see her helping all students, keeping them on track and meeting their individual needs.
She deserves this award not only for her outstanding teaching ability, but for her desire to have all of us reach our highest potential.
When I came to this school, I didn’t know a thing about writing or grammar, but with Ms. Stuck’s help, I have passed the Oregon State Reading Test for high school and am close to passing the writing test.
Besides being a wonderful teacher, she is also a good person.
She always has a smile on her face and never lets you leave her classroom unless you have one tool

Here is what other students at Morrison had to say about her:

Ms. Stuck cares about her students like they are her own children.
She helps us achieve what we thought was impossible.
Ms. Stuck is my favorite teacher.
She takes her job so much further than most teachers.
She does so much for everyone.
I get support in and out of school.
Before I was in Ms. Stuck's room I didn't think I would ever have a chance.

Please join us in congratulating Judy!

May 2013 - Tyler Lalack

Last evening at the board meeting, Tyler Lalack, special education teacher in the New Options Program at Dallas High School which is designed for students who have unique social, behavioral, and emotional needs, was presented the Distinguished Educator Award.

His nominator was Autymn Galbraith, Special Education Director for Dallas School District. Here are some of the comments she shared in her nomination of Tyler:

He is an excellent teacher, a role model for students and a staff “go to” person among his colleagues.
He is a natural coach and leader.
He has the ability to make a connection when others cannot.
He treats others as he would want to be treated.
He listens at all times and is willing to problem solve any situation.
He always has the best interest of his students at hand and will be their voice when they do not feel they have a voice.
Tyler’s students trust and respect him because he shows them trust and respect.
He spends countless hours in individualized instruction to push students to their potential.

Tyler works with a variety of specialists, here are a few things they say about him:

I appreciate Tyler’s work ethic and his willingness to look at situations from another person’s perspective.
He enjoys each student’s uniqueness and makes an effort to help each student find success.
He works with a very challenging population of kids, because of his open-mindedness, patience, and willingness to explore untraditional ways of handling crisis situations, he is respected by students, staff, and parents he works with.

Here are what his students had to say about him:

He talks to us at our level and makes things fun, but he knows when to get serious, to get work done.
He has a good sense of humor.
He is good, awesome, and I like to hang out with him.
He makes sure you are on track and working, but also has a great sense of humor that makes working way less bland.
He is always there to help when I need it.
He is not judgmental and he is fair.

Please join us in congratulating Tyler!

June 2013 - Tim Ray

Friday evening Tim Ray, Vocational Agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor at Dallas High School, was presented the Distinguished Educator Award at the annual Distinguished Educator Gala held at Eola Hills Winery.

His nominator was Michael Blanchard, a member of Dallas School Board. Here are some of the comments he shared in his nomination of Tim:

He is a true exemplar of excellence in teaching and learning.
His nomination is in recognition of both the impact he has had upon individual students in his classroom, and to highlight the leadership he has provided to our district and beyond.
He has provided leadership to the Achievement Compact Committee and helped to make substantial progress to how we organize and work together for student success and improvement.
He has reached out at state, regional, and national levels to mentor student teachers.
Past-president of Oregon Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association.
Three years as a CASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education) Master Teacher and conducts professional development for teachers across the country.

At the beginning of this school year, Tim stood before the entire staff of the district and made the observation that our education system is going through profound changes, and we have a choice to “drive the bus, ride on the bus – or end up under the bus”.

A 2012 grad , Brett Lynn had this to say about his experience with Mr. Ray:

Mr. Ray constantly goes beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of his students.
His example of leadership truly does inspire those who come into contact with him.
He inspires me to not only improve myself, but to do something for others in the process.
His greatest impact is found in seeing the strength that every student has within them and pushing them to go beyond the status quo

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR 2011-2012

November 2011 - Lisa Reamer

Today we awarded Lisa Reamer 5th grade teacher at Whitworth the Distinguished Educator Award during the school team time.

Here is what Lisa's colleagues had to say about her:

Lisa insists her students succeed so she is constantly challenging herself as a teacher. She keeps meticulous notes of what works from lesson to lesson and year to year. She knows where each of her students is in their progress through 5th grade. Her strengths lie in organization, assessment and consistency when managing students and the curriculum. She is gracious, warm and caring toward our staff and students. She is always willing to help and expects nothing in return and helps organize special events such as retirements for the school. She is a leader and "official" photographer at our school. She is always at each event taking pictures. She also prepares a staff bulletin board with pictures of each staff member so that parents and students can get to know each member of our large staff. She has high expectations of herself and of her students. Students leave her room with many life skills and the knowledge that they can be successful. Lisa does all these things and many more because she cares about each and every student. She is an amazing teacher!

Here is what her students had to say about her:

She is calm, organized and has fun projects like art
The table with the most points at the end of the week gets to be in front of the line and to sit on the couch
We get to do cool things and be in cool places
We do easy projects and she is really nice
She is the best teacher I ever had, she makes things fun
She pushes us to work hard, if we work hard we get free time!

Please join us in congratulating Lisa Reamer! Lisa is an amazing teacher, a strong leader among her colleagues and committed to high standards for her students.

January 2012 - Connie Olliff and Laurie Wilson

Today we awarded Connie Olliff and Laurie Wilson team teachers in 3rd grade at Lyle Elementary the Distinguished Educator Award during the school team time.

Here is what their nominator Jana Fogg had to say about them:

What I have seen from these two amazing ladies is a heart bigger than Oregon itself. My daughter comes home from school telling me about all of the amazing things that these two teachers do that are above and beyond. Not only do they teach what is required, but they also teach what is expected of each student in school and how they should treat one another. Be responsible, be accountable, be good people. They see the challenges that our children face every day and I believe they look to the future and find solutions for those challenges now. They are creative, compassionate, kind, with just the right mix of tow the line, be responsible, and lets have fun.

Here is what their students have to say about them:

They make it fun in class.
They help with science.
She's awesome!
They make science and all stuff fun.
Mrs. Wilson give us homework.
Mrs. Olliff does too.
They teach us about the body.
They teach us how to communicate with our class mates kindly.
It makes me happy they can be my teachers.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Olliff and Mrs. Wilson! What a fun morning to get to honor these two exceptional ladies. They were so surprised by the award and their student(every one of them) were eager to share what made them both exceptional educators. A true testament to who they are as teachers!!!!

February 2012 - Julie Petersen

Friday we awarded Julie Petersen, Physical Education and Leadership teacher at LaCreole Middle School, the Distinguished Educator Award during a school-wide assembly.

Here is what her nominator Mr. Welsh had to say about her:

Recently my son had been asked to become a member of Leadership. During his time in Leadership with Mrs. Petersen, he has become very confident and interested in school. He talks about projects they are doing and is genuinely proud to be a part of the group. He has gained so much confidence in himself and in his abilities. He has gained something working with Mrs. Petersen that I believe will benefit him the rest of his life. I am thankful for Mrs. Petersen seeing enough potential in him to give him the opportunity to excel. It is experiences like this that give kids the enthusiasm to better themselves and I am seeing this first hand.

Here is what her students have to say about her:

She is respectful and responsibl
She takes care of everyone
She is our PE teacher
She is fun and creative
She is very fit
She cares for her students and is supportive
She is hilarious

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Petersen! The best part of the assembly was how long it took her to realize we had called her name.

March 2012 - Mr. Fischer

Today we awarded Mr. Fischer, teacher at Morrison, the Distinguished Educator Award during a school-wide assembly.

Here is what his nominators Annette Anderson (staff member ), Elizabeth Melton, Alyssa Stacey, and Harvey Henry (students) had to say about him:

He is kind, compassionate, and deeply concerned about the welfare and education of all Morrison students. His profound influence on matters of life and learning leave a lasting impression. He has a unique ability to transform the attitude of the most discouraged students. He is a teacher that will push a student to do their best, day after day, he is the best teacher I have ever come across. He believes in students to the point where: even if they had previously had no self-confidence in their skills, they end up having faith in themselves. He believes in our futures.

Here is what his students have to say about him:

He is more than a teacher, he's our hero!
Mr. Fischer is amazing.
A great teacher!
You can come to him for anything, school related or not.
He will help you solve your problems.
Mr. Fischer was my biggest supporter encouraging me to get back in school.
WE LOVE YOU MR. FISCHER!
He deserves this more than any teacher I know.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Fischer! It was a very fun morning to surprise Mr. Fischer with the award. He was greeted by his wife, brother, daughters and grandchildren when we presented the award with his Morrison students. He cares deeply about the success of each and every student and is committed to our school district.

April 2012 - Mary Jo Hamptom

Today Mary Jo Hampton, educational assistant at Whitworth Elementary was presented the Distinguished Educator Award during a school-wide assembly.

Her nominators consisted of 11 of her colleagues at Whitworth and here are some of the comments they shared in their nomination of Mary Jo:

She goes above and beyond what is “required of her” taking classes that the teachers take
She’s all about the kids
She gives of her time selflessly
She calls every child friend and greets each student by name every morning
Finds creative ways to help kids learn
Always the first one to volunteer her services
An ideal example of a quality educator for elementary students, fabulous role model in many young lives
Patiently helping children with their reading
Always tries to figure out solutions to problems
She has our respect and admiration and is a vital employee in the Whitworth family

Here is what Whitworth students have to say about Mary Jo:

She explains things that are hard
She is humorous but serious when she needs to be
Mrs. Hampton makes it a lot easier to get help
She helps us give a full answer
That Mrs. Hampton, she’s just jolly

Please join us in congratulating Mary Jo! She is amazing with students, wonderful as a colleague and an inspiration to many.

May 2012 - Terri Hethorn

Friday, Terri Hethorn, ELL Program Teacher at Lyle Elementary was presented the Distinguished Educator Award during a school-wide assembly.

Her nominators consisted of two of her colleagues and a parent, here are some of the comments they shared in their nomination of Terri:

She helps her students learn to read and write
She has a way of teaching children to work hard and thereby learn better
She has a fun way to teach vocabulary
She is an educator that truly thinks about and questions what she does
She not only works with our ELL population, but still contributes to teacher development and growth in the areas of reading and writing
She guides students with love and boundaries
She is kind and caring at school, but also has shown additional support for her students outside of the school days
She has secured grants for money to take families shopping for school supplies and clothes
She has planned many events for family involvement
She is caring, thoughtful, and fun
She encourages students to strive to do their best in life and at school

The parent who nominated Terri is a Spanish speaking parent and Terri has her children in her ELD class. The parent came and spoke about Terri in the assembly while Trina Gloria translated. Terri is also a teacher leader in our school district and as many of you know is a SIOP trainer for us. We believe she has been instrumental in helping us meet our language benchmarks with our ELL students.

Please join us in congratulating Terri on this award.

June 2012 - Diana Christensen

Monday, Diana Christensen, Special Education Teacher (DLC) at Whitworth Elementary was presented the Distinguished Educator Award during a school-wide assembly.

Her nominators were four of her classroom assistants, here are some of the comments they shared in their nomination of Diana:

She cares about the needs of students with disabilities.
She has high expectations for students.
She teaches her students independence and self-reliance.
She puts her student’s learning first and pushes them to do their best while giving them attention, support, and the tools they need to succeed.
Gives 100% not only to students on her caseload, but to any student she comes in contact with.
She is patient, kind, helpful, fair, and compassionate when working with students.
Since being a Special Education teacher can be challenging at times, she always manages to keep a sense of humor and maintains composure in stressful situations.
She is a wonderful teacher, co-worker, and friend!

Diana also received a nomination from one of her former student’s parents. This family has moved out of state, but wrote about the impact Mrs. Christiansen had on their daughter and the growth she made in her program.

Diana has built an incredible program for our 4th and 5th special education students at Whitworth. She is dedicated, structured and provides support to families outside of the classroom.

EMERGENCY CLOSURE/WEATHER

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