Megan Spates, a resource teacher at Perry Creek Elementary School
"Megan is a crucial part of our SPED team and Perry Creek staff. She brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to support students and staff each day. Megan went above and beyond to help create schedules and support new staff members at the beginning of the year. We were able to support students earlier this year due to her help. Thank you for all you do!"
Mike Mounts, a teacher at East High School
"Mike has stepped into a new role after 16 years in the District. He is open to having challenging conversations with students and is truly student-focused. He builds relationships with students, encourages the staff he oversees, and is incredibly passionate about health. He has dove into the curriculum and has been an amazing part of the Freshman House Team. Congratulations, Mike!"
Holly Macfarlane, a teacher at West High School
"Holly Macfarlane embodies “WEST.” Staff who work with Holly have felt welcome when just starting out at West High for the first time and appreciate her kindness. Students appreciate how Holly is happy and truly cares for them. Congratulations to Ms. Macfarlane!"
Mackenzie Schmitz, a fifth-grade teacher at Morningside STEM Elementary School
"Mackenzie is incredibly hard-working and goes the extra mile for her team and students. Mackenzie is always willing to share her resources and ideas and helps others when possible. Mackenzie supports students by consistently demonstrating how to practice our 'SOAR' expectations in a fun and engaging classroom environment. It is a privilege to work with her every day!"
Courtney Greene, a teacher at the Sioux City Career Academy
"When not in her classroom teaching medical interventions, Mrs. Green can be found working with our health science student organization volunteering her time outside of school in a variety of capacities, along with mentoring new staff in the building. She has a servant's heart and a leader's mind. We are so lucky she is serving at the Career Academy. Congratulations, Courtney!"
Brittney Schindler, a special education teacher at Leeds Elementary School
"Ms. Schindler demonstrates an unwavering commitment to her students and the school community. Her dedication goes beyond her assigned responsibilities, as she consistently advocates for the needs of all students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Ms. Schindler’s work ethic is second to none. She is known for going the extra mile, providing individualized support to students who need it most while collaborating with colleagues to develop comprehensive plans that benefit the entire student body. Her passion for inclusive education and her ability to connect with students from all backgrounds have made a significant impact on both academic and personal development. In addition to her tireless work in the classroom, Ms. Schindler is an exceptional advocate for equity and fairness, ensuring that every student receives the support and resources they need to be successful. Her ability to foster a nurturing and supportive learning environment is truly commendable, and her influence extends far beyond her own classroom. Ms. Schindler’s positivity, professionalism, and relentless dedication make her a role model for her peers and a beacon of hope for her students. It is our honor to celebrate Ms. Schindler for her exceptional contributions to our school community. Congratulations!"
Courtney Jungers, a kindergarten teacher at Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School
"Ms. Jungers always goes above and beyond for her students. She has set high expectations for all students and makes sure she is challenging every student in her classroom. She is always willing to help students, staff, and families with anything that is needed to make sure every student is successful. She is dependable, hardworking, and a great teammate. Hunt is very lucky to have her as a teacher!"
Grant Hovland, an art teacher at Spalding Park Environmental Sciences Elementary School
"Grant is always able and willing to help where needed. He has high, attainable, expectations of his students in his classroom and he makes art enjoyable for all. He is a great colleague and is a valuable asset to have on our team. Congratulations, Grant!"
April Murphy, an early childhood special education teacher at Clark Early Childhood
“April has such a positive outlook in all situations. There has not been a barrier that has broken her positivity. I am grateful that she has joined our team!”
Kathy Fickett, a special education instructional assistant at North Middle School
"Kathy is recognized for her outstanding dedication and the incredible support she provides students to build their academic, behavioral, and social skills. She consistently goes above and beyond her regular responsibilities to provide the highest level of care and attention to student needs so that they can achieve at higher levels. Thank you for all that you do for students and staff!"
Dawn Martin, an instructional assistant at West Middle School
"Ms. Martin rocks her morning duty in the commons. She is always there on time and does a great job at keeping students from wandering the exploratory halls or hanging out in the restroom. She provides support for students helping them work on owning their behaviors, reflecting, and working on missing work. In addition, she helped out in the office paperwork and management at the beginning of the year. Congrats, Dawn!"
Larissa Boettger, a teacher at Riverside Elementary School
A student said the following about Larissa, "She is a fantastic teacher and always helps to keep me on task! I think she deserves to be nominated because while she is humble, she is deserving of this recognition. A staff member said the following about Larissa, "She is always so flexible and accommodating with scheduling and seeks out interventions as needed with her students. She is willing to do whatever it takes to meet the individual needs of her students. She advocates for her students' needs and takes on extra work to make sure her students are receiving the appropriate education. She does it all with a smile on her face!"
Lynn Foster, an administrative assistant in the associate superintendent's office at the Educational Service Center
Lynn is recognized for always being willing to go above and beyond her job description, taking on additional work with a smile. In her nomination form, it was noted that Lynn “is supportive, smart, efficient, and caring towards those she interacts with daily. She is upbeat and positive about each day and completes tasks efficiently.” Thank you for everything you do for the team and our families, Lynn!
Lynn Brown, an instructional assistant at Loess Hills Computer Programming Elementary School
"Lynn is an exceptional and dedicated instructional assistant at Loess Hills. She consistently goes above and beyond in her role, providing invaluable support to both staff and students. Her commitment to helping others, whether through one-on-one interactions or small group support, demonstrates her deep care for student success. Lynn's dedication extends beyond the classroom, as she actively engages with students and their families, helping with both academic and personal needs. Lynn’s warm, friendly demeanor and unwavering patience make her an asset to everyone she works with. Her daily responsibility for after-school bus supervision is handled with remarkable respect and efficiency, further showcasing her exceptional qualities as a colleague. Lynn's positive impact on the school community is immeasurable, and her contributions are deeply appreciated by all. Congratulations, Lynn!"
Mr. Kreisberg, Sra. Cervantes, Srta. Zavala, Srta. Lupercio, Sra. Leon, a group of instructional assistants at Irving Dual Language Elementary School
"This group of individuals has gone above and beyond in supporting our students. They have changed what they typically do, to support an area where we are not fully staffed. They have been flexible, empathetic, and hardworking, and they understand how impactful they are at our school. Thank you, Mr. Kreisberg, Sra. Cervantes, Srta. Zavala, Srta. Lupercio and Sra. Leon! We are indebted to you!"
Abby Cook, a fourth-grade teacher at Sunnyside Elementary School
"Ms. Cook has done a great job creating strong relationships with the students in her classroom. She has also been a huge asset to our school and district by implementing the new Benchmark Advance ELA curriculum in our classrooms. Whenever you see Ms. Cook, you are greeted with a smiling face serving as a great role model for our students. We are so grateful she shares her craft with our Sunnyside students!"
Annie Heien and Heather Berger, special education teachers, and Bernadette Larson, a MTSS specialist at Liberty Elementary School
Annie Heien: "Mrs. Heien supports students with disabilities. She works with each student with care, compassion, and positivity. It is rare not to see a smile on her face. She goes out of her way to assist and uplift others. Recently, when a new student arrived, many things needed to be rearranged to meet their needs. She did so happily and checked in regularly to make sure that everyone had what they needed. She is a champion for our students and is willing to do what it takes to 'Make it Happen! at Liberty."
Heather Berger: "Mrs. Berger has such a kind and calming presence as she works with students. She supports students with a variety of needs including academics, behavior, and social-emotional needs. Her compassion is unwavering as she provides a consistent and steady presence. Recently when a new student arrived, many things needed to be rearranged to meet their needs. She worked with another colleague to make sure that all students’ needs were met. This did not happen without some sacrifice. She consistently supports students and other staff to 'Make it Happen!' at Liberty."
Bernadette Larson: "Ms. Larson joined the Liberty team this fall and has taken on any challenge that comes her way with a calming presence that helps put others at ease. The position she is in requires her to be on the move all day supporting students in a variety of ways. Even when thrown a curveball, she carries on and focuses on the needs of the student or students she is working with. We are so grateful to have her here at Liberty 'Making it Happen!' for our students."
Lisa Fickbohm and Teresa Sutton, MTSS specialists at Bryant Elementary School
"Teresa and Lisa are a dynamic duo. They help to respond to building needs throughout the day. This could be working with one student or multiple students across the day. They are focused on giving students the tools to be successful in school and to learn to manage their emotions. We are glad they are part of the Bear family!"
Kristan Geary, a 7th-grade English teacher at East Middle School
"Mrs. Geary is a wonderful teacher who has an infectious positive attitude and a willingness to help anyone who needs it. Students love seeing her in class every day and teachers enjoy interacting with her. Mrs. Geary is always creating a 'handy dandy' as she calls them to assist any student who needs it. She demonstrates exceptional hospitality by making her students feel supported and welcome. She greets everyone with a smile or melody each day and is a ball of energy in class. She puts in extra effort to build relationships with all current and past students. Her colorful posters bring a smile to her students' faces, and they love being a part of the process. Mrs. Geary also helps her team by gathering and organizing important information, saving her team members time and effort, which is greatly appreciated! We are so grateful for Mrs. Geary and all that she does to make East Middle a wonderful place to learn and work!"