Erica Olson, a teacher at West High School
"Ms. Olson is kind and patient with the students and adults in her classroom. She strives for a safe learning environment for the students. Congratulations, Ms. Olson!"
Liberty Buhman, a building assistant at Perry Creek Elementary School
"Liberty goes out of her way to help teachers and staff at Perry Creek. She plays a huge role in covering rooms and helping out with students. If she observes a colleague in need of help with a student, she will step in and offer assistance. Liberty is wonderful with students and they adore her. We appreciate all that Liberty does to go out of her way and make a difference!"
Larry Provost, a building engineer at North Middle School
"Larry's duties as our building engineer are vast and wide-ranging. His many job duties include ensuring that our school is clean and providing our students with a safe place where they can learn and develop. He maintains the grounds of our school to help keep the aesthetic beauty of North Middle. In addition, he coordinates with his crew to make sure our building is in ready to host various extra-curricular events, assemblies and much, much more for both nights and weekends when needed. We appreciate all Larry does for North Middle!"
Diane Gilreath, a fourth-grade teacher at Morningside STEM Elementary School
Staff at Morningside STEM Elementary said the following about Diane, "Diane is a true team player. She is always willing to lend a helping hand. Diane continues to keep her composure and remains calm at all times. Most of all, Diane is always open to changing things up and doing whatever is needed to help her students. She is the most wonderful colleague and friend!"
Thomas Medbourn, a fifth-grade teacher at Loess Hills Computer Programming Elementary School
"Thomas’s dedication to the fifth-grade students exemplifies a teacher who goes above and beyond job requirements. Every recess, he is outside actively engaging with students on the soccer field—organizing and monitoring the game. Thomas teaches and models respectful competition, teamwork, and positive behavior, creating a calm and supportive environment for all students during fifth-grade recess. He coaches and guides them to demonstrate our PAWS expectations while encouraging them to have fun and grow. He is an incredible colleague, and the fifth-grade teachers are thrilled to have him on our team. Thomas is also always willing to help any student in need, regardless of whether he knows them personally. He is a tremendous asset to any team and consistently focuses on the well-being of his students and we're grateful to have him as a Lynx!"
Mary Barkley, the media specialist at Leeds Elementary School
"As a leader in our school's media center, Mary plays an essential role in fostering a love for reading and learning among our students. But her contributions go far beyond managing books and resources. Every day, Mary is a beacon of positivity at our front crosswalk, greeting students, staff, and parents with a warm smile that sets the tone for the day and sends them home on a positive note! Her dedication to ensuring the safety of our students is just one example of her selfless approach to her work. Mary is always willing to step up and help wherever needed, contributing to the smooth running of the school. Whether it's assisting with a project, supervising students, or simply offering words of encouragement, she consistently demonstrates her commitment to doing what’s best for our students.
We are incredibly fortunate to have Mary on our team, and her hard work and kindness are noticed and appreciated every single day!"
Nyah Skuodas, a resource teacher at Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School
"Mrs. Skuodas goes above and beyond to support teachers and students to make sure everyone’s needs are met in the classroom. She emphasizes the importance of individuality in each student and gives each student her time and energy. She is so positive and is willing to do anything to make sure each child is successful. She is an outstanding teacher and person! Hunt is very lucky to have her!"
Dane Doty, an instructional assistant at Riverside Elementary School
Erika Nelson said the following about Mr. Doty, "Dane is always willing to go above and beyond the duties of his job to support students. He has subbed multiple times last month. He does an excellent job when subbing and does it with a positive and enthusiastic attitude!"
Kelsey Cory said the following about Mr. Doty, "Dane comes to school with a positive attitude every day. He is always willing to help where he is needed. You can find Dane interacting with students at recess and filling in for absent staff members. He works very hard to create positive relationships with students. If students ask him to attend one of their sporting events, he will be there. Keep up the great work, Mr. Doty!"
Amy Haneklaus said the following about Mr. Doty, "We are so lucky to have Dane in our building! He is always willing to help wherever he is needed, not just with students but staff as well. I was fortunate to be able to observe Mr. Doty doing an interactive read-aloud in first-grade while he was covering for a teacher. He was so enthusiastic, and the students were so engaged! They knew the skill they were working on and were mastering it quickly! Any teacher would be lucky to have Dane cover their classroom and work with their students! He even went to the fifth-graders' football game to cheer them on. We appreciate Mr. D so very much!"
Lisa d'Auguste, a special education teacher at Spalding Park Environmental Sciences Elementary School
"Lisa works hard to support her students and staff. She always has a positive attitude and a caring smile. Lisa is a great mentor and colleague, she is always willing to give a hand when someone needs it. Lisa often eats lunch with her students and attends specials with them to ensure they have a great day. Lisa is a true treasure at Spalding Park."
Katharina Albrecht, a sixth-grade English teacher at East Middle School
"Mrs. Albrecht is an exceptional educator who goes above and beyond for her students every day. With her passion for teaching and unwavering dedication, she creates a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported. Mrs. Albrecht's innovative teaching methods engage her students and inspire them to reach their full potential. Her kindness, patience, and encouragement motivate students to excel academically and personally. With her commitment to fostering a love of learning in her students, Mrs. Albrecht truly embodies the qualities of an outstanding Staff Member of the Month!"
Luis Lemus, an English language (EL) development teacher at Irving Dual Language Elementary School
"Sr. Lemus is an outstanding teacher. He is always working with students and for students. When he identifies a need, he will jump into action immediately. He supports in the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum committee, shares resources with many teachers, and volunteers to sub so our students can have a biliterate teacher. He is respected and appreciated by Irving's staff and school administrators. We are so proud of you and the work you do for our student, teachers, school, and district, Luis!"
Gina Bohan, the building secretary at Clark Early Childhood Center/Preschool Program
"Gina's friendliness, kindness, and support are greatly appreciated. She goes above and beyond frequently for all of the Preschool Imitative staff members and students. Congratulations, Gina!"
Jenny Ceja and Jessica Dekker, building assistants at Bryant Elementary School
"Jenny and Jess are the first faces you see at Bryant! They are huge assets to our team and are jack of all trades. We love their positivity and bright smiles. We are lucky to have them on our team!"
June Mikkelson, a counselor at West Middle School
"June does a fantastic job of working with the kids, whether it be for challenges they experience outside of school, peer challenges, or schedule changes--the list goes on and on. She has flawlessly joined a new school environment this year and is a very welcome addition to the sixth-grade team. She's a joy to work with, and is incredibly helpful and willing to be of assistance every day for her colleagues. June is a great person and an awesome colleague!"
Mike Crawford, an online learning and assessment support specialist at the Educational Service Center
Mike was recognized for being a true team player and leader. In his nomination, Mike’s peer wrote “Mike is the go-to person who ensures everyone has what they need. He listens attentively, offering a helping hand whenever he can. He embodies the spirit of teamwork…whether it’s getting Canvas set up, troubleshooting Clever, managing assessments, or navigating digital platforms.”
Kudos, Mike, on this well-deserved honor!
Tova Natwick, an ELL teacher at Liberty Elementary School
"Mrs. Natwick is a remarkable teacher who shines her light brightly wherever she goes. Since joining us as an ELL teacher, she has faced each day with a positive and supportive outlook. She works hard to ensure that her second language learners are able to understand the content and experience success. She is gracious and dedicated to supporting staff and students alike. She can regularly be seen going above and beyond by volunteering her time. Tova volunteered to be a House Coach in order to help guide our fourth and fifth grade student leaders and help them build their skills. This summer, she and other House Coaches designed a Leadership Camp to ease our new Head of House Student Council students into their roles. Recently, she has worked to add to our list of clubs and activities by initiating a Drum Club. Her dedication to our school and students is incredible. We are lucky to have Tova here “Making it Happen!” for Liberty students!"
Sara Koppelman, a health sciences teacher at the Sioux City Career Academy
"Mrs. Koppelman is in her second year as our Nurse Aide Theory and Human Body Systems teacher. Sara has immediately made a tremendous impact on our health science pathway. She gives her time, energy, passion, and intelligence to our students and program. Her students are tremendously successful because she runs an authentic and project-based classroom that is highly rigorous and leads to excellent student outcomes. We are very blessed that she serves the students in the Sioux City Career Academy!"
Caroline Flannery, a teacher at East High School
"Caroline has been a tremendous leader for our social studies professional learning community (PLC) group and freshman special education students. She goes above and beyond to help students by giving advice and helping them navigate life in school and outside of school. She has been an amazing help for the new staff members at East by helping us be effective teachers. She is always a kind person and someone that the students can rely on. She is the definition of a Black Raider. Congratulations, Caroline!"