Going the Distance
Heather Sweigart, Instructional Assistant @ Myers Elementary School
Denise Lowen, Instructional Assistant @ Myers Elementary School
Heather Sweigart and Denise Lowen are valuable assets to the Myers team. As instructional aides in our Emotional Growth Center, these women have an exceptional insight into the caring and teaching styles necessary for working with students in this type of classroom setting. Their commitment to the students and encouraging them to reach their potential is evident in the way the students respond both emotionally and academically. They are caring individuals who go above and beyond in the school both for students and staff members. Myers is lucky to have them as part of the team!
Submitted by: Karen Brookins, Speech Pathologist @ Myers Elementary School
Scott McDonald, Customer Relations Coordinator @ Reprographics
I very much appreciate Scott McDonald for providing great customer service for our team.
We needed a quick turnaround on posters that needed to be in place at schools so we could have attendance at some pre-set meetings. Without this, the posters would have been posted after some of the meetings had occurred. We really needed to get them right away and it was our responsibility to get them to Reprographics much sooner than we did. I just wanted to let Scott know that how important those seemingly small decisions to go above and beyond the normal process can positively impact our ability to move forward and how much it was appreciated.
Submitted by: Francisco Zavala, TSC Team Lead @ Technology and Information Services
Library Media Support Services Team
Stephen Cox, Program Coordinator
Jane Anderson, Senior Clerical Specialist
Nancy Humpert, Senior Secretary
Teresa Mack, Senior Clerical Specialist
I would like to nominate the staff at Library Media Support Services for the Going the Distance Award. Stephen Cox, Jane Anderson, Nancy Humpert,and Teresa Mack have done heroic work this year in supporting all of our libraries after the massive cuts that were a result of the district’s budget crisis. I’ve heard over and over again about the amazing job our media specialists and media assistants have done to keep our libraries thriving as they work to maintain quality services and instruction to students and teachers. I believe the crew at LMSS has a lot to do with that.
Some of their many accomplishments this year include planning, offering or facilitating the following services and resources:
- Development of a K-8 library support plan
- Training sessions and meetings for all K-8 library media assistants
- District-wide K-5 Read Aloud program
- District-wide middle school Book Talk program
- High speed CD/DVD duplication
- LMSS webpage resources
- Fully web-based library book circulation program available at school and at home
- Common start web page templates for elementary and middle school library computer labs that include district purchased databases, online school library catalogs, and links to curriculum approved web pages
- Instructional databases & resources
- Textbook, library book & AV materials processing
- Video production services (including production of high quality instructional video programs used to support the Curriculum and Instructional Services department and professional development videos for Instructional Coaches)
- eBook study group
- Distribution of 20,000+ books and instructional materials from small school library closures
- Selection, purchase and processing of 20,000+ book for the Kalapuya and Straub libraries
- Training and assistance in the use of online databases, research techniques, video production, instructional technology, software programs, etc.
One school library media assistant said, “Stephen has replied to emails quickly and has been a great support over the phone. He is always cheerful and calm and he listens when we need to vent. He solves as many problems as we throw at him and he reminds us to take a breath when we are overwhelmed.”
Steve, Nancy, Jane, Teresa and all of our library media staff deserve a huge thank you for helping the district make this transition during such a challenging time.
Submitted by: Brenda Groh, Administrative Assistant 2 @ Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Maria Alcazar, Community School Outreach Coordinator @ Parrish Middle School
I would like to nominate Maria Alcazar, who is our Community School Outreach Coordinator at Parrish Middle School. She is split between two schools and I know she gives 150 percent at both of them.
With Maria's active connections and partnerships in the community, Parrish has been able to start a clothing closet this year to offer clothing for our families. She also coordinates our volunteers, organizes and facilitates cultural family events. After the school day has ended and everyone has gone home, Maria returns to school to help run our Ingles Now classes for parents and also different classes around computation and GED programming.
She also attends events and activities and interprets so all of our families feel welcome! Our students and their families wouldn't have nearly as much support if we didn't have Maria on our team helping facilitate all these resources and activities!
Submitted by: Randi Garcia-Cruz, Counselor @ Parrish Middle School
What is the Going the Distance Award?
The Going the Distance Award is a way for all of us to recognize staff who go above and beyond the call of duty to provide a great education for students in our district. This is a peer recognition service promoted through Inside24j, a production of Community Relations and Communications.
These awards are a simple "thank you" for doing an amazing job. It's an opportunity to give someone recognition for their continued commitment helping every child achieve their very best.
Who can submit a nomination?
Anyone can submit a nomination on ANY staff member, school or department in Salem-Keizer.
How can I submit a nomination?
Would you like to nominate a staff member for going the distance? Please send a paragraph explaining why you'd like to recognize this person to harada_aaron@salkeiz.k12.or.us.