Recognizing Distinction

The Board of Education annually acknowledges the hard work and efforts of educational support personnel through Recognizing Distinction. In addition to any building recognition, support staff are recognized at Board of Education meetings.

Educational support personnel are recognized for demonstrating and advancing School District 21 values and the characteristics of a Professional Learning Community. These characteristics include:

• Embracing the School District 21 Collective Commitments for Support Staff
• Creating a helpful and positive environment
• Responding appropriately to all stakeholders
• Being open-minded
• Developing positive relationships and communicating effectively
• Modeling pride and support of the school and district
• Embracing the notion of continual improvement
• Working collaboratively with others
• Modeling lifelong learning

 

Recognizing Distinction Honorees

2022-2023 Honorees
Ami Kawanaga
Information Systems Specialist – Data Support
Gill Center

Art Hughes
Data Systems & Integration Manager
Gill Center

Britta Woods
Teacher Assistant
Poe Elementary School

Keri Kalamaras
LMC Assistant
Longfellow Elementary School

Alejandro (Alex) Garibay
Head Custodian
Whitman Elementary School

Cathleen Fruscione
Health Office – Registered Nurse
Field Elementary School

2021-2022 Honorees
Jose Alvarado
Gill Custodian
Gill Administration Center

Jan Connick
HR Specialist
Gill Administration Center

Patrick Connor
Head Custodian
Holmes Middle School

Gladys Erdsmannsdoerfer
Family Liaison
Gill Administration Center

Elena Golub
Registered Nurse
Poe Elementary School

Nora Molina
Family Liaison
Gill Administration Center

Marlen Rojas
Family Liaison
Gill Administration Center

Andrew Van Antwerp
Custodian
London Middle School

2020-2021 Honorees
Olivia Aguado
Contact Tracer
Gill Administration Center

Matt Tanabe
Network & Systems Specialist
Gill Administration Center

Angela Dorgan
Teacher Assistant
Hawthorne Early Childhood School

Kathleen Nowak
Health Assistant
Riley Elementary School

Paul Santos
Teacher Assistant
Cooper Middle School

2019-2020 Honorees
Leticia Maciel
Secretary
Whitman Elementary School

Octavio Alvarado
Custodian
Tarkington Elementary School

Norma Calendar, TJ Fernandez, Barb Molloy, and Kathy Schumi
Teaching Assistants
Longfellow Elementary School

2018-2019 Honorees
Theresa Cherry
Health Assistant
Field Elementary School

John Hoferitza, John Paprocki, and Jim Taylor
Custodial team
Twain Elementary School

Tyler Loch
Senior Network and Systems Specialist
Gill Administration Center

Agata Nowak
Special Education Teaching Assistant
Poe & Kilmer Elementary Schools

2017-2018 Honorees
T. J. Jandura, Head Custodian
London Middle School

Kevin Markiewicz, Head Custodian
Frost Elementary School

Scott Ouimette, Head Custodian
Kilmer Elementary School

Sue Werneske, Information Systems Specialist
Gill Administration Center

2016-2017 Honorees
Franca Cirrincione and Teresa Keane, Secretaries
Cooper Middle School

Anne Krzoska, Registered Nurse
Riley Elementary School

Steve Hixson, Head Custodian
Hawthorne Early Childhood School

Char Lemke, Purchasing Coordinator
Gill Administration Center

 

2015-2016 Honorees
Terri Fergus, Executive Assistant
Gill Administration Center

Janet Jordan, LMC Assistant
Holmes Middle School

Amy Kipley, Secretary
Tarkington Elementary School

Cynthia Pitti, Secretary
Marissa Rdzok, Health Assistant
Longfellow Elementary School

 

2014-2015 Honorees
Jan Connick, Human Resources
Gill Administration Center

Gloria Jones, Secretary
Poe Elementary School

 

2013-2014 Honorees
Elena María Martinez, Teacher Assistant
Tarkington Elementary School

Scott Ouimette, Head Custodian
Kilmer Elementary School

Ce Parenti, Secretary
Riley Elementary School

Maintenance Team
Clay Cooper
Mark Erickson
Dave Estep
Bill Knapstein
Scott Ludwig
Jeff Mnichowicz
Scott Nesbitt
Michael Phillips
Héctor Picazo
Steve Rowan
Allen Rowe
Héctor Velásquez
Gill Administration Center

 

2012-2013 Honorees
Sandy Pietrzak, Health Assistant
Tarkington Elementary School

Patty Thompson, Administrative Assistant
Gill Administration Center

Laura Wendell, Health Assistant
Cooper Middle School

Debbie Willing, LMC/TC Secretary
Hawthorne Early Childhood School

 

2011-2012 Honorees
Joyce Gerken, Secretary
London Middle School

Carmina Martinez, Secretary
Aida Vazquez, Health Assistant
Frost Elementary School

Amy Stone, Health Assistant
Poe Elementary School

 

2010-2011 Honorees
Alfonso Lopez, Head Custodian
Frost Elementary School

Sam Pacheco, Head Custodian
Cooper Middle School

Debbie Skou, LMC Assistant
Riley Elementary School

 

2009-2010 Honorees
Peg Antognoli, LMC Assistant
Tarkington Elementary School

Lori Clausen, Secretary
Kilmer Elementary School

Alex Garibay, Head Custodian
Whitman Elementary School

 

2008-2009 Honorees
Ellen Anderson, Secretary
Holmes Middle School

Barb Koelper, Secretary
Longfellow Elementary School

Jorge Olague, Head Custodian
Field Elementary School