The district is pleased to announce the December 2023 Staff in the Spotlight recipients. Every month, each of our schools honors a staff member at their building for going above and beyond their regular duties or for doing something special. Join us in celebrating these outstanding employees!

	PELC	Danielle McClelland – Danielle is being recognized by her colleagues for her growth and willingness to help out everywhere.  Danielle has taken on a leadership role with the star program (setting, trigger, action, response), helping students understand language, communicate with others, and be more independent in daily routines.  Danielle exhibits a high level of patience in a position where change is part of the daily routine.  We are proud to have Danielle on our PELC team!  Congratulations from the PELC family!
	McKay	Beth Hinze – for being an important member of our staff.  She works every day with our one-on-one students.  During her day with these students, she introduces them to new activities, such as painting, especially with their hands, which is so fun, playing ball, playdough, bird seed in a tub, music, coloring, writing, and water time.  Beth gives them many opportunities to explore, and the kids are growing because of this.  Thank you, Beth, for all you do.
	Sherwood	Jolene Hudson – Jolene is an amazing person to work with.  She is always in a good mood, smiling, and happy.  She always has answers to our questions.  Jolene always has all of our materials ready, and when she corrects you, she does it in such a sweet way.  She is just an all-around great person and co-worker.  She is eager to help anyone with a problem, whether big or small.  She is totally amazing with keeping our small groups rolling along smoothly.  She is an amazing person, teacher, and friend.
	Washington	Brittney Hardiman – Brittney is recognized for being supportive and all-around amazing.  She is eager to do anything and has a smile no matter what.  Brittney always has a positive attitude, shows dedication, and always acts with kindness.  Brittney is an asset to our school community, and we truly appreciate her contribution to our school.  Keep up the great work, Brittney!
	Sunridge	Alexis Leake – Alexis has a tough job working with students in an unstructured time.  She does this well with her quiet nature and positive attitude.  Her ability to brush off the negative and focus on the future ensures that students are able to start fresh each day.
	PHS	Andrew Hoover – Andrew completes exceptional work as our night custodian and has been a vital part of our school community.  Each day, we arrive at a school that is clean, organized, and ready for learning, largely due to Andrew’s dedication and hard work.  His commitment to maintaining our facilities and ensuring a healthy environment for both students and staff does not go unnoticed.  His work often happens behind the scenes after most of us have left for the day, but it is crucial for the smooth operations of our school.  We can never thank Andrew enough for the effort and care he puts into making PHS a welcoming and conducive learning environment.
	Hawthorne/ Homestead	Kim Richards – Kim does amazing labs with students where they are truly learning through kinesthetic activities.  The students thrive in this type of environment and excel at being diligent with their findings and discoveries.  Mrs. Richards’ presentations and lessons ensure each student comes away with an understanding and appreciation for the sciences.  Thanks for giving our students this opportunity, Mrs. Richards!
	District Office/Maintenance	Tom Smith – for always coming to work with a smile on his face and dressing up around the holidays.  We appreciate his timeless efficiency and hard work.
	Nixyáawii Community School	No nominations this month.