December 2024 Staff in the Spotlight

The district is pleased to announce the December 2024 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	Carol Aldrich Congratulations to CAROL ALDRICH – Pendleton Early Learning Center December Staff in the Spotlight recipient. Carol is an interventionist at the PELC, providing instruction in the Title 1A classroom (the Bunny room). Carol teaches small group interventions in both math and reading and is on the PELC Leadership Team. Carol is a spreadsheet magician! Many of us rely on her expertise for all kinds of data tracking needs and spreadsheet entry. If you have a problem and ask for help, Carol is there to find an answer. Carol finds creative ways to help struggling students learn. She is reliable, consistent, and there for all of us – adults and students. Carol compiles the data for the PELC MTSS meetings and puts together DIBELS assessment data. She helps with the PELC book fairs and family nights. To top it off, she manages the Walking Line, ensuring our students get to their parents safely at dismissal. At the start of the year, Carol can be found at nearly every recess and at lunch, teaching our students and staff the expectations and setting us all up for a great year! Carol Aldrich is an all-around great person, colleague, and teacher, and we are proud to honor her this month! Congratulations from your colleagues!
	McKay	Emma Norquist Emma is impressive. Emma turned a windowless room into a welcoming music room where she and her students worked together to produce wonderful holiday concerts to share with McKay families. She runs an organized space where students know expectations and can be focused and learn about music. Her winter programs were well-planned, engaging for students, and absolutely enjoyable. Families had the biggest smiles, and they certainly created a festive mood. I believe students were very proud of their performances too. Emma created this environment throughout the year by making music fun, creative, and engaging. It is so wonderful to have her as our music teacher. I believe she plants the seed for many to have a lifelong love for music and instruments.
	Sherwood	Adrienne Espinosa is a strong addition to our Sherwood team. The students love her. She has exceptional skills and is very knowledgeable. She works very hard and makes the day much better! The staff appreciates Adrienne’s ability and willingness to adapt and change on the fly to support the kids’ best interests. She was very generous and flexible with her time and schedule to support the students. Adrienne keeps a positive attitude and is willing to help out anywhere with a smile and kindness.
	Washington	Hollie Chay is a 5th grade teacher and a reliable, veteran staff member. She steps in and is a leader for Oregon Battle of the Books, the Safety Committee, and arranged for our 5th grade to participate in Starbase. When she sees something that needs to be done, she steps in and helps. Her experience is valuable, and she is a trusted staff member for many. We appreciate all she does for Washington!
	Sunridge	Madison Parker excels in establishing meaningful relationships with the school’s most challenging students. Her exceptional ability to foster an environment of trust encourages these students to open up to her. As a result, they demonstrate a strong commitment to their academic efforts in the classroom. Congratulations, Madi!
	PHS	Renee Moore – PHS is fortunate to have a registrar who exemplifies what it means to go above and beyond. Renee’s impact extends far beyond her job description. She is crucial in fostering a positive school environment where every student feels valued and supported. Her unwavering dedication is evident in how she contributes to PHS’s daily life. This holiday season, Renee took her commitment to our students to extraordinary heights. Recognizing that some students might not have much to celebrate during Christmas, she spearheaded an effort to create over 50 gift baskets. These baskets were carefully curated with thoughtful items to bring joy and warmth to students who needed it most. Renee’s initiative ensured that these students felt celebrated and cared for during the holiday season, a testament to her compassion and dedication to making a difference in their lives. Her tireless work to organize and deliver these gifts is a shining example of the PHS spirit. Renee didn’t just provide tangible items; she gave the gift of hope, belonging, and the reassurance that every student matters. Her efforts embody the true meaning of community and reflect the values we hold dear at Pendleton High School. Go Bucks!
	Hawthorne/ Homestead	No submission this month.
	District Office/Maintenance	Megan Miltenberger is a highly valued member of the District Office Team. She works diligently to keep our student information system up to date. She goes above and beyond to complete state and federal reporting with timely and accurate data that is required. She is always willing to jump in and help out when buildings are short staffed. She is quick to answer the phone or respond to an email from teachers with questions. We appreciate all that Meagan does to keep our district running efficiently!
	Nixyáawii Community School	No nominations this month.