November 2024 Staff in the Spotlight

The district is pleased to announce the November 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	Sarah Leonard is a Kindergarten teacher at the PELC. If there is a singular word to describe Sarah, that word would certainly be kind. Sarah has the most kind heart. She never raises her voice and never loses her cool. Sarah is consistent with her expectations of her students. Sarah is an absolutely lovely human being. Sarah is one of the first to volunteer at a family event or offer to help with anything that needs to be done. Sarah makes the PELC a better place. And we love her!
	McKay	Amanda Sabin is AWESOME!! Without her and putting in all the extra effort to keep our school MARVELOUS, we would be doomed! She is always so fun and smiling with the kids; they all love her. Miss Amanda is the definition of “Sunshine.” She is always willing to jump in and help where needed. She also still does an amazing job after getting pulled to other schools; she comes back and doesn’t skip a beat. She is amazing. She always helps in the cafeteria and throughout our building. She works hard to make sure we all have a clean and safe working environment. She does so much for each and every Mustang in this school. We are so lucky to have her and her dedication to us all.
	Sherwood	Cambree Shields is an amazing teacher with great instincts. She meets her students where they are and is flexible and patient with all students. Cambree has been doing an amazing job with her class this year! Cambree Shields has approached this year with patience, dedication, determination, and a heart of gold. She has made great steps in her classroom and is rocking it. Cambree makes time to communicate professionally with her peers and works diligently to touch base with families about how their children are doing in class.
	Washington	Hunter Erwin has taken the time to learn more about the MTSS system. He has been leading his team in data collection and data talks. He asks questions and uses data to group students to meet their needs.
	Sunridge	Brieann Baker is always positive and friendly to staff and students. She is patient and kind with the students she works with and always willing to help in the classroom with anything the teacher needs. The students respond well to Bri and she is making connections and a difference! She is a bright ray of sunshine in this building and we appreciate it. We are lucky to have Bri here at SMS!
	PHS	Karen Demianew – Pendleton High School is celebrating one of the cornerstones of our school community: Karen Demianew. As a counselor, Karen works tirelessly to support our students and their families, going above and beyond to ensure every student feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed. Karen’s dedication to fostering a positive culture at Pendleton High School is evident in everything she does. She consistently advocates for all students, ensuring they have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Her impact extends beyond the individual; Karen’s contributions strengthen our entire school community. She works collaboratively with staff, parents, and community partners, building bridges that create a network of support for our students. Her compassionate and proactive approach exemplifies the spirit of Pendleton High School and helps make our building a better place each day. Go Bucks!
	District Office/Maintenance	Ana Palacios Rodriguez – Ana is a new addition to the District Office team and brings with her a warm smile, a positive attitude, and hard work/dedication to PSD. She does an outstanding job keeping up with the demands of the district courier, as well as keeping both the DO and PTTC neat and tidy.
	Hawthorne/ Homestead	Travis Zander does an amazing job of setting students up for success when they arrive. He makes sure their transcripts coincide with their schedules, aligns any community service hours for them, and overall makes them feel welcome upon arrival. Travis is instrumental in our community, utilizing the student’s community leadership class to assist with Mud Wars, Round-Up stadium events (graduation, football games, etc.), and keeping the Pendleton Little League and Babe Ruth parks looking top-notch. Thank you, Travis, for providing our students with an inspiring role model both in and out of the classroom setting.
	Nixyáawii	Wus Gone for making sure our building is clean and helping out in the absences of others.