ARLINGTON More than half a dozen Arlington School District employees were honored Dec. 5 for their outstanding service and dedication, as part of the ASD Employee Recognition Program. The quotes that follow were excerpted from the anonymous nomination forms submitted by their fellow ASD employees.
Judy Donoghue, a fourth-grade teacher at Trafton Elementary, was lauded as a resource contact regarding WASL topics. Each year, she embraces the challenge of maximizing her students capabilities, and her intense interest in WASL topics has earned her a position for standards revisions at the state level. Donoghue was also recognized for paying close attention to details, since her students know they may have to revise their compositions several times. She was ultimately praised as a team player and a positive influence at Trafton, both as a parent and as a teacher.
Mark Ehrhardt, ASD Technology Director, was credited with an incredible work ethic, to the degree of most often leaving himself with no free time. His patience and diligence were also cited, since in spite of his tremendous knowledge, he never uses it to make others feel incompetent, or to make himself look important. Mark never makes you feel like your request is too small or the question too ignorant.
Ehrhardt was characterized as handling an insurmountable job with calm professionalism, by balancing daily duties with emergencies on top of his already more-than-full workload. As someone who regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty, Ehrhardts colleagues professed their admiration and respect for him, while agreeing that his technology knowledge is awesome!
Helena Gerlach and Bob Petershagen were held up as a one-two punch at Pioneer Elementary, for displaying dedication to detail and an obvious pride in their work and their school. By working as a team, communicating freely, often, and professionally, the two custodians were commended for going the extra mile to ensure that their school looks its best, while volunteering other services.
Petershagen has contributed his musical skills, playing his trumpet for Veterans Day assemblies and stepping in to run the sound system when needed. At the same time, he pays such close attention to the safety of the building and security issues that those who know him claimed he anticipates problems before they occur. Everyone at Pioneer is safer because he is here.
As for Gerlach, her continual smile and can-do attitude have earned appreciation from staff and students alike, since shes been willing to help anywhere in the district, and is likewise valued throughout the district for her work on tile floors.
Just as Gerlachs vision of her duties and responsibilities was lauded for being wide and inclusive, so were she and Petershagen both recognized for taking great pride in their work, to the degree that the floors they wax turn into a finely polished surface, where you can almost see your reflection. The two custodians were ultimately praised as positive and flexible people, whom the school community is fortunate to have as part of the Pioneer family.
Lori Miller, librarian at Presidents Elementary, was another ASD employee credited with going above and beyond what is expected of her, for spending countless hours setting up the library, ordering quality books based on students needs and interests, and going out of her way to make all students feel welcome to our school. She was further cited for placing a personal priority on working closely with teachers, to assist them in identifying the resources they need to enhance learning in their classes. Due to these characteristics, as well as her willingness to try and solve technology issues, Miller is considered a great asset to Presidents.
Frank Stallons was held up as an exceptional teacher and mentor to the students of Arlington High School. His math classes were commended for fostering active participation in learning, by challenging students to reach for daily targets that demonstrate, to the students as well as to their teacher, their own ability to achieve. According to his colleagues, Stallons displays a positive attitude thats contagious, which inspires his students to learn, laugh and contribute. They further professed that Franks students love his class, because he is the best of the best, a model for all teachers and administrators. Frank sees the best in every student, and for Frank, their best is exactly what they give!
During her final school year before retirement, Stillaguamish Valley School teacher Sue Webber has been characterized as an educator for us all to emulate, as she continues to promote education at the district, state and national levels. Last school year, as a member of the Washington Association for Foreign Language Teaching Board, Webber was described as instrumental in developing and aligning state language goals with national language goals, as well as in creating and implementing lessons to put these guidelines into practice. This school year, she will be representing Washington State at the National Conference for Foreign Language teachers, as a delegate of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In the classroom and as a student learning plan consultant, Miller has been recognized for taking all the students and parents under her care, and providing them with the opportunity to grow to places many of them thought were unachievable. For more than 30 years, she has developed a reputation for creating such opportunities for students, based upon each of their individual needs.