They’re in the spotlight!
Congratulations to the nine staff members recently selected as Superintendent’s Spotlight Award winners! As you know, these are fellow employees, perhaps someone you work with every day, who go above and beyond what is expected. As a result, they were nominated by a co-worker simply because they set the bar for job performance just a little higher. Certainly, they serve as models of excellence for us all.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Merrill spent several days in mid-February surprising the winners with a personal visit to announce their Spotlight awards. We are proud to recognize these outstanding employees as well in e-Kaleidoscope. Each winner received a special plaque and “spotlight” pin.
Kudos to
- Tara Brewer, assistant principal, Kempsville Meadows Elementary School
- Sharon Dick, cafeteria manager, Windsor Oaks Elementary School
- Tom Kern, computer resource specialist, Kingston Elementary School
- Gary Koelling, coordinator, Office of Supply Services
- Lisa Masisak, student activities coordinator, Kempsville Middle School
- Kathy Maurer, school nurse, Ocean Lakes High School
- Tina Mazzacane, instructional specialist, math, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
- Karen Riddick, special education teaching assistant, Lynnhaven Elementary School
- Debra Shelar, office associate, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Please take a moment to read about these extraordinary employees. We think you will agree they not only demonstrate the criteria but definitely exceed them.
Tara Brewer, assistant principal, Kempsville Meadows Elementary School
Tara Brewer arrived at Kempsville Meadows in the summer of 2010 and since that time has “conveyed a spirit of caring, compassion, and a sense of humor on a daily basis.” Not only can she dress up as a “Tacky Tourist” to participate in a fifth-grade social studies lesson, but she can then quickly change gears with “ease and grace” to take on more serious issues in Student Support Team meetings. According to staff, she is “approachable and friendly, maintaining her role as a boss without being ‘bossy.’ Brewer treats everyone with respect and her “people skills” are unparalleled. She dedicates herself to the students and school, actively participating in events such as the PTA Fall Carnival, school cashola nights, and the PTA costume party. Moreover, Brewer “stays late working on projects and meeting with parents, often sacrificing quality time with her own family. Particularly noteworthy are the seamless ways she has improved upon several procedures in the building which have led to increased student safety.” Among them are effective new ways to line up students during assemblies and creating new fire drill procedures. She has also spearheaded a new schoolwide discipline reward initiative – Cub Coupons – that has proved to be extremely successful. Altogether, Tara Brewer has become “near and dear to Kempsville Meadows as a school leader who makes a difference.”
Sharon Dick, cafeteria manager, Windsor Oaks Elementary School
Sharon Dick, according to those she works with, is an outstanding manager who treats staff and students with the utmost kindness. Not only that, she does not know the meaning of “No” and consistently goes above and beyond what is expected in order to help out. Whether it’s for a PTA fund raiser, a special employee breakfast, a Saturday breakfast with Santa, or simply decorating the food line during various school holidays and special events, Dick comes in early and stays late. Her staff comments that “she is there when we arrive in the mornings and still there when we leave in the afternoons.” Dick is known for her “upbeat attitude”, and it is apparent that students and staff alike “love her” and appreciate all that she does for them. As her nomination form points out, you can tell that Dick is a great manager to work for not only because of all the “outstanding marks with the health department” but because of “the way everyone gets along.” Sharon Dick is indeed exceptional in her job and as one of her assistants puts it, “If I could, I would have a spotlight on her all year long!”
Tom Kern, computer resource specialist, Kingston Elementary School
Tom Kern is known as a “mover and shaker” at Kingston Elementary. Every day he is a professional who goes far beyond the expectations of his job as a CRS. He models high quality instruction in both the computer lab and in the classroom. He works to meet teacher needs by scheduling multiple dates and times for technology training, before and after school. In addition, he produces a weekly on-line publication, Tech Week at a Glance, in which staff members’ exceptional use of technology is recognized. The publication also offers teachers an up-to-date computer lab schedule for their short- and long-range planning as well as an overview of current resources that are available. Not only does Kern serve as the school’s media liaison, working to get the “good news” out to the public, but he is also the Web master! Despite his jammed schedule, he still finds time to greet Kingston’s "Watch Dog Dads" and post their photos on the school bulletin board. To ensure he meets the needs of teachers, Kern typically spends several hours each weekend at the school, maintaining laptop carts and installing software on classroom computers. He holds regular collaborative planning meetings with teachers along with the library media specialist to ensure he is doing all he can to support the curriculum. In addition, Kern takes care of the technology needs for administration and supports the needs of the PTA as well for such events as PTA movie nights and other evening functions. Kern is dedicated to ensuring that the innovative use of technology has a strong impact on student learning and thanks to his eager, positive attitude, there is a general feeling of good will throughout the building.
Gary Koelling, warehouse coordinator, Department of Administrative Support Services, Office of Supply Services
Gary Koelling is a 36-year veteran with VBCPS, with all of those years dedicated to the Office of Supply Services. As such, he is renowned for his institutional and historical knowledge of the school system as well as of the surrounding area. If you have a question about Virginia Beach Schools, Princess Anne County, and various town and cities in North Carolina, just ask Koelling. Chances are excellent he will know the answer, and in the rare instance when he doesn’t, give him a minute and he will find out for you. Koelling has come by this knowledge the old fashioned way, he has worked for it. Starting as a distribution clerk, he steadily moved up to his present position of warehouse coordinator, thanks to his “hands-on, can do” spirit, his organizational skills, ability to think ahead and anticipate possible problems, and his skill in creating solutions. Moreover, on top of his job prowess, he is patient, easy to talk to, and easily establishes a level of professional rapport with people. Unbeknownst to most people, Koelling has established several programs and protocols that have saved the school division many thousands of dollars over the years. For example, he set up the Public Surplus Auction initiative that has generated over $600,000 in the past three years. He has been instrumental in helping staff “relocate and move” schools, often identifying classroom items that can be used elsewhere, adding to bottom line savings. Koelling has also played a vital role in the division’s sustainability efforts, especially with the recycling of textbooks, radios, and batteries. He is a member of the Sustainability Committee, which recently implemented the bottle top recycling program. Through it all, safety is Koelling’s top priority and his warehouse has never had a violation. He is an exceptional leader who believes in taking care of his subordinates by providing guidance and ensuring that the right tools are available for carrying out the right job. Koelling is simply “the best!”
Lisa Masisak, student activities coordinator, Kempsville Middle School
Lisa Masisak is truly an extraordinary student activities coordinator. She is supportive, creative, and resourceful and has been instrumental in setting up and orchestrating countless activities, events, recognition banquets, and assemblies at Kempsville Middle School (KMS). It goes without saying that she devotes numerous hours to students, staff, and school community. For example she has mentored three students, meeting with them weekly and monitoring their progress through discussions with parents and teachers. At the same time, Masisak works tirelessly on various initiatives. Among them are the Angel Tree which she initiated and for which she solicits names of needy students along with corresponding gifts. She also serves on a variety of committees, among them the school’s Administrative Leadership Team and the committee attached to the National Network of Partnership Schools. In addition, she spearheaded a Relay for Life initiative and took the lead in helping to organize staff luncheons, breakfasts, and recognition events. As a leader in the Partners in Education program, she plays a proactive role in helping the school establish meaningful and relevant partnerships with the school’s larger community. Most recently, Masisak was instrumental in creating Kempsville Middle’s first Leadership Workshop. The event took place at the Triple R Ranch in Chesapeake and involved more than 60 KMS students. One parent was so thrilled with the effect the experience had on her son that she was moved to write the following: “For so many reasons I am and will be forever grateful for the opportunity my son had to attend this workshop. It has been a life changing experience for him, and our entire family as he shares with us all that he learned at the Leadership Workshop.” Masisak’s positive presence, her work ethic, her dedication to Kempsville Middle, and her commitment to excellence make her a perfect recipient for this high honor.
Kathy Maurer, school nurse, Ocean Lakes High School
Kathy Maurer is a school nurse “extraordinaire.” She runs an incredibly efficient and customer-service-oriented clinic that also happens to serve the largest student and staff population in the school division. And, she accomplishes this with consummate professionalism and care. In addition to the many screenings she routinely performs, she evaluated more than 3,200 students for illness, gave more than 1,300 students first aid, and had more than 6,800 miscellaneous visits to her clinic this past school year alone. Yet Maurer is far more than a school nurse. She also is in great demand as a guest speaker in many of Ocean Lakes’ classrooms. Her past experiences working in Vietnam and Africa provide students a first-hand look at real world struggles. She is able to bring these “stories” to bear on very real problems and life challenges as students engage in higher-level thinking about ways to deal with and solve these problems. Maurer is an integral part of the Ocean Lakes community. She created a medical club that meets monthly for which she provides guest speakers who address timely and relevant topics of interest to students and staff alike. She also started a diabetes support club which provides a convenient venue for students and staff to discuss health challenges they face and to share ideas for daily maintenance. In addition, Mauer received special training in suicide prevention (QPR) training. She regularly speaks about the issue of suicide prevention to community groups as well as to tenth-grade students as part of their health curriculum. All in all, Mauer is known at Ocean Lakes High School as one who can always be counted on, one who will go out of her way to preserve the “personal touch.”
Tina Mazzacane, instructional specialist: mathematics, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Tina Mazzacane is an “extraordinary individual” who serves as a support to teachers; researches, writes and revises curricula; serves on several Compass to 2015 committees; and works with school division partners to promote the teaching and learning of mathematics. As an instructional specialist she was central to the development of the new VBCPS secondary mathematics curriculum and course sequence, having researched and analyzed math curricula in other divisions. At the same time, she serves as a support to teachers in the classroom. Among her outreaches are a quarterly mathematics e-newsletter for teachers, the creation of brochures for parents and students to inform them of changes in the math curriculum, and daily communication with teachers via email and telephone. One of Mazzacane’s current functions is serving as a member of the Planning Committee for the Principals Collaborative Learning for 21st Century Leadership that provides monthly training to K-12 principals. She also leads the subcommittee for local assessment that is part of Strategic Plan Objective 2, a committee that is working with balanced assessment. In addition, she serves on the Teacher Assessment Instrument subcommittee for Strategic Objective 5. Mazzacane frequently participates in learning walks, working with teachers and participating in grade-level and PLC meetings. Another responsibility has been her work with WHRO in developing secondary mathematics online curricula. Her expert technical skills serve her colleagues well as she works with them to use the most current instructional technologies, especially SMART Boards and TI-Nspire advanced graphing calculator technology. Mazzacane is tireless in her willingness to be of service!
Karen Riddick, special education teaching assistant, Lynnhaven Elementary School
Karen Riddick may be a special education teaching assistant but the truth is, she works far beyond what her job title suggests. For example, she has just completed her teaching degree and is currently working on obtaining licensure. She has wide experience in the classroom, having worked with all elementary grade levels. Currently, she serves in a first-grade inclusion class, assisting with all aspects of classroom management and instruction. Riddick goes to great lengths to ensure that she knows her students and their families so that she can build the sorts of relationships that lead to student success. As a result, her students love her, especially since she maintains a calm, pleasant manner, always has a smile on her face, and says “good morning” to everyone she passes. Riddick participates in all school activities, despite the fact that she lives a good distance away, in Moyock, NC. You will always see her at student PTA functions like school dances, bingo nights, academic block parties and math/reading nights. She also has volunteered to sponsor several clubs, one of them a computer club, which met once a week during the summer! The students worked on math and language arts software programs. Another club she sponsors is a game board club that meets after school. Students learn to play games such as checkers, chess, Hungry Hippo, Operation, and a variety of card games. Not surprisingly, there is always a waiting list to get into the program. A new club that Riddick has taken on is the “Thinking Time Computer Club.” Designed for first and second graders, the club is aimed at students who do not have access to computers and the Internet at home. This way they have an opportunity to practice the technology they are learning at school. Certainly, it is clear that Riddick’s leadership qualities shine on a daily basis as she works with students, interacts with her co-workers, and gives tirelessly of her time to the Lynnhaven Elementary community.
Deborah Shelar, administrative office associate, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Deborah Shelar is an office associate who consistently exceeds the expectations of those who work with her. Not only does she juggle multiple duties at her desk, assisting the administrators for whom she works, but she also facilitates communications between schools and the warehouse regarding curricula, books, and materials. Were it not for the work of Shelar, new teachers and those newly allocated to schools would not have the materials they need when they need them. Shelar does not hesitate to go to the warehouse and find the materials that teachers request. Whether she has to move boxes, unpack boxes, pick up or deliver materials, Shelar gets the job done. She maintains the language arts and science materials with ease, remembering conversations and the numerous details of deliveries. One of her skills is her ability to work with people. She has a great relationship with the warehouse staff and helps the administrators in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction keep their materials in order and available. Shelar is continuously coming up with ways that procedures and protocols can be streamlined. Another of her skills is her ability to organize and prioritize. She is invaluable in her ability to help coordinate meetings and manage deadlines. In short, Shelar provides a structure and support that is essential to getting the job done!
Nominate a “winner”! Award Criteria
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