Distinguished Educators

Watch as CCSD93's 2022-23 Distinguished Educators are surprised by their principals and Superintendent Hill with their awards!

Recently, Superintendent Hill joined Roy DeShane Principal Amy Gray to surprise the school’s instructional coach, Kelly Ashline, as one of five recipients of CCSD93’s 2023 Distinguished Educator award!

Mrs. Ashline was awarded for her role in driving student and educator success in her school and for always going the extra mile to contribute to and inspire a positive and cohesive school culture. Watch as Mrs. Ashline is surprised by Superintendent Hill and Principal Gray with the award!

Day in and day out, Mrs. Ashline is completely committed to serving her colleagues and Roy DeShane’s students. She effectively supports her school’s educators to best implement teaching resources to further student achievement. Whether guiding new teachers through the complexities of becoming a standout educator or working with veteran teachers on a wide range of curricular approaches, PBIS initiatives and strategies for working with individual students, she always imparts her knowledge with an upbeat, caring and nurturing style that inspires trust and confidence. When working directly with students, she tailors resources to meet their individual needs and always finds a way to make learning fun and engaging. 

She goes above and beyond to contribute to a terrific school atmosphere, chairing the school’s Environmental Club, creating fun before- and after-school staff activities, serving as its Tier One leader, playing a key role in its professional development, organizing school-wide celebrations, volunteering to substitute in classrooms when needed, making artistic and effective hallway displays, participating on the Literacy Committee and even donning the costume of Spike, the school mascot, to celebrate student achievement.

Her impact as an educator was summed up through one of the Distinguished Educator applications submitted on her behalf as follows, “Kelly is the definitive embodiment of what a true educator should be… I believe she is the backbone of Roy DeShane School.”

The Distinguished Educator is CCSD93’s peer-driven award for which all staff members, regardless of position, are eligible. Employees are invited to nominate standout colleagues, and senior leaders judge nomination applications against a rubric to determine recipients. It’s the highest recognition a CCSD93 staff member can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Ashline!

Congratulations to Carol Stream Elementary School secretary Sonia Chairez on being named one of five recipients of CCSD93’s 2023 Distinguished Educator award!

Mrs. Chairez was awarded for far exceeding expectations in helping Carol Stream families connect with the school and community resources. Watch as Mrs. Chairez is surprised by Superintendent Hill and Principal McCabe with the award!

Utilizing her terrific organizational and interpersonal skills, she helps the school to run efficiently by expertly completing her secretarial duties, including greeting visitors, answering phones, filing documents, guiding parents through registration, taking attendance, and assisting students, parents and staff in innumerable ways throughout the school day. No matter the task at hand, she works with a positive attitude and strong consideration for children.  

What especially sets Mrs. Chairez apart, however, is the tremendous amount of care and commitment she has toward supporting her school’s families in need. With several refugee families enrolling at Carol Stream Elementary School, some of whom arrived with only a backpack full of their most precious belongings and no local system of support, Mrs. Chairez has taken it upon herself to advocate and provide for them in every way she can. Using her bilingual skills, she is able to form connections and uncover the unique stories and needs of the newcomer families. With this information in hand, at school she has helped to organize and stock a Needs Closet, managing staff donations that provide families with clothes and basic household items like sheets and blankets. On her own time, she has been known to bring families needed supplies, provide transportation for crucial trips to the grocery store, work to put them in contact with local resource organizations, and serve the critical role of translator and advocate in a number of situations. 

Mrs. Chairez’s actions make clear that the wellbeing of her school’s students, and by extension, their families, are at the heart of all she does. As one of the applications put it, “The students in this school… feel taken care of by Sonia. She understands that in order to access an education, students must first have their emotional and physical needs met.”

Recently, Superintendent Hill joined Principal Corinne McCabe to surprise Mrs. Chairez with the Distinguished Educator award, CCSD93’s peer-driven honor for which all staff members, regardless of position, are eligible. Employees are invited to nominate standout colleagues, and senior leaders judge nomination applications against a rubric to determine recipients. It’s the highest recognition a CCSD93 staff member can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Chairez!

Congratulations to Early Childhood Center head custodian Thomas Leary on being named one of five recipients of CCSD93’s 2023 Distinguished Educator award!

Mr. Leary was awarded for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve the needs of ECC students and staff. Watch as Mr. Leary is surprised by Superintendent Hill and Principal Santiemmo with the award!

Working with preschool students presents unique custodial circumstances. Whether retrieving balls errantly thrown into the pond near the school or over the fence, addressing restroom accidents, frequently cleaning and disinfecting all manners of surfaces and areas where the school’s little learners have made messes large and small, or performing other standard custodial duties, Mr. Leary always rises to the occasion with a smile on his face, a sense of humor and an eagerness to help.

But it’s the acts of kindness and care that Mr. Leary shows for his colleagues and the school’s children that are most noteworthy. He assists in walking students from their cars to their classrooms at arrival and directs traffic during dismissal. He proactively stocks classrooms with supplies as they’re delivered, anticipating needs to ensure the school day runs smoothly. He’s even been known to fix classroom furniture or change a coworker’s flat tire on his own time to help the school function better and brighten his colleagues’ days.

As stated in the application submitted on his behalf, “He is always willing to help… He is always there for us and our preschool families. Several of our students have said they want to grow up to be just like Mr. Tom.”

Recently, Superintendent Hill joined Principal Heather Santiemmo to surprise Mr. Leary with the Distinguished Educator award, CCSD93’s peer-driven honor for which all staff members, regardless of position, are eligible. Employees are invited to nominate standout colleagues, and senior leaders judge nomination applications against a rubric to determine recipients. It’s the highest recognition a CCSD93 staff member can receive. Congratulations, Mr. Leary!

Congratulations to Stratford Middle School 8th grade ELA teacher Nicole Thorsen on being named one of five recipients of CCSD93’s 2023 Distinguished Educator award!

Mrs. Thorsen earned the recognition for her tremendous commitment to Stratford’s students and staff and for giving so much of herself to make the school a more wonderful place. Watch as Mrs. Thorsen is surprised by Superintendent Hill and Interim Co-Principal Sharon Wysoglad with the award!

As an educator, Mrs. Thorsen has a unique ability to connect with all students, regardless of their circumstances, to ensure they are making exceptional growth each year. She advocates for students to ensure they have what they need to succeed. Mrs. Thorsen works to instill a love of reading in every single student, making it clear that if they don’t enjoy reading, it’s simply because they haven’t found the right book yet. Guiding the entire grade through book clubs, she makes it her mission to get the right book into the hands of each student. 

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Thorsen’s kindness, energy, leadership and organizational skills enable her to take on projects and activities that contribute greatly to a positive school atmosphere. She initiated the Stratford Giving Program, which uses donations from staff and community organizations to provide necessary resources and hundreds of holiday gifts to students and families in need. As the school’s Student Council chair, she helps to inspire tomorrow’s leaders and guides them to take on projects where they can develop their own voices and assist others in need. 

Mrs. Thorsen helped to found the Stallion Spirit Squad, which plans and organizes school wide celebrations like assemblies, talent shows and carnivals for students as well as birthday parties, showers and other uplifting social events for staff. She is active in planning 8th grade events like Awards Night and the class breakfast, field trip and dance. She even plans and chaperones an annual extracurricular trip to Washington DC for interested students to learn firsthand about the country’s history and branches of government. 

Her impact as an educator was summed up through one of the Distinguished Educator applications submitted on her behalf as follows, “She is the most involved educator I have ever had the privilege of working with… Nicole takes on everything she does with incredible enthusiasm, love and passion.  Her drive to do what is best for students is unparalleled.”

Recently, Superintendent Hill joined Interim Co-Principal Sharon Wysoglad to surprise Mrs. Thorsen with the Distinguished Educator award, CCSD93’s peer-driven honor for which all staff members, regardless of position, are eligible. Employees are invited to nominate standout colleagues, and senior leaders judge nomination applications against a rubric to determine recipients. It’s the highest recognition a CCSD93 staff member can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Thorsen!

Congratulations to Western Trails Elementary School EL paraprofessional Sue Rajan on being named one of five recipients of CCSD93’s 2023 Distinguished Educator award!

Mrs. Rajan was awarded for not only expertly performing her duties but for giving so much of herself to serve as a bridge between Western Trails families, the school and the greater community. Watch as Mrs. Rajan is surprised by Superintendent Hill and Principal Kueker with the award!

As a paraprofessional tasked with assisting English learners from all grade levels through speaking, listening, reading and writing lessons, Mrs. Rajan has an innate sense of what the children in her care require to be successful. With patience and kindness, she supports each student in order to maximize their academic experience while helping to ensure their social and emotional needs are met. Mrs. Rajan works with teachers to make sure that communication between home and school is consistent so that her families understand the needs of each child. She consistently greets students and colleagues with positivity and respect, always keeping children at the forefront.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Rajan truly goes above and beyond to support her students and their families. With great empathy for the obstacles they face, Mrs. Rajan gives her time and effort to aid families in improving their situations. After school hours, she tutors several students free of charge so that they can maintain a quality education. At all hours of the day on her own time, she acts as a liaison for families, advocating for their needs, connecting them appropriately with school processes and community resources, assisting in filling out paperwork or scheduling medical appointments, and serving as a translator for many. 

Mrs. Rajan’s devotion to the Western Trails community is obvious to those who spend time with her. As described in an application submitted on her behalf, “She inspires others to contribute whatever they can to making the work environment more pleasant for all… She is there for whatever our Western Trails families need.”

Recently, Superintendent Hill joined Principal Brett Kueker to surprise Mrs. Rajan with the Distinguished Educator award, CCSD93’s peer-driven honor for which all staff members, regardless of position, are eligible. Employees are invited to nominate standout colleagues, and senior leaders judge nomination applications against a rubric to determine recipients. It’s the highest recognition a CCSD93 staff member can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Rajan!

In the 2021-22 school year, CCSD93 received 18 nomination submissions for 15 individuals. The following five individuals were determined to meet the highest levels of the award’s criteria, being named CCSD93’s 2021-22 Distinguished Educators.

You’re invited to view this video of our Distinguished Educators being surprised with their recognition and review the following profiles drawn from the nomination submissions for each winner. CCSD93 is grateful for all that they do each day, and we are so pleased to recognize them as 2021-22 Distinguished Educators!

Jay Stream Middle School head custodian Mel Bautista has been awarded for his excellence and unique ability to connect with students.

Mr. Bautista is known for his dependability and trustworthiness in leading the Jay Stream custodial staff to maintain the school as an optimal learning environment for students and staff. He is extremely well organized, ensuring the school’s maintenance needs are addressed prior to becoming problematic and that setup for special events is always accurate. Mr. Bautista tackles unexpected issues that do arise expertly, efficiently and courteously. He communicates his high expectations clearly with his staff and devotes appropriate time to onboard new staff members so that they feel supported and prepared for their duties.

Mr. Bautista contributes to a positive school atmosphere in a manner above and beyond what would typically be expected of a head custodian by forming genuine connections with students. He greets them daily and converses with them in the lunchroom, actively listening and asking questions. When they share upcoming school events they are excited for, Mr. Bautista remembers to follow up and find out how they went. Thanks to his ability to forge relationships, he is able to respectfully guide students to follow school expectations. 

As shared in the application written on his behalf, “You can always count on a friendly greeting when you see him, and he is respectful to students and staff alike. His enthusiasm and kindness is absolutely contagious.”

Julie Filice, who works as a paraprofessional in the specialized academic classroom at Heritage Lakes Elementary School, has been awarded for her devotion to meeting the needs of students.

As a newcomer to the position in 2020-21, Mrs. Filice took the initiative to dive in and quickly understand the class’s students, including their unique disabilities and behaviors. On a daily basis, she works to ensure the students feel safe and respected, implementing best-practice strategies to successfully support their functional, behavioral and academic growth. 

To further foster her students’ education, Mrs. Filice has undergone the rigorous process to become certified as a Registered Behavior Technician. This national accreditation enables her to analyze the behavior of students in her classroom from a research-based lens and help to implement approaches that facilitate improved learning opportunities.

As a colleague, Mrs. Filice is always ready to lend a helping hand, share ideas or provide support. Her impact as an educator was summed up through the Distinguished Educator application submitted on her behalf as follows, “It is tough to come by people like Julie, who is determined to provide her knowledge, wisdom, patience, and selflessness to students every single day. She ensures students start fresh and move forward even on challenging moments and days.”

Cloverdale music teacher Lesley Klappauf has been awarded for fostering a love of music among her students thanks to her own passionate devotion to music.

In addition to her day job, Ms. Klappauf has started a drum club at Cloverdale, leads 2nd and 5th grade musicals, serves as a vocal worship leader for two churches, and consistently attends live music performances of all kinds ranging from orchestral to musical to operatic. She improves her teaching skills by participating in optional District-offered professional development, including independent study, LEAD courses, book studies, and earning a CCSD93 Personalized Learning Certificate. She also partakes in 3rd party music teaching professional development classes.

Ms. Klappauf thoroughly incorporates best practices like differentiation and goal setting into her instructional delivery and goes the extra mile for her students. Among her notable recent efforts were collecting donations and distributing hundreds of instrument kits to Cloverdale families during the 2020-21 school year so that students could have authentic instrument performance opportunities while learning remotely, and working to create a standardized process to help facilitate conversations between administrators and families wanting to opt out of music due to religious reasons.

Ms. Klappauf shares her knowledge by participating in a wide range of school and District committees and has played an integral role in the redesigning of the District’s music curriculum.

Her impact as an educator was summed up through the Distinguished Educator application submitted on her behalf as follows, “Ms. Klappauf has the ability to take a music concept and bring it to life in a way that every student in the classroom is engaged and excited about what they are learning.”

Jay Stream Middle School 6th grade English language arts teacher Ann Kolling has been awarded after earning a reputation as a revered and respected teacher who works to connect with and inspire her students, consistently hone her craft, and share her knowledge with colleagues.

Ms. Kolling jumps at the opportunity to help others, positively impacting her school environment and inspiring others to achieve. 

Whether by mentoring students during her lunch, aiding students in receiving materials during remote learning, staying late to support students participating in musicals and sporting events, assisting the school with office work, volunteering at vaccine clinics, coaching Unified sports, or serving on countless school and District committees, she demonstrates leadership through her selfless actions.

She meets others with kindness, compassion and loyalty and is always willing to share insights about instruction with colleagues. Her impact as an educator was summed up through one of the Distinguished Educator applications submitted on her behalf as follows, “Her heart is with her students. Ann works with each and every student, meets them exactly where they are and helps them move forward.” 

Roy DeShane paraprofessional Kerry Yuen has been awarded for giving her all to enable the school to run smoothly and help students maximize their potential.

The applications written on behalf of Mrs. Yuen highlight her unique ability to identify students' academic and social-emotional needs. She meets them with empathy and kindness, utilizing her mastery of content and curriculum and the appropriate implementation of supports to help students calmly and productively move forward in their educational experience. Employed as an EL paraprofessional to assist English learners, Mrs. Yuen takes on this role and more, pivoting to support classrooms in whatever way is most needed by the school. She stays current with research and best practices, taking optional CCSD93 professional development courses and participating in committee work. 

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Yuen does all of the “little things” to contribute to a positive school environment. She helps to prepare lists of bussed students to enable an orderly arrival and dismissal. She spends any spare moments she has helping to produce copies and other classroom materials or assisting in the school’s Innovation Center.  She is known to write notes of encouragement and praise to colleagues and share homemade baked goods, contributing greatly to staff camaraderie. She gives her lunchtime to meet with students in CCSD93’s Mentor program. Mrs. Yuen even dons the costume of Spike, the school mascot, to boost morale and celebrate student achievement. No matter the circumstance, as one of the applications written on her behalf sums it up, Mrs. Yuen “knows what needs to be done and does it well.”

Due to the remote and hybrid nature of the 2020-21 school year, the Distinguished Educator program was put on hiatius for this school year.

Congratulations to CCSD93’s inaugural Distinguished Educator Award winners! While all nominees were very deserving, the applications written by the peers of these four individuals stood a step above in meeting the highest levels of the award’s stringent criteria. While each application explored the nominee’s impact on students and their school in great depth, here are just a few highlights. Distinguished Educators are presented in alphabetical order.

Alex Bargamian - Bilingual/EL Teacher, Jay Stream Middle School

The application written for Alex Bargamian highlights that he “exhibits humble and modest leadership across all of his responsibilities, including his role as a bilingual/EL teacher, athletic coach, Tier 3 wraparound facilitator for families, and team member.” Known for his consistency, reliability, and involvement in extracurriculars and activities throughout the school, Alex’s ability to establish rapport with his students and encourage them to explore their talents and abilities “creates a school environment that promotes taking risks, working hard, productively handling failure, and being a team player both on and off the court.” His student-centered approach throughout his interactions with colleagues and students fosters “an inclusive, collaborative, and encouraging school environment.”

Mary Cyr - Speech-Language Pathologist, Western Trails School

The application written for Mary Cyr focuses on her skills as a knowledgeable, compassionate, and empathetic practitioner who “is without a doubt the hardest working educator [the nominators] have ever met. Her dedication to supporting students is contagious and she is a supportive presence in every meeting she attends.” A consummate partner with her school’s teachers, Mary seamlessly “incorporate[s] classroom learning goals, behavior expectations, units of study, and classroom themes into her daily speech lessons with students.” Mary is a flexible and reliable colleague who, in addition to her SST duties, is deeply involved with the school’s PBIS tier celebration committee. The best interests of students are at the heart of everything Mary does.

Shaqir Kelmendi - Head Custodian, Elsie Johnson School

The application written for Shaqir Kelmendi highlights not only his dedication to maintaining the building as an optimal learning environment for all students and staff members but also in contributing positively to the school’s atmosphere through interpersonal skills and connections. “Responsive to all needs, big and small, that come up throughout the building on a day to day basis,” Shaqir works passionately and with dedication to keep Elsie Johnson’s building running smoothly. With students, Shaqir is known as a problem solver who is “always willing to lend a hand to students in need, coming up with creative and fun ways to motivate them through difficult situations.” As a prime example of his dedication to students that goes above and beyond the call of duty, Shaqir goes so far as to connect daily with a student who particularly needs movement breaks and bring him to the lunchroom to assist in cleanup.

Jessica McGill - 1st Grade Teacher, Carol Stream School

The application written for Jessica McGill focuses on her dedication to all students as a collaborative lifelong learner who takes on and shares professional development opportunities throughout her building and with the district. In addition to her team, Jessica works with her school’s Instructional Coach and Innovation Media Specialist, serves on numerous school and district-level committees, has participated in CCSD93’s Independent Study program, has worked with Discovery Education to pilot innovative learning opportunities, regularly is involved with book studies and LEAD courses, teaches at STEM/Innovation Camp, and volunteers to help students at summer programs. This involvement and constant commitment to PD, combined with her organization skills and creativity, enables Jessica to provide “student-centered education by allowing students to make choices, believing in their ability to learn, and making learning fun.” She maintains a pulse on her students’ social and emotional needs, effectively employing best practices to personalize and differentiate instruction and manage student behavior, truly keeping students at the center of all she does.