Tag: Golden Apple award

Ms. Margaret Griffin awarded Golden Apple

Ms. Margaret Griffin, Soldotna High School
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | June 1, 2020

Ms. Margaret Griffin has been working in the education field for twenty-four years. She began teaching English, then earned her Master of Arts degree in School Counseling, moved to Soldotna, Alaska, and has been a school counselor for seventeen years, twelve of which were in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

“Margaret is one of the hardest working, most capable people that I have ever met. Her ability to pay attention to details, plan college and career trips, and parent nights is unbelievable. She has worked diligently to utilize different social media and advertising to get the word out about the events the Soldotna High School Counseling Department hosts. She managed to advertise our Postsecondary Planning night so well, that we had over 130 people in attendance. Her work ethic shines through on every task she takes on. She works through schedule changes until 11:00 p.m. at night, ensuring all of her students have schedules that work for them. On weekends, she can be found writing letters of recommendation, and making sure all the tasks are ready for the upcoming week. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) established RAMP to promote exemplary school counseling programs—and Margaret was instrumental for Soldotna High School to receive the national RAMP award! She put in 80 plus hours outside of data collection at school in order to create the RAMP application, awarded to Soldotna High School in 2018. She planned the schedule to work towards RAMP, and without her hard work and push to make Soldotna High School a nationally Recognized ASCA Model Program, it would not have happened.”

–Megan Murphy, Golden Apple nominator

Besides her incredible work ethic, Margaret is described as an incredible advocate for staff, students and parents. Nominator Megan Murphy writes, “I have witnessed Margaret take at risk students shopping to Fred Meyers to let them get needed items. Her advocacy extends to parents, staff, and students. She is someone the staff feels comfortable coming to with information they are not comfortable handling, or something they want to vent or share with her. Margaret knows how to listen and hear all sides. She is never someone to jump to a conclusion or make a judgement based on what she hears. When we debrief, her continual ability to talk through situations and see the whole picture is amazing. She provides a whole world sense when she talks with students, parents, and staff. She is able to talk to people where they are at in their lives, without making judgement, and provide support. Not every school counselor has this ability, and it is inspiring how much support and advocacy Margaret can provide, in such a well­ rounded manner.”

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Margaret Griffin for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

Mrs. Sharon Hale awarded Golden Apple

Mrs. Sharon Hale, Redoubt Elementary School
Golden Apple Award | June 1, 2020
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

“Mrs. Sharon Hale is an incomparable human who goes beyond her duties as if there were no other option,” said nominator Stephanie Belger. “She is the librarian aide at Redoubt Elementary, and the whole community knows her as much more. My own children remember Mrs. Hale as the one who ‘always made us tie our shoes and dresses up as Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat.’ She is known for many activities in our school that are developed, continued, and spearheaded by her. A part-time employee, she is constantly seen working over than weekend and later than many other staff because she cares about our school. She helps children connect with books so they can learn to love reading. She encourages every aspect of reading support—even with the teachers!”

Throughout the years Mrs. Hale has run the Scholastic Book Fair, the Sunshine Committee, the annual Walk Your Child to School activity, the school-wide fundraiser, the math and science night, family night activities throughout the year, the bike rodeo, and the Dr. Seuss and Love of Reading month.

This all is a tremendous feat but it is still shy of the whole picture. She reaches out to peers, students, and the community with even more passion. Mrs. Hale can always be found giving individuals what they need before they even know what they need! At every staff departure there is a special Mrs. Hale handmade gift. In addition, there is always one for new coming baby “Roadrunners” as well. She never misses an opportunity to help students with Forensics, Geo-Bee, Spelling Bee, and is known to spot children with books, games, and anything that will encourage them out of her own pocket. She is a substitute and jumps in for the other half of the day as much as possible when teachers are in need at a moment’s notice. Mrs. Hale loves helping others, even to helping student learn how to sew in Friday electives. Students can learn this wonderful trade and, staff call upon her on weekends to help with t-shirt quilts. She immediately gives of her time to assist with all the knowledge she has, and with her presence. Her outreach to the community is also long lasting. She has given decades to the CES fire family as a wife to a fire chief, stiches of love community projects, and Oiler’s baseball.

Mrs. Sharon Hale has been working in our school district since 1997, however she began volunteering at Redoubt Elementary in 1991. She has impacted the Redoubt community officially for 23 years and unofficially for 29. By the count, she has positively supported over thirteen thousand students, hundreds of teachers, and several administrators. Her leadership, service, and remarkable contributions to everyone will forever be remembered. In the words of the current administrator, Principal Bill Withrow, “When you look at the heartbeat and pulse of our school, Sharon Hale’s name is in all of it.”

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Sharon Hale for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

The Honorable Representative Paul Seaton awarded Golden Apple

2019-09 Paul Seaton Golden Apple.pptx

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
The Honorable Paul Seaton, Alaska House of Representatives
Golden Apple Award | September 9, 2019

Golden Apple nominator Sean Dusek said, “It is with great pleasure that I nominate Paul Seaton for a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award for his tireless support of public education in Alaska.” The Honorable Paul Seaton, Alaska House of Representatives, is a long-time Kenai Peninsula Borough resident, a successful businessperson, and public servant. He served as a leader in the Homer community before serving as a State Representative from 2003-2018. His time in the State House of Representatives culminated as the House Finance Co-Chair where he led Alaska in its strong support of public education during a critical time in the history of this state.
Representative Seaton took great risk to do what was right and serve all Alaskans, especially those who could not necessarily speak for themselves—our children. Former Superintendent of Schools Dusek said, “He protected public education throughout his legislative career and consistently expected better results, innovative practices, and a high return on investment. By championing adequate funding with high expectations, our district worked hard to deliver, and I believe he is quite proud of our results, current students, and graduates. With his leadership, personal technology has engaged students from Chapman to Nanwalek. Data shows this engagement led to higher student achievement as well as increased attendance.”
Representative Seaton made a tremendous difference in the lives of the students in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. He championed a healthy life style—especially with Vitamin D, a safe and supportive school environment, an engaging and innovative instructional environment, and a fully funded public school system. This has made the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District one of the best districts in Alaska and we thank him for all he has done and hope he continues to be actively engaged with our schools.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize the Honorable Paul Seaton, Alaska House of Representatives, for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

Nurse Tracy Silta awarded Golden Apple

      Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | July 9, 2018
Mrs. Tracy SiltaGolden Apple FY18 Tracy Silta 1

“Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Nurse Tracy Silta demonstrates on a daily basis all of the personal and professional qualities of an efficacious school nurse for students,” wrote nominator James Knoebel, Special Education Department Chair, Soldotna High School. “She embodies what a school nurse and role model should be.” Since 2002, Nurse Tracy Silta has been optimizing students’ health. She is in a critical role that makes certain Soldotna High School students are safe, healthy, and ready to learn. Her open door policy and the judgement-free space she creates exemplifies her commitment to students. Tracy makes her office a place where any student or staff member can go to for words of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or even a cup of tea.
Passionate about her job, every day she strives to be the best school nurse within Alaska. Mr. Knobel explains,

“Her commitment to her job shows through what she does on a daily basis with students along with the additional responsibilities she takes on outside of the daily nursing duties. She has led first aid trainings for several years, creating a collaborative environment in which staff members obtain the tools needed to be competent and prepared first responders. Our readiness to be able to act appropriately in emergencies is a true credit to Tracy’s teaching style and innovative approach to this training. Even with a large group of adults, she finds ways to allow us to connect with the material, while also providing us time to feel comfortable activating emergency protocols and providing care in various scenarios.”

Focus On Learning (FOL)
Two years ago, she spearheaded the creation of yoga FOL time. Noticing that Soldotna High School had a need for enrichment opportunities during the last 30 minutes of the school day, Tracy was able to respond to this need by coordinating with Lisa Wells, a support staff and certified yoga instructor, and James Knobel to run a yoga group four days a week. This FOL provided students with a perfect way to find relief from their stressful day, reduce anxiety, increase flexibility, boost their emotional health, and promote personal vitality.
Intensive Needs Special Education
Soldotna High School houses the largest secondary Intensive Needs Special Education department in the district, and the success in meeting all of the students’ medical needs is in good hands with Nurse Tracy. Her compassion comes through in every interaction she has with students. Preserving student dignity is at the forefront of everything Tracy does for our medically fragile population. She is one of the strongest advocates these students have within the school. “I have been fortunate to collaborate with her on various medical protocols, and the knowledge she imparts in these plans allows parents to feel comfortable and assured that at Soldotna High School their child has access to a responsive nurse and a prepared support team,” said Mr. Knobel. “The appreciation parents have for these detailed plans is frequently communicated to the Individual Education Program (IEP) team and case managers.”
Cinderella’s Closet
Over the last three years, during her own time, Tracy has been a member of a small group that run Cinderella’s Closet. This program provides all students within the district a chance to find a dress that will allow them to experience the magic of a memorable homecoming or prom. Through Cinderella’s Closet, Nurse Tracy’s scope of contribution has been seen as north as Nikiski to as far south as Homer. Megan Murphy, a counselor at Soldotna High said, “Tracy is able to make every student that is seeking out a dress feel beautiful, special, and important. As they seek out that dress, Tracy always makes sure they leave with a smile on their face.”
The connections Nurse Silta creates are often the catalyst that lead to students being able to overcome the obstacles to obtain a diploma that often feels unattainable. Her responsiveness, innovation, and scope of contribution is commendable. Principal Tony Graham said,

“I made Tracy part of our intervention team. She has keen insight and acute awareness of what students go through. The bottom line is that kids know how much she cares by her actions. They want more of what she is giving: love.”

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Tracy Silta for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Mrs. Tracy Silta Golden Apple certificate

Golden Apple FY18 Tracy Silta 2

Ms. Shanette Wik receives Golden Apple award

shanette-wik-golden-apple

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award | December 5, 2016
Ms. Shanette Wik, Community Member

Ms. Shanette Wik, unit director of the Nikiski Boys and Girls Club, definitely goes “above and beyond” in her service to youth. In fact, say the students and staff of Nikiski North State Elementary, Ms. Wik may be described as having gone “above, beyond, and upside down to selflessly meet the needs of Nikiski North Star students.”
Ms. Wik has served as the unit director for the Nikiski clubhouse since 2003, and during that time the program has expanded and flourished. A typical day brings 100 students to the clubhouse and in the summer of 2016, they had the highest attendance ever recorded. “Shanette attracts many Nikiski North Star employees to work for the clubhouse which provides a tremendous continuity of service and instruction to our students,” said Margaret Gilman, Nikiski North Star Elementary principal.
Under her leadership, there is a tremendous sense of cooperation between Boys and Girls Club and Nikiski North Star. Boys and Girls Club provides support for Family Science Night, Love of Reading night, and this past summer they took on the additional task of being the summer caretakers for the Nikiski North Star garden. Ms. Wik also provides assistance with academics for students. She worked with the teachers and was instrumental in requesting funding for Reflex Math which is used consistently as a means of improving math facts computation at Nikiski North Star and Boys and Girls Club.
Shanette Wik is keenly aware of the needs in the Nikiski community. She can always be relied upon to help families who need assistance with food, and is always trying to find ways to assist students who might need help with basic needs. She implemented a fruit and vegetable snack program as well as a supper program at the clubhouse. This provides an opportunity for the kids to have a nourishing snack before they start their after school programming, and the dinner helps those students whose families may need more assistance.
Principal Gilman said: “We are so fortunate at Nikiski North Star Elementary to have a person who demonstrates such caring, kindness, respect and leadership skills. Her work with the Nikiski Boys and Girls Club will provide lasting benefit to our students.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Shanette Wik for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Links
Facebook page: Nikiski North Star Elementary
Facebook page: Boys & Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula
Golden Apple recipients

Volunteer Lisa Green receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award
November 2, 2015
Lisa Green, Volunteer

Mrs. Lisa Green and Superintendent Sean Dusek
Mrs. Lisa Green and Superintendent Sean Dusek

“If it needs done, Lisa Green is there to do it,” said Doug Hayman, Tustumena Elementary School principal. “She does it with style, thoroughness, and the upmost attention to detail. A room parent and “Miss Lisa” to the students, she goes on every field trip with her children. Her level of commitment and involvement is unmeasurable. She is in our building at least one full day each week, but the work she gets done in that day exceeds anything one would normally expect. Her leadership is also appreciated. She recruits other parents for school events and field trips as well. She was instrumental in the completion of our school garden including the planting, and now harvesting, of our first crop of potatoes. Mrs. Green is always willing to work with small groups of children whether it is on a project or remedial instruction.”
Mrs. Lisa Green volunteers at Tustumena Elementary nearly every day she has off from her regular work at Cadre Feed Store. Even when she is working at her regular job, she is functioning as a liaison between the school and the business community, gathering donations or arranging discounts for projects around the school. She has been a part of every PTO function or activity in the last seven years.
In addition to the PTO events, Mrs. Green helps every teacher—in any capacity that is requested. It doesn’t matter if one of her children is in the classroom, she will laminate, prepare materials, make take-home booklets, tear out workbook pages, label supplies, and she makes extravagant bulletin boards throughout the school. She runs our Box Top store, organizes bake sales—including large contributions to the sales—and solicits items for the school Harvest Auction fundraiser.
Lisa Green also takes on initiative projects. She has been the point person on professional development with our Vari-Quest machine (a fancy die-cut machine), and worked on our Schoolyard Habitat Project. She has taken the initiative to clean out and organize the school workroom, as well as contact a company representative when the Vari-quest machine was in need of repair.
Without doubt, Mrs. Green’s service to Tustumena Elementary has benefited every member of the school community. From students, to teachers, from parents, to administration, Lisa Green is a go-to person and a value-add to the community.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Lisa Green for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Links

Lisa Green and Tustumena Elementary staff, school board meeting
Lisa Green and Tustumena Elementary staff, school board meeting

Librarian Lisa Whip receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Golden Apple Award | February 2, 2015
Lisa Whip, School Librarian

West Homer Elementary librarian Lisa Whip awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education
West Homer Elementary librarian Lisa Whip awarded Golden Apple by KPBSD Board of Education

 

“The moment when a student of any level or age discovers a book that they are passionate about is the most exciting part of my job as a librarian. At that point the student’s desire to read unlocks the world of books and for the first time they understand why other people read for pleasure. They become voracious readers. There is no stopping them!” – Lisa Whip

“Over the past eleven years, Mrs. Lisa Whip has turned the West Homer Elementary library into the heart and soul of our school, where students flock to find new books to read and sources for research projects, as well as a place to find a supportive ear and safe place to relax,” said Lyn Maslow, educator. “Teachers go to the library to find materials to support curriculum, scour the professional library that Mrs. Whip has developed, and find the latest cool book or series that was purchased.”
Mrs. Whip’s specialty is finding a magic book or series that switches a reluctant reader into an independent reader who keeps coming back for more. She has many strategies that help students become lifelong readers.
Mrs. Whip helps support innovative school programs. For example, when the school developed a nature trail, Mrs. Whip gathered resources and books that would support the science activities that would take place along the trail. She helped preserve and house a herbarium that the students created from the trail. When the school planted a garden, she put together a gardening section for the library. She has been an integral part of schoolwide programs such as Battle of Books, Book Fair, and Readathon.
Mrs. Whip implemented the Scholastic Lexile measure system Reading Counts into the library so that students would have school wide access to determine their Lexile levels—which led to students reading books on just the right level. She then helped students set goals for their reading, and a means to achieve those goals. The program has raised the number of books students read in order to meet personal goals. To accomplish this, she solicited funds, and coordinated volunteers from staff and the local Rotary Club to spend weekends Lexile formatting books. She coordinates two successful book fairs every year which draw many people from the community, and has evening book nights. Additionally, she has an ongoing book swap at a designated spot outside of the library, so students can exchange personal books for new ones.
Mrs. Whip works collaboratively with the children’s librarian at the Homer Public Library to increase the technology component of the West Homer Elementary library. This helps develop the role of technology in both the school and community libraries. “She procured funds to purchase iPads for each teacher in the school,” said Maslow. “And over the past two years we have been sharing different apps that are beneficial for our students.”
A tireless advocate for all students and teachers, Mrs. Whip has taken professional development classes with teachers, and then added resources from the classes to the professional library at the school. Over the past three summers, several educators participated in the Writing Institute at the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, in New York City. During the institute, Mrs. Whip collected recommended mentor texts that teachers could use in their language arts curriculum. The students would not be the successful student readers, nor West Homer Elementary be a Blue Ribbon School, without her passion for literacy.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Lisa Whip for her dedication to the students of the school district—past, present, and future.

Lisa Whip, school librarian
Lisa Whip, school librarian

Addressing the  school board and  meeting attendees, Lisa Whip said, “Now I would like to let you in on a little secret. Every day I get to West Homer really early in the morning and walk through the silent halls to the library. When I open the door to the 25,000 books waiting for me on the shelves, I say out loud Good morning West Homer Library—you are awesome! and in the same breath I whisper Thank you IT Team* for without you keeping the library systems whirring and programs running the library would come to a screeching halt! …There is a brilliance hidden in every one of us waiting to be discovered. As a librarian, I support each child in finding their brilliance through books that are just right for them.”
*Information Technology
Golden Apple Awards
The Board of Education bestows Golden Apple Awards to school district employees, volunteers, and community organizations that go to extra lengths to support and advance education. Recipients are honored at a school board meeting with a proclamation and an engraved apple award. District employees, parents, school board members, volunteers, and community members are eligible to make nominations for the award. Complete a nomination form, write a letter of nomination explaining why you believe the nominee is deserving of special recognition. Click for additional information.
Links
Golden Apple information and nomination form
Past Golden Apple Award Recipients