Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | June 5, 2017 Mrs. Jeanne Duhan
Mrs. Jeanne Duhan is an outstanding music educator, a tireless advocate for children, and a kind person. In the past five years at K-Beach Elementary School, Mrs. Duhan has gone above and beyond expectations to meet the unique needs of her students. For example, recognizing the need for more structured music learning activities for students over the summer, Mrs. Duhan cofounded and directed the band of the Con Brio Music Camp for two years. She spearheaded the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District adoption of SmartMusic, which is an innovative software application used to provide band students with individualized feedback on their performance.
Under the guidance of Mrs. Duhan, the K-Beach Elementary band program expanded to include grades four through six, three levels of band instruction, and close to 70 students studying a band instrument. “Jeanne inspires a true love of music and band in her students,” said Kent Peterson, Soldotna High School music teacher. “In addition to performing as a full band, she features many of her students in small ensembles and solos. These soloists and ensembles are sometimes performing at a level that is equal to and beyond what would be expected in grades seven and eight.”
“Additional contributions to our district and the wider music education community include adjudicating at a number of regional and statewide festivals; serving as guest conductor of the Aurora Music Festival Mass Band; serving as a student teaching mentor, as well as an informal mentor to a number of early career teachers in our district; designing and leading a number of professional development programs for our district music teachers, including training in instrument repair, music technology, and band teaching methods; and opening an instrument repair business,” said Jonathan Dillon, Mountain View Elementary music teacher.
In addition to the band program, the students at K-Beach Elementary are not just performing music, but learning how to perform music. The fundamentals of becoming a good musician are taught throughout her classes and will benefit her students and the schools for many years to come. Outside of school, Mrs. Duhan maintains an active performance schedule, and plays the French horn with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, the Redoubt Chamber Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles; Bari saxophone with the Peninsula Jazz Band; and guitar and vocals with the band, Recess Duty. Being so active in the community through music offers inspiration to her students and families.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Jeanne Duhan for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Golden Apple recipients
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | March 6, 2017 Stephanie Young
“Miss Stephanie” Young is an exemplary community partner at Paul Banks Elementary School in Homer, Alaska.
The kids call her “Miss Stephanie,” and she cares deeply about the students and staff of Paul Banks Elementary, and the community of Homer. A skills trainer through The Center, Miss Stephanie has a firm but gentle way with her clients and the students she serves at Paul Banks. She is always kind while simultaneously providing rigorous support. She is one of those people who bring out the best in not only the students, but the adults around her. She is always positive and supportive. Miss Stephanie goes beyond normal expectations in many ways, for example, by donating her lunch hour to support a teacher meeting with a parent. She gives her clients extra attention because they really need it, and she lends a hand wherever it is needed.
Always willing to chip in, she invests her time training other skills trainers, and is very effective, and frequently called upon to provide guidance to other skills trainers. Paul Banks staff says, “We know that we have become better teachers and Paul Banks has become a better school from having her in the classrooms!”
Stephanie takes time to think things through, wants to brainstorm about what is working, and what might work for her often very difficult clients. Due to student confidentiality, we cannot share specific stories, however, staff members say, “She is always willing to meet, even on her own time and has excellent ideas to share. When things are not working, Stephanie stays patient and supportive of both the students and staff, and works together with us to find solutions.” Often staying after the school day, she will meet with students and teachers to better meet the needs of students. When she has down time from her work she supports other families in need, and provides support beyond her duties as a Skills Trainer on her own time, doing things such as helping to create manipulatives, activities, and schoolwide activities.
Outside of the school, Stephanie helps out with church activities and has been a foster parent. For many years, she helped with youth groups. Youth group is a place for kids to come together to sing, and to play sports and other recreational games. Through community service projects they make it a point to visit and sing at Long Term Care several times a quarter. She also helps with the Truth Seekers program.
The Paul Banks staff believes, “When we think about people that are truly good for kids and good for our schools, we think of people like ‘Miss Stephanie’ Young!”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize “Miss Stephanie” for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Links Click here to nominate a business, community member, volunteer, or KPBSD staff for Golden Apple recognition Golden Apple recipients
Ms. Laura Johnson is an exemplary volunteer at Cooper Landing School.
Once a week she volunteers to teach art to the kindergarten through eighth grade students at Cooper Landing School. “She consistently finds a way to engage the students of every grade level,” said Susanna LaRock, school secretary. “If a lesson plan is geared toward a specific age group, Laura will personalize it so that it becomes interesting for every student in our small school. Students learn art skills and to talk about art, with terms like perspective, realism, and abstract. Ms. Johnson takes pride in displaying the student’s art projects in the halls of the school and keeping the school looking beautiful, which in turn encourages the children to do the same. Every art project is mounted and displayed beautifully, and our school always looks colorful and bright.”
Last fall at Halloween time, Ms. Johnson decided that it would be fun for the kids to do a mural of Edvard Munch’s The Scream. She spent hours at home drawing the general outline of the painting in mural size and making it into sections so that each student could paint a section. Then she came into the school and taught the students about the background of the painting, and about the artist Edvard Munch. She also taught about paying attention to colors and shades, and then gave each student their section. Ms. Johnson chose sections for students, ranging in age 5 to 13, according to each student’s ability and strengths. The finished product was fantastic—16 students with varying abilities created one work of art together.
Throughout the school years, Laura notices which projects students find most interesting. She then locates other similar projects to build on their learned skills. When she notices that one student has a harder time following the directions, and thinks more outside the box, she sits down with that student and teaches them how to do the project their own way, but to keep within the parameters of the assignment. Students at Cooper Landing School learn art skills and to talk about art, with terms like abstract, realism, and perspective.
Ms. Johnson puts in countless volunteer hours making sets for the school’s Christmas play. It is common for her to spend an entire school day working on sets, and she finds ways to involve the students in the process to encourage pride and ownership of the sets. Last year, the older students helped to decorate and design the set for the production of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” When Laura realized that the younger students did not have much of an opportunity to participate, she invited each of them to decorate stockings to hang by the fireplace. This year she was even more determined to make sure that every student participated in the set design, so she created window scenes, and every student, in every grade, made items that were displayed in the windows.
Cooper Landing School is welcoming and bright because Ms. Johnson volunteers with her heart and spirit, making a difference for each child.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Laura Johnson for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Link Click here to nominate a business, community member, volunteer, or KPBSD staff for Golden Apple recognition
School website: Cooper Landing School Golden Apple recipients
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | December 5, 2016 Mr. Galen Brantley
Galen Brantley, coach and educator, has served the students and community of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District since “the dawn of time” or more accurately, since August 2002, when he began working in the KPBSD. Coaching a record of 97 wins and only 5 losses, is only a portion of what makes Mr. Brantley such a positive impact for our students and athletes. At the state level, his teams earn championships on the field, state academic awards for the highest division GPA, and sportsmanship awards.
Darren Jones said, “I’ll never forget the first away game my wife and I attended as “SoHi football parents” in Palmer. The JV and Varsity teams played on Friday evening, and the C-Team played the following day. My freshman son was kicking for the JV team. I noticed at half-time during the JV game, when the varsity players and coaches went to the locker room to prepare for the varsity game, that Coach Brantley stayed the entire second half, cheering up and down the sidelines, spending time with each player. Hugs, high-fives, pats on the back were generously given to all. He them repeated the process with the varsity team. The next morning, after sleeping on the gym floor, he was back on the field doing the same with the C-Team. He gets to know each students personally, and builds their self-esteem and self-worth.”
“I have watched Galen Brantley grow into a caring, yet demanding coach who understands his athletes and wants what is best for them while at the same time, expecting the best from them in their efforts,” said Heather Swanson.
“As a mother on the sidelines, I have witnessed a passion that Coach Brantley has for young athletes,” said Brandi Urban. “Our middle son needed structure and Coach Brantley’s football program has been a perfect fit for him all four years of school. He encourages his athletes to pursue college and has given our older son a love of football that we never saw coming. Hearing things from our boys that they do prior to games melts my heart as they all gather in prayer.”
Shelli Furlong said, “Coach Brantley has done so much more than coach both of my boys. In some of the most adverse situations he is able to reach out and share moments of support and courage when they needed it most. Coach Brantley has graciously led my boys to set goals and accomplish challenges both on and off the field with great determination and kindness.”
“Kids come and go but Galen and his staff remain constant,” said Tim and Kim Trammell. “During the 2014 year, many members of the team spent significant time in our home. These were no more than a bunch of goofy kids. However, all these carefree kids changed as soon as they walked into the football locker room where they became focused and disciplined on game day. It was an amazing transition. What we found most interesting was watching these same young men after they graduated. They have carried the discipline and motivation into their early adulthood. Many of these young men still contact Coach for advice and mentoring. Coach Brantley also encourages mentoring of past student athletes with players that are currently in the program. It was impressive to watch last year’s cornerback, linebacker, and tackle helping this year’s cornerback, linebacker, and tackle. We were literally watching them pass the torch.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. Galen Brantley, for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Link Facebook page: Soldotna Stars Football Golden Apple recipients
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | October 3, 2016 Mrs. Julieanne Super
Mrs. Julianne Super is a “super” volunteer in the classroom, with cocurricular activities, and school events. “I have the opportunity to work with many fantastic parents and community members who volunteer in our school, but one person stands out above the rest,” said Kari Dendurent, Homer Middle School principal. “I’ve have had the opportunity to know Julieanne over the past three years, as well as two of her children who have attended HMS. Julieanne has worked in so many areas of our school, faculty members each wanted to reflect about her volunteerism.”
Dan Calhoun, 8th grade math and algebra teacher says, “She is always so positive and cheerful. Julieanne has been volunteering in the Homer schools for the past twelve years. At Paul Banks Elementary School she performed many classroom duties and tasks. At West Homer Elementary she volunteered most of her time in the math classroom. At Homer Middle School, she volunteers in the math classroom as a tutor. She is reliable, consistent and great with students! I appreciate her clear, concise and accurate assistance for all students at all ability levels. In addition, she is willing and capable to do any task she is asked to assist with.”
Jen Booz, 8th grade science teacher and cross country running coach states, “She has volunteered for cross country for both years when her son, Andy, was here. She is always willing to do whatever is asked—no matter what. For our home meets, she often took on the role of volunteer coordinator since I couldn’t be with the students all of the time. She even ended up assigning jobs to parents who showed up to help. Julianne was able to run the finish line table, which is the most challenging job of the meet, and involves taking runners’ names and places, then matching them with their times. She also provided snacks for the runners and helped clean up after the meets.”
Amy Johnson, band teacher shares, “Julieanne has been a great help to the Homer Middle School Band program for the past five years. She comes in to help copy music and programs for all of our concerts, as well as helping to sort uniforms, music, and anything else as needed. She does the webcast for every single concert that Homer Middle School puts on.”
Nurse Janette states, “She will come and assist at the drop of a hat. She is amazing! She has helped with many health screenings and is always the first person I call. She even helps with picture day! Plus, Julieanne is the first person Marilyn, our school secretary, calls. And, ‘we fight over her.’”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mrs. Julieanne Super for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Link
Golden Apple recipient Coach David Thomas, and KMS MathCounts team
Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | April 4, 2016 Mr. David Thomas, Community Member
“In 2012, David Thomas, a parent of a Kenai Middle School student, approached administration and suggested that we add a MathCounts team to our school,” explained Vaughn Dosko, principal. “Not only did he suggest adding the team to our afterschool program but offered to head it up. From that day forward our program has grown in size and KMS students have been very successful in the state and national competitions. MathCounts began with a handful of kids and now we have a classroom full of kids and also fifth grade students from Mountain View Elementary arriving at KMS for math enrichment. The program meets weekly afterschool and sometimes more often when they are getting ready for a competition. Mr. Thomas has also met with kids during the summer months at the Kenai Public Library.”
Through countless hours of educating students to think differently about math, the Kenai Middle School MathCounts team has been very successful. Students who have a talent and passion for math are challenged, and meet other motivated students. Finishing first place in state competitions, the KMS team and individual competitors have also scored with numerous second place finishes. Accolades can be seen in the front display case at Kenai Middle School.
Coach David Thomas has dedicated his time to taking kids to levels of math that they would not have gotten to on their own. He has driven the KMS team all over the state to compete, including at competitions from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Additionally, he has taken students to national MathCounts competitions outside of Alaska.
KMS is a better place for the time and dedication that Mr. Thomas has invested in math students at Kenai Middle School.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. David Thomas for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Mr. David Thomas was nominated by Principal Vaughn Dosko, on behalf of Kenai Middle School. Link Golden Apple recipients Coach David Thomas quizzing KMS students to demonstrate their math skills at April 2016 school board meeting #golden
Golden Apple for Magpye’s Pizzeria, in Sterling, Alaska
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | April 4, 2016 Magpye’s Pizzeria, Business
In the Sterling community, there are many businesses that are strong supporters of Sterling Elementary School. For more than a decade Magpye’s Pizzeria has been supporting Sterling Elementary. A multi-generation, family-owned business, “Margaret “Maggie” Lupton and Jeffrey Clonts of Magpye’s Pizzeria offer constant, unquestioning generosity to our school,” said Principal Denise Kelly.
Many years ago, Sterling Elementary School established a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) system which continued to cultivate and focus on the students who demonstrate school wide expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe. Sterling Elementary celebrates students’ prosocial school behaviors with pompoms. Last year, Sterling Elementary started giving students a golden pompom for going above and beyond the school’s expectations, or showing an extraordinary random act of kindness. Students who earn the golden pompom have the opportunity to win a pizza party, and Magpye’s Pizzeria has been donating pizzas for golden pompom parties all year. Principal Kelly said, “There is never a question of why, rather questions of how many, and when do you need them? Magpye’s has donated pizzas to our Students of the Month prior to the golden pompom celebrations. Additionally, at the end of every school year, Magpye’s Pizzeria donates a free personal pizza to every student at Sterling Elementary to enjoy a meal with their family.”
Not only does Magpye’s Pizzeria provide for all 230 Sterling Elementary students, every so often, during lunch, a student will have a Magpye’s personal pizza box. When asked about it, students excitedly say, “It’s from Magpye’s!” James Graybeal says, “It makes me feel good when Mr. Jeffrey brings me a pizza. He’s my friend!” Mariah Carrasco received a pizza for her birthday and she said, “I like that they remembered me!” In talking with Ms. Lupton and Mr. Clonts about it, they will often say that they needed to do it for the kids. Even when no one asks, they just give!
Magpye’s Pizzeria has been in the Sterling community for many years. Sterling Elementary School is grateful for the support that Magpye’s Pizzeria shows to the school, and the love and dedication they show to the children of the Sterling community.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Magpye’s Pizzeria for dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Magpye’s Pizzeria was nominated by Principal Denise Kelly, on behalf of Sterling Elementary School Link Golden Apple recipients
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | April 4, 2016 Ms. Amy Hankins, Community Member
Ms. Amy Hankins consistently demonstrates deep support for the students of Seward schools. She has served on the Seward School Site Based Council and is currently serving as the Arts Chair on the board of the Seward Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA). In addition to serving on the PTA board, Amy generously offers her time and talents as the chair of the PTA’s Arts committee. This committee is charged with making the arts available to Seward area students. Last year, Amy spearheaded an 18 month effort to bring Jabali, an African dance troop, from Mombasa, Kenya, to Seward. She coordinated all aspects for this production, including fundraising, PR, ticket printing and sales, transportation and lodging, so that this cultural extravaganza could be enjoyed by the community of Seward and all three Seward schools, along with students from Connections Homeschool and Moose Pass School. This year she spearheaded Scrap Arts music to come to Seward in April 2016.
Amy also has a passion for technology. In 2013, Amy joined with two other staff members to lead a community-based computer programing club for youth aged nine to 18. The Seward Community Library and Museum generously hosts club meetings and activities. Amy’s work with this group eventually evolved into her work with Lego Robotics in the schools. Amy works with two Lego Robotics groups in Seward: one meets after-school and one meets during school.
The after-school Lego Robotics team, comprised of Seward Elementary and Seward Middle School students, and a homeschool student, met last year to learn to build and program Lego vehicles to perform specific tasks. Co-coach Leigh Ray said, “Amy leads the club by exuding enthusiasm for coding and robotics, which helps the kids get unstuck when the programming gets tough! She is becoming a very accomplished robotics programmer herself!” In 2015, the team competed in the first Lego League regional competition in Anchorage. They were then invited to return and compete in the state championship. At the end of the regional competition in Anchorage, Amy received the Coach Award for her excellence in coaching.
At Seward Elementary, Amy introduced Lego Robotics during the 2013-2014 school year. She worked with approximately 55 second grade students, teaching building and programing skills. This year, she has continued the program with the same students, who are now in third grade, as well as teaching it to all of the current second graders. Students enjoy the challenge of building and coding. Second grader Van Shank says, “It was fun programing the computers. Mrs. Hankins did a really good job.” In addition, Amy began training a teacher to continue the program as the current third graders move up a grade. “We value the way Amy looks for opportunities to enhance the education of all students in Seward through her ongoing dedication to the arts and technology,” said Principal David Kingsland.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Amy Hankins for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Ms. Rankin was nominated by Principal David Kingland, on behalf of Seward Elementary School. Link Golden Apple recipients Ms. Amy Hankins and Board Member Lynn Hohl
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award | March 7, 2016 Ms. Linda Brady, Educator
Ms. Linda Brady has been a dedicated employee for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for sixteen years—teaching at Nikolaevsk School, Ninilchik School, and currently, Chapman School. “She is exceptional in her position as a special education teacher at Chapman School and provides the school its cornerstone for building all other programs,” said Conrad Woodhead, principal. “Linda is an active leader on our staff, conducting aide meetings each Monday morning and participating in all of our I-Team and Data Day meetings. This is great, but what makes Linda so special isn’t her willingness to step up whenever she’s needed; what makes her exceptional is her ability to seemingly pull effort out of kids that they never knew they had. The students she works with achieve what was otherwise impossible. Simply put, Linda is good for kids.”
Linda is selfless in her devoted stewardship to students. When need presents itself, Linda, and her husband Gary, have housed students, given students rides home, and on occasion, helped them with clothing items. She’s a fan favorite amongst the student body, probably because she’s there whenever they need her. A little known fact about Linda is that she has spent her life savings on her classroom library. We’ve had to give the UPS driver her own parking space, as she never drives by our school without dropping off another scholastic book order box for Linda. Every day, students work in her classroom before and after school. She even eats lunch with kids.
Legend has it that Linda does not sleep. When she finally goes home at night, she simply cooks dinner, tucks in her devoted husband Gary, and returns to work. Her colleagues have given up trying to beat her to work. “On more than several occasions, I’ve woke up to the ding of an email from my phone, only to find that’s it’s another IEP reminder from Linda. Most people are still sleeping at 5:45 a.m. in the morning; she is sending emails,” said Mr. Woodhead. “Linda is modest about her hard work and dedication, and she is deeply appreciated. We recognize Linda for her steadfast dedication to our students, our school, our community, and our district.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Ms. Linda Brady for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Link Golden Apple recipients
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Golden Apple Award
December 7, 2015 Clayton Smith, Special Education Paraprofessional
Clayton Smith, Golden Apple recipient and school board member Sunni Hilts
Clayton Smith has been a motivating leader and dedicated teammate in the Homer High School (HHS) intensive needs classroom for 15 years. He is considered the team captain in the room, based both on his positive attitude and enthusiasm for his work, as well as his vast knowledge and experience in the classroom. Clayton has taken time to get to know each student he works with very well. His experience with them allows him to identify their individual needs, to voice ideas and ways to meet those needs and support the students in very specific and personal ways. Clayton’s many years working in the school with various classes and teachers has resulted in his being considered a jack of all trades. His student ‘toolbox’ is filled with strategies and methods that he uses based on the situation and need. Because of his vast knowledge of the students, school, and teachers, Clayton is incredibly flexible in his work. If a co-worker is absent, and a substitute is present, Clayton gladly adjusts his schedule to work with different students as needed. This flexibility is present in helping out team members as well. His knowledge base is critical in ensuring high quality supports for students in the school at all times. Clayton embraces the culture of inclusion at HHS, and finds creative ways to ensure students experience success and inclusion with peers daily. He wants all students to be a vibrant and vital part of the school community, and participate as fully as possible.
Clayton has been dedicated to KPBSD since 1992, when he first began as a custodian at McNeil Canyon School. He then worked as a paraprofessional at Homer Middle School for two years before transferring to Homer High School as a paraprofessional in 2002. In spite of his many years of work and commitment, Clayton continues to seek out new ways to learn and improve in his field. Clayton identifies areas of need in the team, and suggests topics that they would benefit from training in. He participates actively in trainings, and his newly learned approaches are seen incorporated into his daily work. He exemplifies the ideals of a lifelong learner.
Clayton engages in outreach within the school regularly. He gets to know students in the school outside of the intensive needs classroom, and makes great efforts to connect with all students in HHS. Clayton is known for his birthday greetings; he somehow knows the birthdays of every student in the school, and on their birthday, he seeks each one out and gives them a personal birthday greeting. This desire to connect with every student in the building, and willingness to take the time out of his very busy days to recognize and make a student feel connected and noticed exemplifies his approach to his work, going above and beyond his regular duties daily. He also helps in the development and implementation of school traditions. Annually for three years and counting, Clayton has served as the school host for a Thanksgiving lunch, providing a warm, home-cooked meal to students who have participated in or helped with activities in the intensive needs classroom, or worked individually with students in the room. This dinner is highly attended and valued; last year over 50 students came to eat together and be recognized for their efforts.
In addition to all his efforts connecting with students during the school day, Clayton has also been very involved with extracurricular events in the school. He has volunteered for the track team for 15 years, and was a girls’ basketball JV coach for five years. Clayton uses his knowledge of athletic activities and his coaching skills to identify creative ways for general education students to aid intensive needs students, in order to include them more in the school setting. An example of this is his development of Paired Pairs in athletic activities. Clayton helped pair general education students to play next to an intensive needs student during an athletic activity; the general education student provides assistance both in showing the rules of the game, or what to do, as well as modeling the physical skills and actions necessary. Annually in the fall and spring, Clayton runs a tennis activity at the end of the day during the school Focus on Learning block, encouraging a general education student to play alongside students with intensive needs. This activity has been wildly successful; many students ask to participate in this venture. Last spring over 30 students participated in this weekly event.
Another example of this was when Clayton used his track knowledge to help discuss and initiate the development of a possible unified track team. Using his coaching knowledge and skill set, Clayton began advocating that a student he was working with may be successful in a school-based team such as track or cross country. Through Clayton’s encouragement and knowledge, skills were taught to prepare this student slowly to possibly join the team. The student then began participating in running events over the summer. With the help of many adults, including the teacher, the cross country coach, and parents, school athletic director, the student joined the cross country team this fall, participating in practices, and even running in meets and regionals. At the awards banquet at the end of the season, he was recognized with an award for having the courage to start the race. Clayton’s skill at noticing student strengths and building on them was the foundation for this student experiencing this success.
Clayton has used his experience as first mate on the Predator to help in the school setting. He helped shape the Homer Marine Trades Association Focus on Learning series at HHS, which introduces students to specific marine trades based in Homer. Clayton spoke with students about the opportunity, offered to contact individuals to present, attended presentations, and offered guidance in material to be presented. His passion for all students in the school setting shines in many more acts throughout his many years working at HHS.
Clayton exemplifies outstanding personal dedication and commitment to the school community that he serves. He is a devoted grandpa, dad, husband, teacher, teammate, and friend. He uses his knowledge and experiences to help shape all students as they learn and grow. He shares in the learning journey with his classroom team. His hard work ethic that is utilized as he serves as first mate on the Predator, also is exemplified daily at school with students. Clayton is grounded, salt-of-the earth, with a big heart that shows when he is overcome with emotion when students make small gains as well as epic milestones. Clayton shows students that he won’t give up on them, and they in turn make efforts to grow and to prove him right.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. Clayton Smith for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future. Links
