Tag: Golden Apple

Educator Patrick Dwyer receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Golden Apple Award
November 2, 2015
Patrick Dwyer, Educator

Golden Apple recipient Patrick Dwyer, and Skyview Middle School staff
Golden Apple recipient Patrick Dwyer, and Skyview Middle School staff

“Mr. Patrick Dwyer is a positive educator who builds rapport with students and goes beyond the scope of his teaching duties when working with students,” said Sarge Truesdell, Skyview Middle School principal. “He is an innovator in the classroom as well as in his duties as our athletic director and head track coach. He has been teaching science at the middle school for the past nine years. A positive staff member, he mentors young teachers and is creative when working toward complex problems in our large building of over 400 students, and more than 50 staff members.”
In 2012, Mr. Dwyer co-created a sixth grade transition program for incoming students to the middle school. As a seventh grade science teacher, he recognized the challenges that incoming students had when transitioning from elementary school to middle school. The summer program has continued to grow serving over 20 students a year, despite shrinking resources. In the four years since Mr. Dwyer helped to create the program, it has served nearly 100 students. Mr. Dwyer has been able to work alongside one of his colleagues to continue to be responsive to the need of students despite limited time and funding.
An innovator, Mr. Dwyer not only developed the middle school transition program, but he has contributed on several district and statewide committees. This past summer he was part of a district-wide science collaboration that worked well into the summer break to find resources that matched the KPBSD science curriculum. Mr. Dwyer is a highly organized person and during his five years as the athletic director, he has put policies and procedures in place to make the athletic department more efficient. When Soldotna Middle School relocated and transitioned to become Skyview Middle School, he successfully transitioned the entire athletic department—including all the equipment and ordering of new uniforms. The ordering of uniforms was a daunting task as it required sizing, quotes, colors, numbers, and funding for every sport offered at the middle school.
Mr. Dwyer has his administrative degree and is the first person to volunteer to substitute in the office when the principal and vice principal are out of the building. Additionally, he has substituted in other KPBSD schools when an administrative substitute was not available. As a substitute principal, Mr. Dwyer can handle any situation that arises, keeps parents informed, and holds students accountable. “Mr. Dwyer is a work horse—he puts in the time that most other educators are just unwilling to put in,” said Sarge Truesdell. “His vehicle can be found in the parking lot early in the morning and late at night. He can be seen setting up cross country running events, putting the flags on the soccer field, and rolling out the scorer’s table for basketball games all throughout our athletic seasons. He does all of that while still planning and preparing for a full six class period day with multiple age and grade science classes. He demonstrates on a daily basis all of the personal and professional qualities of a powerful and dedicated educator.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mr. Patrick Dwyer for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Links

Nadejda Reutov receives Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Golden Apple Award | November 3, 2014
Nadejda Reutov, Support Staff

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Golden Apple Award | November 3, 2014 Nadejda Reutov, Voznesenka School Custodian

“Nadejda Reutov is a custodian who is dedicated to her job and the Voznesenka School. Her eight and a half years of exceptional service have made our school a welcoming place for students, staff and visitors,” said Michael Wojciak, school principal.
Nadejda has a “do what it takes” type of attitude and often goes above and beyond her job duties for our school. Essential responsibilities include cleaning, maintenance, safety and security, and teamwork. Not only does Nadejda excel at her job duties, she is also an effective communicator with a pleasant personality. She greets students and staff in the hallways and passing between buildings. As a result, she has gained the respect of the students. This is evident by their attention and reaction to her voiced concerns about the upkeep of the school. Furthermore, Nadejda communicates with her colleagues throughout the school on a daily basis. She pays attention to details and puts forth her best efforts to fulfill any requests. She rarely misses a Site Council meeting, and is always willing to be open and honest about the issues involving the school.
When Nadejda does need to be away she never leaves it up to the school to find a substitute, and takes care of this on her own. She makes sure the substitute has the necessary keys and everything is prepared at school to make a substitute’s work as easy as possible. Nadejda is also a kind donor and volunteer to Voznesenka School. She often brings homemade goodies to share with staff, she donates to school programs like consumer science, and she and her husband help with repairs when needed.
Principal Wojciak said, “Nadejda Reutov’s personal pride is visible within our school, she pours her passion into every aspect of her job. She never complains about her responsibilities, is understanding in regard to school activities, and takes initiative without needing direction. Nadejda has an incomparable work ethic and is an invaluable member of the Voznesenka staff and school culture.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Nadejda Reutov for her dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.

Central Peninsula Hospital receives KPBSD Golden Apple award

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

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Golden Apple Award | August 4, 2014
Central Peninsula Hospital, Community Partner

KPBSD recognizes the dedication and contribution Central Peninsula Hospital makes with their commitment and partnership as the host business for the Central Peninsula Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is an intensive internship program for eighteen to twenty-two year olds, with disabilities, to learn targeted job skills in order to successfully apply for and earn a job within the community. In order to be successful, the host business must understand the requirements of the program and the needs of the young adults. The hospital staff is not only understanding of these aspects, but they are dedicated to helping the interns to learn job skills. It all starts at the top with the directors of the departments taking a risk to have an intern work within their department. From there, the departments’ job mentors dedicate their time to ensuring success for all. In addition, every member of the hospital staff who interacts positively with interns and provides feedback to assist their learning is a part of their success.
Hospital staff who participate with the program, as a director or job mentor, have dedicated countless hours to these young adults. Not only are the job mentors performing the duties of their own jobs within the hospital, but they are essentially training a new employee three times a year, collaborating with KPBSD teaching staff, and mentoring young minds! The department directors and job mentors know and care for the interns by the end of their fully immersed ten week rotation. They are involved in the Open House at the beginning of the year, and the completion ceremony at the end of the year. They are with the interns every day helping them to become honest, hard-working citizens.
Evidence of the success of the hospital staff is the fact that for the past two school years the program has been in operation, 100% of interns successfully applied for and received positions within the community–two of whom have remained working for Central Peninsula Hospital! The hospital staff has consistently provided strong support, dedication, and contributions to the learning of KPBSD interns. Without their support, the central peninsula would not have a Project SEARCH program.
Specific members of the Central Peninsula Hospital staff who have taken these steps and risks with Project SEARCH include:

  • Mr. Rick Davis, CEO: Mr. Davis took the risk of starting this program and partnership.
  • Mr. John Dodd, Vice President of Human Resources has been an advisory committee member and part of the planning process for two years prior to the start of the program during the 2012-2013 school year. Mr. Dodd has provided guidance and structure for the committee and the interns.
  • Mr. Jim Childers, Business Liaison just completed his first year with Project SEARCH. His motivation, dedication and desire to help the interns is infectious! He is truly a valued member of the Project SEARCH team.
  • Craig Ashley, Patty Brantley, Shanda Hall, Sean Harris, Cindi Irwin, Jeff McGee, Shayne Pond, Kristie Sellers, and Alan Thye are the department directors who have dedicated staff within their departments to work with the interns. These directors know the time it takes to train an effective employee and have provided the resources for Project SEARCH.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Central Peninsula Hospital for their dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Link: Golden Apple certificate

Project GRAD Mike Petersen receives Golden Apple award

Golden Apple awarded to Mike Petersen, Project GRAD, and students from the 2014 Summer Institute surprise Mr. Petersen at the school board meeting!
Golden Apple awarded to Mike Petersen, Project GRAD, and students from the 2014 Summer Institute surprise Mr. Petersen at the school board meeting!

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District 

Golden Apple Award | June 2, 2014

Mike Petersen, Community Member

Mike Petersen’s contribution to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District students started in 2004, when he moved from Saipan International School to Homer, Alaska. A math and literacy coach with Project GRAD Kenai, he began by serving our schools in Nanwalek and Port Graham.
Mike was interviewed and hired over the Internet, and flew directly from his former position to Houston, Texas, to meet his new Project GRAD team and receive training. Rita Pfenninger, a former Project Grad coach, recalls that when the Kenai team waited in the hotel lobby to meet Mike, they watched the door and wondered if he would arrive suited and formal like many of the gentlemen entering the lobby. When Mike arrived they knew immediately that he would fit in well with the team due to his open, friendly, and casual manner.
Working as a Project GRAD Coach from 2004 – 2011, in order to assist staff to determine school needs, Mike provided his schools, and Project GRAD, with detailed data reports. According to Mike Sellers, former principal at Nanwalek School, “Mike’s strong suit is his ability to give you exactly the information you need to make good decisions. Mike could provide any data you needed.” Jamie Meyers, former Project GRAD coach reports, “Mike is a data person, always crunching numbers to get a better picture.”
In addition to data collection, Mike provided school staff with professional development based on best practices; he actively modeled lessons and consistently provided instructional support. As a coach, each  week he flew to Nanwalek and Port Graham where the chances of being weathered in can be a very real problem. Mike was never afraid of what the weather might do. Once in the village he didn’t watch the weather, but focused on the job. He always arrived with a back pack ready to extend his stay if necessary.
Project GRAD hosts an annual summer institute for two weeks in June. The Institute provides Project GRAD students an opportunity to work together in teams and earn high school credit. From the beginning, Mike has been instrumental in both organizing and facilitating summer institutes. Mike facilitates courses such as orienteering and Kayak or Yurt construction, and students put to use math concepts such as measurement or angles to complete projects.
In 2011, Mike moved from his coaching position to become the Project GRAD Kenai Executive Director. In this position Mike provides professional development to his team of coaches, works closely with the Project GRAD board, and continues to build strong community support for the Project GRAD program. He works collaboratively with KPBSD directors, administrators, and staff to continue the development of support systems to ensure student success for all KPBSD students.
Mike consistently provides strong, respectful leadership to his team and to Project GRAD schools located  in Nanwalek, Ninilchik, Nikolaevsk, Port Graham, Razdolna, Tebughna, and Voznesenka. He is well respected among his peers and the students with whom he works. He takes to heart the Project GRAD goal that “Graduation really achieves dreams.”
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education is proud to recognize Mike Petersen for his dedication to the students of the school district, past, present, and future.
Link
Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula on Facebook
Project GRAD website

Mike Petersen, Project GRAD executive director, receives Golden Apple award from KPBSD Board of Education
Mike Petersen, Project GRAD executive director, receives Golden Apple award from KPBSD Board of Education