Congratulations to these Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Cami Kowalski (Math teacher at Hilliard Bradley High School) and Dawn Blankenship & Kelley Burkhart (Enrollment Specialist at Central Office).
“Miss Kowalski continues to show me and other students that she will always be there for us and cares about everything in our lives. As an incoming freshman in 2020, I felt like I had no one to go to when I had a rough day. That was until I met her. Knowing I had her class was the main thing that got me out of bed every day. Her personality and kind spirit made it feel like something was normal. Now as a junior, I still feel welcome to go to her room during a free period to fill her in on aspects of my life. She has always been there for me and has never seemed upset when I need someone to talk to. She welcomed me with open arms into her class and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m sure you could ask any student that has had her and there would be no negative feedback. She is such an awesome person that I look up to and I’m so happy I got to know her.”
“I work for a local nonprofit that serves New Americans and over the past year, I’ve accompanied multiple families coming from all over the world…. Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and the Congo just to name a few. Kelley and Dawn have welcomed each family with a welcoming smile, patience, a helping hand, and a creative approach to communicating each step of the process so the children can be enrolled as quickly as possible in school. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be in this role and these ladies do it every day with understanding, and a true heart to serve the students and their families. For many families, Kelley and Dawn are the first people they will interact with in the School system, and I can’t think of a more perfect duo to be Hilliard’s welcoming committee.”
These staff members go above and beyond the expectations of the Hilliard Way and truly make a difference in our district. If you know a staff member that goes above and beyond their way to make a difference, you can nominate them for next month’s award by clicking HERE!
