Congratulations to this month’s Embrace, Empower & Inspire Award winners, Michelle Tomek, Administrative Assistant at Hilliard Preschool, Joanne Clayton, Administrative Assistant at Hilliard Preschool, Kelly Hoenie, Reading Intervention at Alton Darby Elementary, and Nick Hodges, Second Grade Teacher at Ridgewood Elementary. Here are a few things that students and staff have to say about these two great staff members.
“We have so much gratitude for Nick Hodges. Second grade has been an amazing year for our twin boys. Not only has he taken time to get to know our twins as individuals and value their differences, but we are also thankful for the little things that he is doing everyday in his classroom to make a BIG difference. Each day, our twin boys come home and share many ways that their teacher is helping them and their peers. The little things he says and does to connect with kids on a daily basis is evident and much appreciated.”
“Mrs. Hoenie has gone out of her way to help my son this year to feel more confident in school and with his reading. He has struggled with his reading and lost his confidence in himself. His personality was changing because he felt as he wasn’t as smart as the other students. Mrs. Hoenie jumped right in and spent quality time with him during his day. He even got to spend time at bus duty with her which gave him a feeling of responsibility. His personality slowly started to came back, he was excited to tell us about his day and he even asked to read when he was at home. He was so confident that he was calling his grandparents on FaceTime to read to them. This is something he had never done before and it was all his idea. He wants to go to school early just to make sure he is on time each day for her class. Every day when he comes home from school, he is excited to tell us what he learned in reading class and loves to show us what he did. Mrs. Hoenie has given my son his excitement for school back and has given us as his parents a sigh of relief because our son is HAPPY!!! Thank you doesn’t begin to express our gratitude for all Kelley has done for him this year. She was an angel sent to us at the perfect time.”
“Joanne goes out of her way every single day to help others. The list is endless but I see her every single day “pause” her job, put on her coat 4 times a day to go help assist students to/ from bus/classroom. If one of the classrooms is short on staff, she arrives without fail to make sure we have that needed extra hand to help in and out of the building! She is the best!”
“Michelle goes out of her way every single day to help others. The list is endless but I see her every single day “pause” her job, put on her coat 4 times a day to go help assist students to/ from bus/classroom. If one of the classrooms is short on staff, she arrives without fail to make sure we have that needed extra hand to help in and out of the building! She is the best!”
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 at:
