Employees of the Year 2024

District 49 honored the best of the best on Thursday evening as it celebrated the Employees of the Year.

Sixty-seven employees and volunteers were recognized for their wonderful work over the past year. 

“I want you to know, you are the heartbeat, you are the lifeblood of District 49,” said Lori Thompson, President of the Board of Education. 

Plaques were presented to Teachers of the Year; Support Stars, which include roles such as facilities technicians, paraeducators and secretaries; Service Stars, which represent positions such as school counselors and physical therapists, and Volunteers of the Year. Honorees were nominated by their supervisors or school principals.

Congratulations to the following staff members who were honored:

 

Service Stars & Individualized Education Staff

Hillary Hunt

Speech Language Pathologist, Inspiration View Elementary

 

Jessica Odell

Social Worker serving as School Psychologist,

Vista Ridge High School & POWER Zone

 

Toni Smith

School Nurse, The Campus & Child Find

 

Jamie Zaves

District Behavior Analyst, Districtwide

 

Ashley Holloman

Special Education Teacher, PEAK Program

 

Carina Joss

Paraeducator, PEAK Program

 

Kimberly Sanders

Health Assistant, Bennett Ranch Elementary

 

Linette Williams

BASE49 Leader, Meridian Ranch Elementary

 

Sand Creek Zone

Teachers of the Year

 

Gracee Liggett

Third Grade Teacher, Evans Elementary

 

Melanie Bustillos

Fifth Grade Teacher, Remington Elementary

 

Nicole Juhl

Kindergarten Teacher, Springs Ranch Elementary

 

Dagmar Bierkortte

Fourth Grade Teacher, Stetson Elementary

 

Monica Glickman

Seventh Grade Math Teacher, Horizon Middle School

 

Patricia Johnson

Science Teacher, Sand Creek High School

 

Support Stars

 

Maryna Wilson

Library Technician, Remington Elementary

 

Jamie Denton

Significant Support Needs Paraeducator, Springs Ranch Elementary

 

Whitney Moore

Building Administrative Assistant, Stetson Elementary

 

Kaylanie Marshall

Paraeducator, Horizon Middle School

 

Rose Atencio

Special Education Paraeducator, Sand Creek High School

 

Lauren Stuart

Sand Creek Zone, Community Liaison

 

Service Stars

 

Tara Juarros

School Counselor, Horizon Middle School

 

Volunteer of the Year

 

Ann Moomey

Volunteer, Remington Elementary School

 

Falcon Zone

Teachers of the Year

 

Jordan Hall

Fifth Grade Teacher, Bennett Ranch Elementary

 

Amy DeWeerd

Third Grade Teacher, Falcon Elementary School of Technology

 

Allison Johnson

Kindergarten Teacher, Meridian Ranch Elementary

 

Amanda Ancheta

Fourth Grade Teacher, Woodmen Hills Elementary

 

Nicole Sinnott

Seventh Grade

Science Teacher, Falcon Middle School

 

Justin Tropp

Math Teacher, Falcon High School

 

Support Star

 

Savanah Rodriguez

General Education Paraeducator, Bennett Ranch Elementary

 

Leah Nielsen

Significant Support Needs Paraeducator, 

Falcon Elementary School of Technology

 

Cassaundra Donatell

Attendance Secretary & Registrar, Meridian Ranch Elementary

 

Mallory Spitzer

Special Education Paraeducator, Woodmen Hills Elementary

 

Deanna Siemsen

Choice & Success Advisor, Falcon Middle School

 

Kara Robinson

Building Administrative Assistant, Falcon Middle School

 

Vanessa Apodaca

Building Administrative Assistant, Falcon High School

 

Service Star

 

Carrie Clay

School Counselor, Falcon Middle School

 

Volunteer of the Year

 

Bobbi Lehman

Volunteer, Meridian Ranch Elementary

 

POWER Zone

Teachers of the Year

 

Tara Wold

Innovation Professor, ALLIES

 

Jody O’Driscoll

Third Grade Teacher, Inspiration View Elementary

 

Lacey Witt

Fifth Grade Teacher, Odyssey Elementary

 

Melissa Chaffin

Library Teacher, Ridgeview Elementary

 

Marianne Holt

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education Teacher,  Skyview Middle School

 

Brandon Ager

Art Teacher, Vista Ridge High School

 

Support Star

 

Karen Duncan

Special Education Paraeducator, ALLIES

 

Christina Odell

Building Administrative Assistant, Inspiration View Elementary

 

Barbara Colby

Reading Tutor, Odyssey Elementary

 

Cherri McKine

Building Administrative Assistant, Ridgeview Elementary

 

Cindy Aragon

Building Administrative Assistant, Skyview Middle School

 

Connie Malacara

Building Custodian, Vista Ridge High School

 

Volunteer of the Year

 

Nora Faircloth

Volunteer, Skyview Middle School

 

iConnect Zone

Teacher of the Year

 

Heather Krammes

Lead Bridge Program Teacher, Falcon Homeschool Program

 

Lisa Banegas

Social Studies Teacher, Patriot High School

 

Natalie Cummings

Electives Teacher, Pikes Peak Early College

 

Jane Lovelidge

High School Math Teacher, Springs Studio for Academic Excellence

 

Janine Sangiorgi

Middle School Science Teacher, Springs Studio for Academic Excellence

 

Support Stars

 

Joe Rivas

IVES Campus Building Manager, Falcon Homeschool Program

 

Jennifer Smith

Paraeducator, Patriot High School

 

Chelly Hardman

Registrar, The Campus

 

Service Star

 

Frances Delgado

School Counselor, Patriot High School

 

Central Office 

Support Starts

 

Spencer McCabe

Budget Manager, Business Office

 

Elsa Ortega

Assessment Technician, Learning Services Department

 

CharLynn Stegman

Wellness Specialist, People & Culture Department

 

Lara Ehlert

Executive Assistant for Facilities & Operations

 

Dana Neidhardt

Building Automation Specialist, Facilities Department

 

Walter Anderson

Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Facilities Department

 

Margaret Kalber

Nutrition Lead, Nutrition Services Department

 

Lynnea Brown

Transportation Manager, Transportation Department