FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue Regional School District has named seven employees as its “Outstanding Employees” of 2010, just as the new school year begins.
The employees are nominated by their peers, and awards are issued in seven categories; Outstanding District Employee, Classroom Teacher (K-6), Classroom Teacher (7-12), Outstanding Novice Award, MBRSD Service Award, Support Staff Member Award, and an award for Technology Integration.
The Outstanding District Employee Award went to Monique Poulin, principal of Mt. Blue High School. Poulin received several nominations from staff members, who praised the two-year administrator for her fairness, integrity and willingness to listen to her employees.
“Morale is important to Monique,” one staff member wrote. “She treats staff as individuals and honors and respects folks.”
“Her warmth and genuine concern for our students, staff and district warrants recognition with this award,” said another.
The Classroom Teacher awards went to Lucinda Drechsler, a 5th grade teacher at Academy Hill School, and Maureen Oswald, who has worked primarily at Mt. Blue Middle School. Drechsler was lauded for her work with Girls Talk, a literacy-mentoring program that pairs 5th and 6th grade girls up with college students and members of the community, and the Missoula Children’s Theater. Numerous students wrote recommendations for Oswald, who has been at the center of recent student activities such as the “Philanthropy Project” and “Help Haiti,” calling her the “Ozzmom.”
The Outstanding Novice Award went to Evan Botting, who teaches math at the high school level. Botting is in his second year with the district, but has already made an impression on several of his fellow teachers. He has already become involved with the track program, teaches Advanced Placement courses and chaperones student functions.
Lisa Dalrymple, a Spanish teacher and the head of the World Languages program, received the MBRSD Service Award, which is given to personnel who demonstrate exceptional service to the district, beyond their job description. Dalrymple is a part of a number of staff teams, including the Leadership, technology and literacy teams, in addition to the huge amount of work she puts into the World Language programming.
The Support Staff Employee of the Year Award went to Joseph McCarthy, an ed tech at the high school. McCarthy, who has a Masters degree in literacy, works with students struggling with reading comprehension, in addition to addressing issues with algebra, science and social studies.
“He is an excellent role model for male high school students and a good team member, supporting and assisting his colleagues,” one nominator wrote. “Teachers have commented they wish we could ‘clone’ him.”
The award for Technology Integration went to Lisa Gagnon at the Cushing School. Gagnon uses a number of new programs and technologies in her classroom, from audio books to websites to the school bulletin board, and also helps other teachers at the school with technology-related advice and issues.
Nice job folks and congats to all. but where is the recognition for the custodial staff, bus drivers or food service employees? The school does not function without them. They are the lowest paid and the least recognized. And they work year round. Their jobs are taken too much for granted.
Congats “OzMom”!!! When the kids and your peers both nominate you for this you know you have made the complete impact every teacher should make! Keep up the great work! Congrats to everyone else in the district who were nominated, and to those who received awards.
Woody has a great point.
Custodians, bus drivers, maintenance, food service folks and ed techs are all support staff employees. Joe McCarthy, an ed tech got the award this year, well-deserved I might add. In past years the support staff award has gone to others in this group. Thanks Woody for acknowledging the critical work that the support staff do! They are truly the back bone of our district!
Congrats Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Woody’s point, I would like to say thank you to my daughter’s bus driver. She does an excellent job and always shows up at our drive with a smile and a kind word. I also am immensely grateful for all of the staff members who work with my daughter: teachers, ed techs, therapists, and extracurricular teachers and support staff. They do a tremendous job and have made a profoundly positive impact on her and us! I thank God for you!!!
hmm…MSAD 9 or MBRSD? Regardless of the name of our school system, I’m glad we have the people we do staffing it!
I’m not certain if many of us here realize what a gem we have in our local schools? Many parents I’ve known in Maine and outside of Maine fret about their public school systems. My assistant in Augusta actually sent her kids to private school because she didn’t think the public school there served them well.
So far, our family has been through Mallett and are well into Cascade Brook with our kids. At this point, I can’t be more pleased with the teachers, the bus drivers, the staff, and the many volunteers that make those places hum. We really do take it all for granted, but we really shouldn’t. They do a wonderful job with our children’s education.
Thanks to those ’09-’10 Outstanding Employees!…(and thanks to all the rest!) It certainly makes paying my property taxes that much easier knowing that it goes to support a very worthy public institution.
It’s MBRSD… old habits die hard. We’ll make the switch.
Congratulations, Mrs. Oswald, Mrs. Dalrymple, and Mr. Botting! My daughter has had these three fine educators. Not only are they great teachers, they are wonderful role models for our children.
I was one of Mrs. Oswald’s students (as part of, at the time, the “Blue Team”) many, many moons ago. Still have fond memories of that class. Well-deserved congratulations to all of those awarded!
Congratulations, Lisa Gagnon. You are so very dedicated to your profession and committed to keeping your students involved and interested. Their attention spans are short, you are very creative in utilizing technology……way to go! We are proud of you….as always!!