Congratulations to our 2024 nominees for the Spirit of ESD 112 Award! Even though we can only choose one main campus and one field staff winner, each of these nominees deserves recognition for going above and beyond with their work. These nominees had coworkers take the time to recognize them by submitting examples of how they truly are “the spirit of the ESD”.  Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination. The nine nominees are…

Alissa Jolly, Student & School Success

“Alissa is one of the friendliest faces at the ESD. She greets every new employee with a smile and goes out of her way to make them feel welcome and like part of the team whether that’s by inviting them to lunch, on a walk, or just asking them about themselves. This is true for everyone from new employees in completely different departments, to interns who only spend a couple of weeks at the agency. I wouldn’t be surprised if at least 80% of ESD 112 staff would call Alissa their friend.”

ESIT Family Resource Coordinators, Specialized Student Services

“The FRCs for the Early Intervention Program, are 6 exceptional human beings; Amanda Stovern, Sami Long, Emmy-Lou Thomas-Smith, Carie Bishop-Sanders, Shawna Johnson and Julie Feldman. They don’t all work in the office together on any one day, but as we see them through the week they foster an environment of positivity and support by checking in with service providers and support staff in a caring way.”

Heidi Barnes, Communications & Public Engagement

“Heidi is truly exceptional, consistently going above and beyond for both co-workers and clients. She fosters a collaborative and supportive environment, always willing to lend a hand or offer guidance to team members. Heidi’s dedication to client satisfaction is unmatched, as she listens carefully to their needs and ensures their vision is brought to life with creativity and precision.”

Karen Solberg, Student & School Success

“Karen is a stellar employee in our agency and has exceptional customer service. As a secretary, she is often the first point of contact for our districts and schools. Karen excels at unparalleled dedication and warmth. Her ability to handle inquiries efficiently, resolve issues swiftly, and provide clear, helpful information ensures that everyone she interacts with feels valued and supported.”

Katie Connor, Business Services

“Katie never shies away from challenging situations and sticks with it until resolution. She is always positive and happy to help, knowledgeable, and easy to understand. Her level of patience is incredibly inspiring. She doesn’t hesitate to explain processes multiple times and if she senses it’s still not clear, she will find another way to make it clear. Katie has become our go-to when questions arise as we know we can depend on her expertise to assist us in getting through challenging situations.”

Kelli Tokuyama, Early Care & Education

“Kelli is always willing to help out and has an expertise of knowledge. The ECE department could not run without her. She’s helped onboard a whole new team of Program Support Specialists and our new ECE Secretary all within the last year and a half. Kelli is a superstar and all of us in the ECE department truly appreciate all that she does.”

Sammy Carroll, Student & School Success

“In her roles as a facilitator of paraeducator testing and as a primary support contact for Canvas and PDEnroller, Sammy has frequent interactions with the public. We have received many kudos from outside the agency regarding Sammy’s compassion and willingness to go beyond the basics in assisting folks who are often frustrated and anxious when they first contact her.”

Laura Knox, Teaching & Learning

“Laura is consistently positive and helpful. She has a quick wit and has exceptional people skills that have made her the point person at ESD for a number of things. She takes on challenges with a passion and she never lets us down. Laura has taken on the role of manging the conference center and does this on top of her administrative assistant duties. She goes the extra mile to make sure things get done correctly and efficiently.“

Brenda McGowan’s Special Education Team, Specialized Student Services

“Creativity defines this remarkable team. Special Education demands constant adaptation to accommodate the evolving needs of students, and each team member consistently contributes innovative ideas, plans, schedule adjustments, and training suggestions. Embracing the uniqueness of every student, team members continuously seek inventive approaches to provide both support and challenges while cultivating a sense of safety and trust.”

Congratulations to all of these nominees! We are lucky to have you on our team at ESD 112.

The two winners will be announced at the End of Year staff celebration on June 14! We hope to see you there!