Bend-La Pine Schools announce 73 ‘Excellence in Education’ honorees, 14 finalists for top honors
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend-La Pine Schools is recognizing staff members from across the district who have distinguished themselves this school year with their leadership, innovation, outstanding professional practice, and positive contributions at work and in the community.
The 73 honorees, nominated by their supervisors, were recognized at the annual Excellence in Education Awards held Wednesday at Mountain View High School. They include custodians, counselors, kitchen managers, classroom teachers, educational assistants, office managers, bus drivers and others who have had a positive impact on students.
“It’s a wonderful celebration of the Bend-La Pine Schools exceptional staff members who are exemplars of their profession,” Superintendent Steven Cook said. “This is a talented, dedicated and caring group of educators and support staff that bring their commitment and joy to work every single day.”
At the end of the program, the district named 14 finalists for the certified employee of the year and the support staff employee of the year. Those two honors will be announced at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Excellence in Education finalists for 2024 are:
Support Staff of the Year:
Carisa Gregg - Custodial Department
Amanda Caffro - Rosland Elementary
Tom Hollingshead - Caldera High School
Nicole Garroutte - Elk Meadow Elementary
Tiffany Schreiber - La Pine Middle School
Bobbi Nelson - Juniper Elementary
Glen Carey - W.E. Miller Elementary
Certified Employee of the Year:
Heidi Dixon - Realms High School
Lauren Miller - Cascade Middle School
Cameron Salvitelli - La Pine High School
Terri Wolnick - Bear Creek Elementary
Mary Dean - Elk Meadow Elementary
Kristina Ebner - La Pine Elementary
Emily Curfew - Lava Ridge Elementary
Excellence in Education honorees for 2024 are:
Amity Creek Magnet School — Haley Horton
Bear Creek Elementary — Terri Wolnick, Eugenia Ryder
Bend Senior High School — Kevin Cooper, Lauren Roberts
Bend Tech Academy — Marcus Glassow, Marty Codino
Buckingham Elementary — Margaret Donohue, Kristina Biederman
Caldera High School — Lindsay Nickerson, Tom Hollingshead
Cascade Middle School — Lauren Miller, Jimmy Thebo
Elk Meadow Elementary — Mary Dean, Nicole Garroutte
Ensworth Elementary — Jeff Johnson, Rebecca Easton
High Desert Middle School — Elissa Freeman, Gina Samuel
High Lakes Elementary — Erin Dugan, Nicole Bianchi
Highland Magnet School — Michelle Watt, Danielle Donnell
Juniper Elementary — Kristina Burkhart, Bobbi Nelson
La Pine Elementary — Kristina Ebner, Alyssa Lohner
La Pine High School — Cameron Salvitelli, Bridget Montgomery
La Pine Middle School — Stuart Johnson, Tiffany Schreiber
Lava Ridge Elementary — Emily Curfew, Kathy Batz
Mountain View High School — Andy Young, Heidi Hanson
North Star Elementary School — Allison Harris, Gwyn Bell
Pacific Crest Middle School — Ryan McLaughlin, Tami Nielsen
Pilot Butte Middle School — Lyndsey Hendrix, Michelle Harris-Waldow
Pine Ridge Elementary — Katie Bravo, Cathi Moffenbeier
Ponderosa Elementary — Cami Green, Bev Nyden
R.E. Jewell Elementary — Cody Petersen, Chi Komaki
Realms Middle/High School — Heidi Dixon, Jae Brown
Rosland Elementary — Jeannie Thorp, Amanda Caffro
Silver Rail Elementary — Melanie Kent, Sara Maxwell
Sky View Middle School — Jennie Wenndorf, Catherine Honey
Summit High School — Marni Spitz, Lori Davis
Three Rivers K-8 School — Shalea Zepeda, Joanne Trese
Westside Village Magnet School — Gabriel Linn, Kelly Duran
William E. Miller Elementary — Glen Carey, Annette Bowler
Nutrition Services — Norma Morales
Maintenance — Jim Scott
Custodial Department — Carisa Gregg
Information Technology — Josh Brown
Teaching & Learning — Kaelynn Adams
Bend Transportation — Danette Dillman
La Pine Transportation — Jack Nielsen
Human Resources — Kelly Marty
Bend-La Pine Online — Jaye Gibb, Lisa Knowles
