Diversity "DREAM" Award Nominees: 2004/05
A wide variety of talented students and employees were nominated for the 2004-2005 Diversity "DREAM" Awards, presented on March 23, 2005. Of the 34 nominations received, five were selected as award recipients. Central Valley appreciates the efforts of all nominated students and employees to put diversity into action in our schools. Read more about the nominees below. Student NomineesKellen Lewis
Student – University High School Kellen is a wonderful example of the acronym, “DREAM.” He is diverse in his rich heritage as well as his school involvement. He appreciates diversity in people and encourages his peers to embrace those diversities. He is a respectful and compassionate young man. He enjoys life and working with people. With his passion and zest for life, he naturally motivates students and makes them feel special. He has a natural upbeat attitude which makes him a joy to be around and a natural leader. Kiranda Marshall
Student – Central Valley High School Kiranda Marshall is always on the go doing marvelous things. From sports to music, she’s always busy. Basketball, track, volleyball have kept her busy, but let’s add in the Jazz and a Capella choirs and being the principal violinist for the orchestra. In her spare time, she is ASB activities coordinator; a Link program leader mentoring freshmen; and, for fun, she was JV and Varsity cheerleader. She is a Chase Youth Award nominee, a member of Youth Leadership Spokane, and on the teen advisory council at her church. Through all this she keeps a 3.24 GPA. As a senior this year, she was also chosen as Central Valley Lilac Princess.
This friendly, outgoing young woman freely shares her musical talents when asked. She is a joy to know and a positive role model for all students.
Kaytlyn McCarthy
Student – Sunrise Elementary
Kaytlyn’s acceptance and concern for others is the “real thing.” She readily shares her concerns with adults about students who may be alone or upset. She values others for what they are on the inside, not what she sees on the outside. This outgoing, high energy, spirited young lady in involved with her school’s Solar Energy dance group. She helps her classmates and strives to be a friend to one and all. She is a true role model of appropriate behavior.
Ian Williamson
Student – University High School
Ian is a dynamic individual. He is a strong, mature leader at his school with a 3.28 GPA. He constantly motivates peers to excel, exercising integrity in all aspects of school activities. He has lettered three times in varsity sports and is a wonderful addition to any team he participates in.
In addition to school activities, he digs in to help remodel a youth facility at his church and is a camp counselor for children. e was also the driving force in coordinating a June Teenth church dance. Staff NomineesKay Anderson, Lindsay Ehlers, Karla Freeman, Sally Montandon, Trish Rockwell -- 3rd Grade Teachers, Liberty Lake Elementary This group of dynamic women promotes cultural diversity in their curriculum and supports it with a variety of extracurricular activities including a “POW WOW” which includes guests, food, artifacts, art and literature. This team motivates their students empowering them to appreciate other cultures.
A great many hours outside the regular school day are spent planning, organizing and preparing for the “POW WOW” which is an enriching memory for all students and others involved. This team exemplifies CV’s goal of promoting diversity.
Carol Bray, Marguerite Garcia, Mary Hicks, Karrie Kuhl, Lyn Winkler --Teachers, McDonald Elementary
These teachers have given their students the opportunity to experience friendship with a variety of special people, including several retired people from the community who come to read, help in the classrooms and just “love” our kids.
Many of our children have no grandparents living close by nor the opportunity to develop a friendship with a “senior citizen.” Having these retirees come to our school allows the children to do just that plus it teaches the children first hand that regardless of age, people are capable, important, and vital in our lives.
We admire theses teachers for taking the time to give their students this opportunity.
Shelly Brown Bajadali
Counselor – North Pines Middle School
Shelly is a counselor who always looks for the best in everyone. She inspires others in her quest to treat everyone, both students and adults, with respect. She actively pursues any negative diversity-related incident. Rather than turn and walk away, Shelly plows straight through to the problem with the hope of a positive outcome.
She strives to learn as much as possible about the culture of her students, studying the language, customs and related interests.
Shelly is the type of person who just doesn’t let things go, doesn’t just think about them, but actively pursues those things which are important to her and those around her.
Carol Bray
Teacher – McDonald Elementary
Carol is full of energy and great ideas. She has taken our bland, empty display cases and transformed them into “Islands of Diversity.” It began with Veterans’ Day when she encouraged all students and staff to bring pictures and mementoes of their family members who served in the Armed Forces. Each branch of the military was represented along with a wide range of years. It brought the true meaning of Veterans’ Day to heart and allowed the students to “see” and not just “hear” what we were celebrating.
For Read Across America, Carol began collecting books and items representing many different countries and cultures around the world. Everyone got involved and the students love to gaze into these display cases and share with their friends what they know.
Carol’s ability to involve others, bring enthusiasm into her projects and share her love of learning about other cultures is evident. Tammy Campbell
Principal – Opportunity Elementary Tammy is a positive, consistent advocate for diversity. Whether in her administrative position or as a community member, parent, or friend, her voice is heard focusing on the diversity aspects of any topic.
At the building level, she leads her staff in diversity training and motivates her staff in positive thinking. She truly believes in respect and shows this daily. She visits former students who have moved on to the middle school, which shows first hand her strong connections and respect for her students. Her leadership and commitment to diversity is a model for all who serve and advocate for students.
Vince Eberly, Pat Shelley, Joelle Traynor -- Staff members, University High School
These three staff members are to be commended for their willingness to become Diversity Trainers for Central Valley School District. They are committed to teach the “DREAM” to the U-High staff. Their willingness to work with their peers and teach the values of respecting every individual in each and every situation is an awesome task. Facing your peers and standing up for what you believe is a step these three individuals have grabbed onto and embraced.
Farrah Johnson, Elizabeth Pederson, Del Triber -- Spokane Valley Native American Program at Keystone Center This unique group of individuals exemplifies the ideals of the Dream Award. Their long-standing program recognizes the uniqueness and values of the Native American culture and brings it into the schools via classroom presentations. The program connects Native American families through many mediums, including newsletters, educational opportunities and area services.
The annual spring workshop and bi-monthly Parent Committee meetings bring culture to the program families. The students with Native American heritage receive tutoring at their own schools. A summer school incorporates Native American culture with reading and math components.
These dynamic individuals deserve to be recognized for their commitment to enriching the live of their program families. Paula Kircher
Licensed Practical Nurse/Educational Assistant - Evergreen Middle School Paula is a very motivated staff member. She continually goes that extra mile for her students. At the beginning of the year her school was in need of extra staffing due to the fact that there were more medically fragile students than they had anticipated. Paula, in her job role, never complained, just did what she needed to do to make the situation as positive as possible until more staff could be added.
She works with special needs students, not only doing what her job requires, but doing what’s necessary to make them feel special as individuals.
Paula is also involved in homework club, which meets after school to help students with their homework. She is a dynamic individual who never slows down, never complains, just does the job that needs to be done. Sandy Mills
Secretary – Sunrise Elementary Sandy is the #1 contact person at our school. She greets and welcomes one and all into our school community. She makes the initial contact successful and a welcoming experience. She is available to help with whatever is asked of her, constantly performing extra duties for staff and students. Sandy volunteers to go into the classrooms and teach quilting, which is loved by one and all. She is positive and generous, welcoming staff, students, community and parents with a beaming smile.
Opportunity Elementary Staff It is June and the flags of 25 nations line the halls of Opportunity Elementary School. This is a sign that students, parents and staff are ready to celebrate the annual International Festival. Staff members instill a spirit of acceptance and diversity in students each day, but the festival is a direct attempt to introduce a variety of cultures to Opportunity students, most of whom do not have the chance to travel and experience them first hand.
The students “travel” from Spain to Vietnam to Panama and 22 other countries where they sing, dance, cook, speak the native language or create a souvenir that is unique to that culture.
The entire staff of Opportunity is dedicated to the planning and execution of this cultural extravaganza. Their enthusiasms carry over to the students. They look forward to the festival. The festival is only possibly due to the dedication and commitment of the staff to bring cultural diversity to its students. Jan Parker
Educational Assistant – McDonald Elementary Jan is an educational assistant to a student in 4th grade who does not have the use of her arms due to a birth defect. She does a fabulous job at assisting her in all her daily needs. She accommodates her academically when needed. She has almost “become one” with this student, knowing when to assist her and when to encourage her to complete a task on her own.
Jan allows this student’s diversity to be a diversity lesson for any child or adult who comes in contract with this amazing little girl. The respect she shows toward this child and the other children’s curiosity and questions is outstanding. She constantly helps other students with their “special needs.” Whether it is spelling, writing, reading, math or friendship issues, she is always there for each child. She does these things because she wants to, not because she has to. She definitely goes “above and beyond” for all our students. Russell Seaton
Music Teacher – University High School
(Nomination #1)
Russ directs all of our amazing school choirs and is also leading the music in the pit for every U High play or show. It takes an extraordinary amount of time and dedication to produce the results that he gets. He puts in many extra hours to insure that all of his musical programs go off without a hitch.
He is passionate about exploring music from all over the world. His choirs sign music from Africa, France, Spain, spirituals from the Deep South, and so much more. When his choirs perform, everyone is silent, listening, deeply moved.
He also finds time to be involved in Community Theater, where he and his wife act and sing in many productions. Because of his dedication, hard work, and belief in teaching diversity through music, Russ helps make our school and community a better place. (Nomination #2)
Russ Seaton is an accomplished choral director that incorporates vast cultural diversity into his Choral Music program at U-High. Since his student teaching in Central Valley District, Russ had converted the struggling choral program into a department that is well respected, not only for its high level of achievement, but also for the incorporation of a wide variety of ethnic music choices and styles.
Russ also serves as a cultural diversity officer for the Washington Music Education Association. He has contributed many volunteer hours dedicated to the goal of providing resources for musical cultural diversity within our state.
His concerts include music and dance from a wide range of cultures. His students benefit from his respect for ethnic cultures, showing that everyone is welcome and valued and challenged to grow within his program.
He continually strives, well beyond the call of duty, to make sure his choral music program reaches beyond the limits of Spokane to embrace a vast world of cultural diversity and ethnic richness. Linda Sparley
Educational Assistant – McDonald Elementary Linda is a unique individual. She changes hats in a split second, always with a smile on her face. Early morning finds her out in every type of weather, expertly dealing with parents and students, seeing the safe arrival of these students to school. She welcomes each with a smile and a “good morning” that helps everyone’s day begin on an up beat.
She changes hats and becomes a Primary Intervention Program (PIP) assistant, helping students master skills in reading. Each is treated fairly and with a genuine smile.
Next is the playground, seeing to the students’ safety and on to the lunchroom to keep order, handle problems and just show the students a friendly face. As the final bell rings, she is once again out in front making sure students and parents are reunited and safely in cars and on their way home.
By the end of the day she has worn many hats, done a vast variety of jobs, answered a million questions, stopped rivers of tears, changed frowns to smiles; been out in rain, snow, hot sun, freezing cold; squelched wars, and given a zillion smiles. This special lady is the definition of diversity. She truly loves each and every student, never complains, has a smile for everyone and does her job with great skill. Joelle Traynor
Teacher – University High School Joelle is an energetic, inspiring teacher. Teaching foreign language, she inspires students to look at the world and cultures. She inspires children’s dreams and encourages a passion to embrace the richness of diversity. She has planted a great many seeds in the lives of our students. Her continual encouragement to learn, travel, and share the differences of the world are an encouragement to her peers.
Joelle supports, promotes and models diversity in her school and community. She models respect for all aspects of diversity and has empowered students to grow and develop and appreciate differences.
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