2019 Recipients

"Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence."

Meritorious Service nominees were recognized by School Board members during special celebrations held in March 2019 in each CVSD school or building. On March 25, 2019, the board announced and presented district-wide Meritorious Service Award honorees in each category.

Congratulations to CVSD's 2019 District-Wide Meritorious Service Award Honorees:

Bruce Pennell, GMS Long-term Substitute Music Teacher, Service Recognition
Jesse Hardt, Ridgeline High School Principal, Certificated
Jana McKnight, Mica Peak High School Teacher, Certificated
Shannon Phillips, University Elementary Counselor, Certificated
Elizabeth Mallinen, Central Valley High School Paraeducator, Classified
Brad Smith, CVSD School Resource Officer, Classified
Warren Seyler, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Community
Greyson’s Support Team: Liberty Creek Elementary Teacher Kelly Radmaker & Head Secretary Donna Boudreau, Team
Bus Orientation Team: Dan Harder, Doreen Davis, Janet Terpko, Holly Haeger, Jeff Duncan, Jeff Haynes, Karen Deruwe, Karla Graham-Hauck, Kelli Henry, Melissa Hammer, Molly Best, Sheryl Polignoni, Stuart Vogelman, Team

2019 District-wide Meritorious Recipients

(Photo - Back Row L to R: Jesse Hardt, Brad Smith, Shannon Phillips, Donna Boudreau, Kelly Henry, Jeff Haynes, Karla Graham-Hauck, Karen DeRuwe, Warren Seyler; Front Row L to R: Bruce Pennell, Elizabeth Mallinen, Kelly Radmaker, Doreen Davis, Holly Haeger, Janet Terpko, Sheryl Polignoni, Jana McKnight)

The recipients were selected by board members from those nominated by colleagues, students, and parents below.

Congratulations to CVSD's 2019 Meritorious Service Nominees:

Elementary Schools

Adams Elementary School:

Nicole Karaus, Principal - Certificated
Sarah Glover, Teacher - Certificated
Briann Maley, Teacher - Certificated
Megan Smith, Teacher - Certificated
Lisa VanSickle, Certificated
Stacy Jones, Supervisory Assistant - Classified
Natalie Levine, Spec. Ed. Behavioral Intervention Tech - Classified
Brandy Santiago, Secretary - Classified

Broadway Elementary School:

Jeanne Bailey, Certificated
Patti Black, Certificated
Katrina Fuher, Certificated
Chie D'Amico, Paraeducator - Classified
Jenn Higgins, Paraeducator - Classified
Alicia Johnston, Behavioral Intervention Tech - Classified
Ronald Overbeck, Head Custodian - Classified
Debbie Reincke, Paraeducator - Classified
Madelyn Bafus, Community
Shani Newkirk, Community
Broadway 1st Grade Team: Amy Norton, Analisa McCann, Emily Didier - Team
Custodian Team: Ron Overbeck, Jon Mickelson - Team
School Leadership Team: Lynn Hutchins, Stephen Hart, Katrina Fuher, Analisa McCann, Brittany Sammons, Connie Lovelace, Carolyn Hughes, Bridget Duricic - Team

Chester Elementary School:

Shannon Duncan, School Psychologist - Certificated
Paige Mackleit, Certificated
Shelly Mahn, Teacher - Certificated
Toni Skeman, Certificated
Courtney Timm - Community
Secretary Team: Kim Horton, Diane Hutchens - Team
STRIVE Team: Ashley Hickson, Chris Kenney, Claudia Gray, Jamie McMaster, Karley Nilles, Laura Wilcoxen, Mary Birkenbuel, Michelle Neils, Rick Ford, Robb Higgins, Sandra West, Stephanie Limesand, Annemarie Morton - Team

Greenacres Elementary School:

Justin Collyer, Teacher - Certificated
Samantha Griffing, Teacher - Certificated
Bethany McMulkin, Teacher - Certificated
Heidi Schneider, Teacher - Certificated
Laurie Spence, Assistant Principal - Certificated
Alicia Dickson, Behavioral Intervention Tech - Classified
Caroly Gant, Paraeducator - Classified
Kari Hansen, Secretary - Classified
Kay Irons, Custodian - Classified
Greenacres Elementary Kindergarten Team: Madison McKerrow, Heidi Sine, Traci Ward, Amber Schmidt, Kim Nurvic, Amanda Snider, Erika Bowden - Team

Liberty Creek Elementary School:

Michaela Aponte, Certificated
Connie Boni, Certificated
Brian Falls, Computer Field Tech - Classified
Jong Chan Kim, Custodian - Classified
Jin Ko, Custodian - Classified
Lisa Marsh, Certificated
Kasi Miller, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Ellen Pell, Secretary - Classified
Anya Mattioda - Community
Angela Walsh - Community
Liberty Creek Secretarial Team: Donna Boudreau, Ellen Pell - Team
Our Son's Support Team: Donna Boudreau, Kelly Radmaker - Team

Liberty Lake Elementary School:

Stephanie Morkert, Teacher - Certificated
Marc Swanson, Teacher - Certificated
Denise Burgess, Secretary - Classified
Michelle Carter, Classified
Paula Dillon, Classified
Valerie Manfred, Classified
LeeAnn Krohn, Community
Julie Mortimer, Community
Merilyn Peneluppi, Community

McDonald Elementary School:

Kelly Lenhart, Paraeducator - Classified
Tammy Mansfield, Supervisory Assistant - Classified

Opportunity Elementary School:

Rebecca Banks, Dean - Certificated
Larry Beck, Teacher - Certificated
Brandon Benefield, Teacher - Certificated
Mallory Hinchee, Certificated
Taylor Kennedy, Teacher - Certificated
Carina Mauro, Teacher - Certificated
Susan McMillan, Teacher - Certificated
Katie Norman, Teacher - Certificated
Russ Olson - Certificated
Wendy Pellicio - Certificated
Elaine Swanson - Community
Margie Mieske and Rob Ridalls - Community
Opportunity Elementary PTO team: Erika Skinner, Kimberly Hitt, Nikki Stretch, Norma Leach, Rachel Wilson - Team
Extended Resource Team: Diane Birkner, Katherine Wacholz, Kaycee Debruin, Lidiya Crosby, Lindsay Oxford, Mary Scott - Team

Ponderosa Elementary School:

Jennifer Chissus, Teacher - Certificated
Val Clapper, Teacher - Certificated
Dawn Guilbault, Teacher - Certificated
Dana Hilpert, Teacher - Certificated
Yvette Ornelas, Certificated
Bill Bronsch, Custodian - Classified
Cheyenne Johnson, Classified
Para-educator Staff: Cathy Christie, Kendra Wellner - Team
Ponderosa LAP Team: Asyia Scott, Dana Kern, Val Clapper - Team

Progress Elementary School:

Paige Laws - Certificated
Abby Spencer - Certificated
Terri Stenson, Supervisory Assistant - Classified
Beth Worthy - Community
Mobius Science Center: Jake Milliron, Katie Stacy, Kirk Barber, Tiny Dixon - Community
The Progress Elementary Staff - Team

Riverbend Elementary School:

Debi Denmark, Certificated
Jeff Dufresne, Principal - Certificated
Alaina Stevenson, Community
The Riverbend Core Team: Barbara Witkoe, Brittany Olson, Darren Herndon - Team

South Pines Elementary School:

Sarah Gosset, Secretary - Classified
Cheryl Waldusky, Custodian - Classified
South Pines ASB Coordinators: Lauren Palmer, Zach Holt - Team
South Pines Custodial: Cheryl Walsdusky, Mike Whipple, Melinda Hansen - Team
South Pines Office Staff: Paula Wiemer, Sarah Gossett - Team
South Pines Supervisor Team: Angela Green, Angela Moeller, Cheryl Thomas, Katelyn McAllister, McCaffrey Crandall, Trina Villa, Team

Sunrise Elementary School:

Alternative Instruction Team: Darla Yoseph, Jenn Long, Michelle McCoy, Nadine Gielish - Team
Social Connections Team: Tonya Ota, Abby Shewchuk, Amy Sheridan, Carly Janhunen, Carly Purvine, Carol Sippola, Cathy Winans, Cindy Courtney, Connie Ames, Debbie Crow, Eileen Nelson, Jennifer Weller, Jody Froehle, Julie Fayant, Kari Vigesaa, Linda Stumbough, Luke Kennedy, Shawnee Jones, Stephanie Kinnune - Team
Sunrise PBIS Team: Amy Sheridan, Angie Patrick, Craig McIntyre, Justin Brumley, Luke Kennedy, Rachelle Ahumada, Rose Francis, Sandi Larsen, Sarah McNeice, Tabitha Anderson, Tonya Ota - Team
Sunshine Committee: Amanda Dunbar, Connie Ames, Sandi Larsen, Sarah McNeice, Sarah Schmaltz, Tammy Nichols, Yara Nemri - Team
Barb Robertson - Community

University Elementary School:

Katie Cormier, Teacher - Certificated
Stephanie Martin, Teacher - Certificated
Kelly Parsons, Certificated
Shannon Phillips, School Counselor - Certificated
Jessica Quirk - Classified
Ashley Kenner - Community
Erin Ramirez - Community
Supervisory Staff: Adrienne Sale, Becky Light, Cheryl Chandler, Cheryl Stumph, Dani Crandall, Jessica Quirk, Melanie Smith, Nancy Olfs, Nicole Young, Sandy Otis, Sarah Williams - Team

Middle Schools

Bowdish Middle School:

Jim Fortner, Teacher - Certificated
Kyle Hjelm, Teacher - Certificated
Rick Holestine, Teacher - Certificated
Laura Lindley, Principal - Certificated
Gail Phillips, Teacher - Certificated
Lisa Tupling, Teacher - Certificated
Lee Bailey, Head Custodian - Classified
Shayna Gerken, Paraeducator - Classified
Our son's 7th grade support team: Kathy Doohan, Roger Campbell, Tim Northern, Courtney Wright, Kathy Jackson, Heather Crooks - Team

Evergreen Middle School:

Janice Boyd, Assistant Principal - Certificated
Mike Syron, Principal - Certificated
Harmony Young, Teacher - Certificated
Janet Hall, Secretary - Classified
Marci Highley, Secretary - Classified

Greenacres Middle School:

Katrina Bozo, Certificated
Vern DiGiovanni, Principal - Certificated
Grady Emmerson, Assistant Principal - Certificated
Michelle Hamlin, Teacher - Certificated
Kristina Kripaitis, Teacher - Certificated
Bruce Pennell, Certificated
Amy Smith, Teacher - Certificated
Mike Bak, Custodian - Classified
June Chandler, Paraeducator - Classified
Amber Hunt, Specialist Interpreter - Classified
Greenacres Mentoring Committee: Amy Smith, Brenda Hill, Bri Kirsch, Janet McDonald, Michelle Sutton, Natalie Foster, Cherie Holm - Team
Secretarial Team: Andrea Wilson, Kim Scott, Linda Wholers - Team
GMS Executive Board PTA: Aimee Fiala, Barb Hormel, Michelle Acton-McArdle, Michelle Bartholomew - Community

Horizon Middle School:

Tawnya Bruns, Teacher - Certificated
Bryan Conrad, Teacher - Certificated
Matt Hildahl, Teacher - Certificated
Tony Collins, Teacher - Classified
John Toothaker, Computer Field Tech - Classified
Clint Hill - Community
Paraeducators: Dee Elliott, Priscilla Marlow - Team
Web Leader Adviser Team: Starla Fey, Bryan Conrad - Team

North Pines Middle School:

Brittney Bergman, Teacher - Certificated
Amanda Caliva, Certificated
John Khoury, Custodian - Classified
Brad Smith, Resource Officer - Classified
Patti Woodbridge, Supervisory Assistant - Classified
Principal & Assistant Principal Team: Lora Jackson, Nate Bartlett - Team

High Schools

Central Valley High School:

Lindsay Beal, Teacher - Certificated
Charles Bowden, Teacher - Certificated
Kyrstin Desjardins, Teacher - Certificated
Leanne Donley, Teacher - Certificated
Alanna Evans, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Wendy Jones, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Michael Klingback, Teacher - Certificated
Dennis Mitchell, Teacher - Certificated
Andres Monrroy, Teacher - Certificated
Alyssa Rasmussen, Teacher - Certificated
Lois Stranberg, Certificated
Brenda Ventress, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Dave Burgess, Custodian - Classified
Mike Copley, Custodian - Classified
Elizabeth Mallinen, Paraeducator - Classified
Brad Smith, Resource Officer - Classified
District School Social Workers: Caesy Morphis, Veronica Risken-Oakes - Team
Front Office Staff: Marlene Morrow, Jenni Voelker, Lori Wilson, Donnette Kelly, Angie Ranniger, Suzy Orth, Chris Campanella, Shannon Arlt, Elizabeth Driscol - Team
Deputy Dave Lawhorn - Community
Lloyd Fillis - Community

University High School:

Samantha Kern, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Laura Kramer, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Loretta Kron, School Counselor - Certificated
Kaleb Madison, Teacher Special Ed. - Certificated
Debbie Bach, Paraeducator - Classified
Sharon Graves, Cook - Classified
Becky McFarland, Behavioral Intervention Tech. - Classified
Secretary Team: Amber Roberts, Arlene Wollan, Barb Berkseth, Cheryl Lewis, Kari Gossett, Katie Hebden, Linda Agen, Lori Scheirmeister, Patty Maxwell, Piedad Ficklin, Tammy Lallier, Vicky Seward, Vikki Bruszer - Team
Allison & Erik Larson - Community
Michael and Michelle Lenker - Community

Non-Traditional Schools and Education Centers

Central Valley Early Learning Center:

Heather Dobney, School Psychologist - Certificated
Jolene Severs, EA - Classified
Kami Smith - Classified
Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists Team: Holly Valley, Nate Wilkenson, Eric DeMers, Hannah Hale, Jenni Stockdale, Karlin Gofreddo, Kenzie Reid, Kristy Conley, Mary Ann Ehrgott, Michaelyn Casto - Team
Evergreen Station #7 Spokane Valley Fire Department - Community

Learning and Teaching Center (District Office):

Kristin Day, ELD Specialist - Certificated
Jesse Hardt, Planning Principal - Certificated
Leslie Heffernan, Teacher - Certificated
Veronica Risken-Oakes, Social Worker - Certificated
Sara Talarico, Elementary Learning Specialist - Certificated
Lori Deckard, Technology Support Specialist - Classified
Jackie Holcomb, Director Secretary - Classified
Cheri Kaatz, Publications Manager - Classified
Michelle Petrilli, Secretary - Classified
Brenda Rennaker, Secretary - Classified
Al Smith, Bus Driver - Classified
Warren Seyler - Community
Facilities Team: Alicia Calton, Brian Catron, Darrell Blank, David St. John, Eric Bartholomew, Greg Romey, Illa Anderson, James Westover, Jeff Huttenmaier, Jeff Mossburgh, Joseph Bach, Mack Crane, Mark Pierce, Mark Weis, Quentin Moya, Samuel Rogers, Scott Doering, Susan Gates, Taylor Parkhill, Tim Cain, Tim Leonetti, William Coder, Zach OReilly, Jerry Brayman - Team
Silent Auction Planning Team: Amber Perry, Holly Haeger, lla Anderson, Laura Bellagio, Lori Deckard, Michelle Petrilli, Shelley Ehlert, Sue Gates, Terry Tallan, Shannon Coder, Victoria Hendricks - Team
BTAP Full Release Mentors: Jonnelle Pierce, Shanna Garnsey - Team
Elementary Social Studies GVC Team: Jill Munstedt, Broadway Elementary; Stephen Hart, Broadway Elementary; Melissa Faire, Chester Elementary; Bethany McMulkin, Greenacres Elementary; Holli Parker, Greenacres Elementary; Taryn Weller, Greenacres Elementary; Aleah Thompson, Liberty Lake Elementary; Mary Beth Bertis, McDonald Elementary; Andrea Framstad, Opportunity Elementary; Larry Beck, Opportunity Elementary ;Leslie Geldien, Opportunity Elementary; Jennell McLaughlin , Riverbend Elementary; Mandee Ennis , South Pines Elementary; Nikki Hayes, Sunrise Elementary; Sarah Schmaltz, Sunrise Elementary - Team
Bus Orientation Team: Dan Harder, Doreen Davis, Janet Terpko, Holly Haeger, Jeff Duncan, Jeff Haynes, Karen Deruwe, Karla Graham-Hauck, Kelli Henr,y Melissa Hammer, Molly Best, Sheryl Polignoni, Stuart Vogelman - Team
Transportation Shop Crew: Anthony Marro, Don Frazier, Ron Scott, Jason Schumacher, Luke Finchum - Team
Truancy Board Volunteers: Jory Bichler,Juvenile Court; Martin Kolodrub, Juvenile Court; Stacey Maiers, CHAS Clinic; Alison McKeever, Children's Home Society; Amber Frohberg, CHAS Clinic; AnnMarie Byrd, Catholic Charities; Ashlee Winlow, Juvenile Court; Cal Coblentz, Spokane Valley Partners; Calla Powrie, Children's Home Society; Darren Christensen, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Lindsay Tipton, Daybreak Youth Services - Community