2006-07 Five-Star Award Winners
The Jordan Board of Education is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s annual Five-Star Awards. The awards honor 10 outstanding employees and two schools for the exceptional contributions they make to the District. This year’s winners received $2,500 and were honored at a recognition banquet.
Year-round Elementary Teacher
Timothy Strebel, fourth-grade, South Jordan
A co-worker writes that Timothy Strebel is “an outstanding example of a caring, energetic and child-centered teacher.” His “capacity to acquire new skills and apply them in a classroom has made his class a model of inquiry, exploration and creativity.”
Traditional Elementary Teacher
Naomi Damron, fifth-grade, Quail Hollow
“Namoi Damron believes that attitudes are contagious, and she tries to make her attitude worth catching,” wrote a parent. “She approaches each day with enthusiasm and hope, to develop within each student a love for and enjoyment of the subjects they study.”
Middle School Teacher
Eva Belliston, language arts, Crescent View
Eva Belliston’s principal shared the experience of a former student who, after serving in Iraq, returned to thank Mrs. Belliston because “lessons he had learned in her drama class…had saved his life and helped him to be instrumental in saving the lives of some of his companions.”
High School Teacher
Kim Searle, psychology,
Copper Hills
One of Kim Searle’s students wrote that “as a teacher and coach, Ms. Searle exemplifies the absolute mentor…Anyone can be a teacher, but it is her ability to inspire action that separates (her) from the rest.”
Certificated At-Large
Eunice Chen, occupational therapist, Jordan Resource Center
A teacher who works with Eunice Chen wrote that she is an amazing therapist who “has made a difference in many, many students’ lives…Helping students develop more independence is a byproduct of much of the training (she) offers.”
Administrator
Sharon Okumura, principal, Canyon View Elementary
A patron wrote that Sharon Okumura was a great addition to the school because of her “open and enthusiastic personality, genuine love for children, teaching skills and charming way of interacting with youngsters and their families.”
Classified Employees
Jim Belmont, graphics technician, Printing Services
A department director wrote that Jim Belmont “knows and values the importance of communicating effectively and working well under pressure…He is forward thinking and thrives on finding innovative ways to do things.”
Joyce Guenon, Native American outreach, Alternative Language Services
A co-worker describes Joyce Guenon as “a role model that has had a positive impact on the lives of many minority… students. (She) knows the reward of giving of oneself…to enable students and families to overcome their challenges and move onward with hope and determination.”
Michelle Nelson, administrative secretary, Auxiliary Services
Michelle Nelson is “a walking database,” according to one supervisor. “She has a mind and memory that is ready in an instant to retrieve accurate information critical to the operation of the office and the school district.”
Shane Smith, head custodian, Brookwood Elementary
A group of students signed one of Shane Smith’s nomination letters. They wrote that Mr. Smith “works hard to keep our school bright and clean. Kids like to help him because he makes work fun. Sometimes he even stops working to shoot hoops with kids.”
School Public Relations
Midvale Middle
During the past school year, Midvale Middle sought to improve communication with the community through mailings, a re-designed Web site and open houses. A former principal reported that building media relationships resulted in at least 16 articles in local newspapers.
Jordan Applied Technology Center, West Jordan Campus
A parent praised JATC, West Jordan Campus, classes: “Keeping students involved in a program that will help them attain their future career sooner keeps students in school and encourages them to continue with their education after high school.”