Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here is our newest honoree:

Everyday Hero
Gladys Larson – Paraeducator, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

Gladys Larson (or ‘OG’ as she is the longest-tenured TMMS employee) is a constant advocate for our students with disabilities and those who work with them. OG is a constant. Wonder where those cookies came from? OG. Curious about the unannounced spread in the break room? OG. Who’s that reading a test to students in her spare time? OG. Who’s maintaining commemoration gardens for those who made a difference at the school? OG. The little things add up and she does them (for both students and staff) all the time. She brings a perspective built on experience, IEP knowledge and genuine interest in finding ways we can improve how we serve kiddos on a daily basis. OG helps us make light of heavy situations and have fun in the process. If something needs doing, she does it, and never takes or seeks credit. Here are just a few of the “extras” OG takes on:

• Stocks the faculty room with goodies
• Acts as a voice for the students
• Does the laundry for Physical Education
• Checks on accommodations in GenEd classes daily
• Provides accommodations in GenEd classes daily
• Covers lunch breaks
• Acts as a shoulder to cry on
• Is always a partner to lean on

We could write a list that goes on forever. Instead, we’ll just shout it out. OG, you’re the best!
Submitted by the Thurgood Marshall Multidisciplinary Team

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here are our newest honorees:

Everyday Heroes
Garfield Elementary School Nursing Staff – Joy Fulling, Tiffany Kulseth and Jennifer Orozco

We would like to nominate the nursing staff at Garfield Elementary School (nurse Joy, nurse Jen and health room assistant Tiffany) as they are our fabulous everyday HEROES. They make a great health room team and communicate well with us in the front office.  They greet each kiddo with kindness and empathy. They take the time to find out the source of the kiddo’s need. It can be providing a kiddo with a safe place, water/snack, a moment to rest, ice pack or a bandaid. They are kind and patient when dealing with families. They go the extra mile with families to provide other resources when needed. They have been known to help and treat staff who have become ill and/or injured on the job. They even stepped in to help cover the office when no subs were available. Garfield is so lucky to have them!!!
Submitted by GES staffers Kate O’Donnell and Michell Orwig

Everyday Hero
Melinda “Mindy” Swedberg – Physical Education Teacher, McKenny Elementary School

With the help of a grant and bike donations, Mrs. Swedberg has instituted a Traffic Garden at McKenny Elementary School this year. The “Garden” helps teach bicycle awareness, safety and encourages the lifelong fitness skill of riding a bike. She received bike donations from the community and then instituted bicycle programming into her curriculum.

Mindy, I am so grateful for your heart for fitness and teaching/exposing the students at McKenny to bicycle safety. I am particularly thankful for the way you recognize students who need a little extra encouragement and attention to take hard and scary steps toward learning to ride a bike, as well as other physical education and fitness skills. These accomplishments are something to be celebrated and I am proud to work with you. Thank you for giving your all in everything you do and really connecting to your students. You Rock!
Submitted by Marnie Prandi, OSD Physical Therapist

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here are our newest honorees:

Everyday Heroes
Support Services and Transportation Department Staff

On behalf of the OSD Teaching & Learning Department (and educators districtwide) we would like to thank a few fantastic individuals from the Support Services and Transportation Departments.

In late November 2022, we reinitiated a project to reorganize and restructure the Instructional Materials and Surplus warehouse spaces, but we needed a team since it is such an extensive undertaking. Anyone who has walked through the warehouse over the last few years knows this space requires a lot of attention.

Frank Wilson and Paul Sierra asked their teams who wanted to help and Lisa Hall, Ricky Wells and Lucas Rasmussen raised their hands to assist. They put in a ton of effort and just went above and beyond over the last couple of weeks. Thank you Support Services, Lisa, Ricky, Lucas, Paul and Frank for your continued project support and partnership with our department. Classrooms around the district are already happier because requests for classroom materials are now getting processed. You are greatly appreciated!
Submitted by Inger Owen, Ryan Howland and the OSD Teaching & Learning Team

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here are our newest honorees:

Everyday Hero
Nancy Swanson, Bilingual Family Engagement Specialist, Bilingual Migrant Education Program Recruiter, Bilingual Housing Stability Screener

Thank you so much for always being willing to go above and beyond helping our bilingual families. We can see that the students adore you and see you as a strong educational resource in our community. We appreciate your willingness to do more than the job requires including chaperoning the Latinx Youth Summit and translating at our evening FAFSA night. You help us and our students SO much and we appreciate your dedication to getting our students equal opportunities! 
Submitted by Nicole Sande, Jenny Morgan, Joel Komschlies, and Stephanie Benfield, Capital HS Counselors

Everyday Heroes
LP Brown Staff

This shout-out, while a little unconventional, is intended to recognize a high-performing team in the Olympia School District. LP Brown Staff, you are my absolute heroes. Every day, every single one of you comes to school looking for ways to improve outcomes for our students. You implement new materials and techniques with an open mind and positive attitude, knowing that your job is to ensure student success. You collect data, monitor progress, and meet regularly to reflect upon the results you receive from students. You are continuously making adjustments to what you are doing to better support the students you serve. I am so proud to be an Eagle with all of you! Here is to many more years together!
Submitted by Sean Shaughnessy, Principal, LP Brown Elementary School

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here is our newest honoree:

Everyday Hero
Brandy Geyer, Administrative Assistant, Student Support

Brandy is a rock(star) for the Special Ed team. Despite my manic phone calls about phantoms stealing my paperwork, Brandy earnestly searches for — and often finds — solutions. She does this with calmness and without assigning blame or contributing to the errors. I am grateful for her patience with me in my most stressed moments.  

Her organization, preparation, and thorough knowledge save the day over and over. Because she is so on top of it, she is by a wide margin the source at the district I (and other special ed teachers around) turn to the most often for answers regarding policy, changes, and what is going on.  She makes molehills out of mountains.  

Thanks, Brandy!
Submitted by Michael Kelly, Teacher, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here are our newest honorees:

Everyday Hero
Bob Kickner, Athletic Director, Olympia High School

We have a large demand for our facilities. Between our own district use and the use of many groups in the community it can be a difficult task to accommodate everyone. Recently we discovered we had a one-week overlap for gym space and were struggling to provide opportunities for gym use to YMCA sports youth volleyball. Bob Kickner, athletic director for Olympia High School, called to see how he could help. Bob worked with our facilities use person, Carmen Panter, as well as the YMCA to provide a solution.  

YMCA kids will practice at Olympia High School during the week and will be tutored by the Olympia High School team. On one of the nights they will be provided passes to watch the OHS team compete. Bob provided a great example of finding a creative way to support both our district needs and the needs of our community partner YMCA where all kids win. Thank you Bob!
Submitted by Frank Wilson, Executive Director of Operations, Support Service Center 

Everyday Heroes
Todd Thornton and Theresa Jones, Groundskeepers, Support Service Center

I wanted to take this opportunity to compliment Todd and Theresa for resolving a work order that has been circulating for a few years. These two were efficient as they cleaned moss from the roof and then cleaned out the gutters around our courtyard. They were sensitive about possibly disrupting classes and communicated with staff about their work plan. Reeves greatly appreciates the hard work displayed by Tod and Theresa as they resolved an issue that has been an eyesore and caused flooding issues in the past. 
Submitted by Aaron Davis, Principal, Reeves Middle School

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here are our newest honorees:

Everyday Hero
Rebecca Waitt, Custodian, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

I wanted to take this opportunity to compliment your employee, Rebecca Waitt. Every day, Rebecca serves the students and staff of Thurgood Marshall Middle School with her dedication, tireless work ethic, loyalty and pleasant personality.  Her hard work keeps the teachers teaching and the students learning. Rebecca truly is a hero!
Submitted by Marisa Dillard, ELA/CSI, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

Everyday Hero
Steve Taylor, Athletic Director, Capital High School

I want to thank Steve Taylor for helping put together an amazing presentation for a fallen hero in our sports community. Recently, we lost a beloved referee who has served our community for many years. Steve created a small ceremony to honor the service of this referee and present a token of appreciation to his wife and family. His attention to detail and such compassion for the family as well as his colleagues was a thing of beauty. We are so blessed at CHS to have such an amazing person on our staff and in our community. Thank you, Steve Taylor, for all you do as our Athletic Director and thank you so much for putting together such an amazing celebration on Thursday for Mr. Kain. We appreciate you.
Submitted by Ja’Wanne Brown, Assistant Principal, Capital High School

Everyday Hero
Cynthia Riley, Teacher/Special Education, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

Ms. Riley, previously a NBCT in the general arena, made the jump to the IEP department this year. We are thrilled to have her. She is an enthusiastic and sincere advocate for our students, frequently collaborating with other staff throughout the day. This is notable as she is working only part time but puts in hours beyond that of a full-time load. She attends meetings hours away from her contract time, both before and after. She actively seeks out new training to add to her already significant teaching skillset. She takes a humble approach to new things (like the paperwork) despite learning it as quickly as anyone I’ve seen. Her combination of experience, skill, and zeal for serving those most in need brighten our department and strengthen student lives. Her sharp humor and authenticity ensure that we don’t take ourselves too seriously while doing serious work. She is an asset to education.
Submitted by Michael Kelly, Teacher, Thurgood Marshall Middle School

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here is our newest honoree:

Everyday Heroes
Transportation Department

I would like to recognize those in Transportation working so hard at getting special education routes set up. From what I experienced, the pickup and drop-off times were communicated to families in record time before the start of this year. One parent I spoke to was pleasantly surprised at being notified in a timely fashion before the start of the year. It’s great to see happy, smiling drivers and monitors too!

As we all know, a well-organized and staffed transportation system is a critical element to smooth school operations, so thank you!
Submitted by Denise Hammer, Social Services Coordinator, Boston Harbor and Madison elementary schools 

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here is our newest honoree:

Everyday Hero
Sam Logan, Data Systems Developer, Technology/Knox 111 Administrative Center

I would like to express how thankful I am for Sam Logan in the development team.  He has continually had to listen to me ask for better ways for staff to use the ETRS system.  I am NOT a tech savvy person so explaining what I need or want and trying to interpret my meaning, he has been patient and kind and magically makes it work.  He just improved the allocated hours for staff to now see what is remaining when in ETRS.  This will be SUCH a helpful tool for staff.  Thank you so much for all you do for the district!  It is GREATLY appreciated!
Submitted by Tonya Palmer, Payroll Supervisor, Payroll/Knox 111 Administrative Center

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.

Everyday Heroes is a regular feature in this staff blog. Remember to submit names of employees districtwide who have done something deserving of encouragement and praise. Give a shout-out to one of your colleagues at your school or support building and watch for it to appear in an upcoming Everyday Heroes blog post.

Here is our newest honoree:

Everyday Hero
Theresa Jones, Grounds Crew, Capital High and Jefferson Middle schools

Theresa Is part of our Grounds staff and has been taking care of the grounds at Capital High School and Jefferson Middle School. Theresa does a stellar job keeping these sites looking beautiful for the staff and students to enjoy! She goes above and beyond tackling things like the famous “blackberry hill” by the baseball fields at Capital High School.

The Support Service Center office recently received a call from a community member who said, “the Capital High School campus has never looked so good.”

As one of our senior Teamster members here at the Olympia School District, she sets a great example for everyone and shows true dedication to our district with her hard work. She does this rain or shine and always with a smile.
Submitted by Paul Sierra, Maintenance and Grounds Supervisor, Support Service Center

How to nominate an Everyday Hero

• Email the Communications and Community Relations Department (communications@osd.wednet.edu) a few sentences, and no more than 200 words, about why the person deserves recognition. It’s easiest to write as if speaking directly to the colleague, such as “Thank you for helping with…” or “I really appreciated when you…”
• Write “Everyday Heroes” in the subject heading of the email.
• Include your first and last name as the person submitting the comments.
• Include the first and last name of the OSD employee you are recognizing.
• Include the job title and work location (school or department) of the person you are recognizing.

All submissions will be posted in this blog on a weekly basis and archived each week.