Quyana to Tammie Smith-Scott, Frank Hardy, Damien Salvo, John Tuner and Eric Brown at Community Services/Rentals! The Auditorium Technicians for the Anchorage School District are absolutely amazing! We have called them on several occasions in the past few years to help us get the sound and lights dialed in at Gruening Middle School multipurpose room. Each time they have responded quickly, professionally, and with cheerful enthusiasm. They are one of the hidden treasures in our district and we greatly appreciate them.
- Greg Barta and Barbara Reeves, Gruening Middle School staff members
Quyana to Anne McCarron at Steller Secondary! I'd like to send a big thank you to nurse Anne McCarron for watching out for our kids at Steller. She organized shot clinics and a blood drive, maintained a noodle stash and a clothing cache, and provided helpful seasonal tech tips through the Steller Flash all year long. Quyana!
- Susan Mitchell, parent
Quyana to Lucinda Eliason-Jensen, Jennifer Kueter, Ellen Frolich, Mike McGee, Sharon Page, Sharyl Steiding, Amber Stout, Nicole Ullman, Kim Weimann and Chuck Zimmer at Susitna, Scenic Park, Abbott Loop, Polaris, Baxter, Chugiak, Kasuun, and Campbell elementary schools! These generous teachers served as mentors to UAA Early Childhood interns this year. They were outstanding partners in UAA's teacher education program!
- Karen Roth and Hilary Seitz, UAA Early Childhood Program, UAA faculty
Quyana to Mr. Ivan Doucet at Susitna Elementary! I just want to thank Mr. Ivan for his work with the Susitna basketball team and for being an exceptional role model for my son during his years at Susitna. I appreciate his willingness to take an interest in the youth at the school and helping them feel proud of making positive choices.
- Monica Byrd, parent
Quyana to Benjamin Elbow at Susitna Elementary! Mr. Ben has been an exceptional role model and indirect mentor for my son during his years at Susitna. He is kind, caring and generally concerned about the children he encounters both academically and athletically. This concern fosters a confidence in the youth that can not be easily shaken by peer pressure or other negative influences. I appreciate the work he does with the basketball team and other extracurricular activities. I know Ian will truly miss you but your work with him has prepared him for the next level of life! Thank you.
- Monica Byrd, parent
Quyana to Derrick Bell, Dustun Blevins and the entire staff at the ASD Warehouse! Thank you for delivering the orange trash bags to almost 75 schools for the Super Sweeper program. I ended up making many amendments to the original delivery list I sent to the Warehouse and its staff was very accommodating and timely in making these additional deliveries. In many situations, orange bags were delivered within just a few business days of my request.
In addition to delivering all of the bags to our schools, the Warehouse delivered large quantities of bags to all of the Anchorage and Eagle River Fred Meyer locations. Fred Meyer serves as a centralized point for community members and businesses to pick up bags for their cleanup efforts. The Warehouse generously made these deliveries again this year and the Anchorage Chamber and Fred Meyer have expressed their gratitude.
Quyana to Derrick, Dustun and the entire staff for being timely, reliable and friendly throughout this districtwide campaign!
- Heather D. Roach, peer
Quyana to Howard Mozen at Begich Middle School! Mr. Mozen, you are an awesome teacher! You go out of your way to help your students learn. Whether it's inspiring reluctant readers with special dogs or providing kids with a safe, supportive learning environment. You always put the most important things first -- the kids.
- Elaina Hveding, peer
Quyana to Jeri Pickerel at Bear Valley Elementary! Last week I attended an outstanding musical performed by the sixth grade students from Bear Valley. Much time and effort went into this production. What a wonderful memory for the students who are moving on to middle school. Many thanks go to Mrs. Jeri Pickerel whose vision made this possible.
- Cathy Brandt, grandparent
Quyana to Rick Zelinsky at Bayshore, Sand Lake, Chinook, Gladys Wood, Klatt and Kincaid! I am truly AMAZED by his skill and determination with the ASD band students -- he covers several schools and has tons of kids to teach. Most of these kids have never played an instrument and he finds the time to help these kids learn and succeed all while helping foster an appreciation of music! He is great!
My daughter is a sixth-grade band student of his, and as a parent I see the skills he is teaching her. I work at Bayshore and as a peer I watch him work so diligently with our band students. I went to Sonic Boom for the first time this year and I was in awe! Wow! What a collaboration! As a community member this was fabulous to see! Thank you sir for all you do to keep music alive in our schools!
- Kathy Easley RN-Bayshore School Nurse
Quyana to Colette Victor at College Gate Elementary! A big thank you to Ms. Victor for giving so much of her time so that the kids at College Gate could have an after-school Polynesian Club. It was wonderful seeing the smiles that she created!
- Sandy Roys, peer
Quyana to Afshan Mohammad at Eagle River High! I would like to take a moment to recognize Ms. Mohammad for her dedication, not only to my son's education but her entire class. She is truly a teacher who takes pride in her job and her students. Ms. Mohammad is not teaching for just a paycheck, she is teaching for the future president, governor, or teacher of a higher education.
- John W. Thomas, parent
Quyana to Ed Scherer at Whaley School! Thank you Ed, for your compassionate leadership at Whaley School. During your time as principal of Whaley, you've fostered a caring environment for both staff and students, developed policies that made a positive difference, and kept your door open to all. Your ability to see the best in everyone enhances our school climate every day. We all appreciate you and wish you the best in your retirement.
- Nancy Bale, Whaley School staff
Quyana to Enrique Quinteros at North Star Elementary School! Quyana for your support with my job. It has been a challenge and thanks for the help I get from fellow employees couldn't have been this good without the support from ASD ELL staff quyana again.
- Mary Alexie, bilingual tutor
Quyana to Bartlett High School staff! Our second child graduated from Bartlett high school last week. We would like to thank the teachers that helped her through her high school years and prepared her for college life. Mr. Prince was her student government teacher. She learned to a great deal from her time in his class. She help organize events, learned how to be a leader and a teammate but more importantly Mr. Prince taught them that their point of view counted. He never forgot that the class was called STUDENT government. He let the children lead as he took the role of mentor. Ms. Farris and Mr. Hood never talked down to their students. They expected a lot from our daughter and she stepped up to their expectations. Audrey was blessed with many teachers that set the bar high Mr. Foss, Mrs. Stone, Mr. Grenier, Ms. Vano. They like their job and it shows. We also wish to thank her counselor Mr. Ray Johnson for helping us keep everything straight. Bartlett is a great school, a hidden gem in our city. Thank you
- The Oswald Family
Quyana to Jodi Kay, Richelle Jungwirth, Jenna Ellinwood, Tasha Bergt, Meghan Louglin, and Warren Fukuji at Huffman Elementary! A special thank you to the teachers who go above and beyond to make Huffman a wonderful school. I am grateful for the time and energy you give to my kids (and all students) at school each day. Thank you for being a role model and a credit to the teaching profession. Have a wonderful summer. You deserve it!
- Kelly Tirpack, parent
Quyana to Joanne Christian at Tudor Elementary! Ms Joanne has worked with my son Hayden for two years now. He has blossomed in her classroom! I'm grateful for all the hard work and caring this teacher puts into her craft. Thank you Ms. Joanne for being such a wonderful influence in our son's life!
- Melissa Knodel, parent
Quyana to Mrs. Jeffryes, Mrs. Reynolds and Mr. Kach at Kincaid Elementary School! Many Quyanas and Faafetais to the BEST SIXTH-GRADE TEACHERS IN ALASKA!! I want to thank you for all that you have done for my daughter Leona Taua'ese Houser! Thank you for the most challenging and tough adventure you have put her through, yet making it a very fun and learning experience for her! I am sooo very proud of my daughter Leona, for she has become a very confident and independent individual! And it's because of people like these three that has helped her throughout this whole process. You guys are greatly appreciated, and I am very thankful and grateful that my daughter had the opportunity to be taught by the three of you! Thank you sooo much for a great year, and have a wonderful summer! God bless you guys!
- Easter Houser, proud parent
Quyana to Asaka Erdmann at Sand Lake Elementary! Asaka Erdmann is one of the absolute most outstanding teachers that Sand Lake Elementary has. She has made an extraordinary impact on my son's education. My son's attitude has changed in a positive manner since he has been in her class. She is always so welcoming and kind. My son says that, "She is awesome!" Thank you Asaka for being so Awesome!
- Sincerely, Melissa Chisham, parent
Quyana to Mary Richards at ASD Office of Curriculum and Instruction, LA/SS Literacy Integration! Mary Richards has been a great supporter of helping to integrate writing literacy into the curriculum through the support of document based essay questions in the My Access Program. She brings the strength of classroom teaching experience and her knowledge of the steps to creating strong writing for ALL students into the classroom as she works with students and teachers on these Social Studies projects. I have enjoyed team teaching and presenting with her for the past three years as she has helped my ninth-grade World History students grow in their writing abilities and critical thinking skills. Mary has spent hours training many teachers across the district to use the My Access program to grow students' writing ability. Thanks for all of your time and effort Mary. It is fantastic to see the good results from year to year.
- Valerie Ekberg-Brown, colleague
Quyana to Bobbi Jo Erb at Mirror Lake Middle School! Mrs. Erb, you’re an amazing teacher that will be missed by all. I enjoyed learning in your class this year and look forward to seeking you out for math help, if needed. You've been a great role model in showing us how to be prepared for life, and I speak for all of my classmates when I say thank you. We'll all miss you! Thanks for an amazing school year! I LOVE MATH!
- Annie Connelly, student
Quyana to Mr. Don Curry at Mears Middle School! For going the extra mile during lunch time and after school. Thank you for sharing your expertise, and patience with our son. He has learned so much from you these past two years. We will miss you.
- Grace and Pat O'Brien, parents
Quyana to Kristee Dowling, first-grade teacher at College Gate Elementary! Kristee is a wonderful support of school nurses and works hard every year with her class to recognize nurses day. Nursing is often referred to as a thankless job and recognition from a class is such a wonderful thing. Kristee works with her first- graders and always is so kind to me and I truly appreciate it! Thank you Kristee for your wonderful support of school nurses!
- Kathy Tatakis, peer
Quyana to Sharon Canadine at Hanshew Middle School! I'd like to extend a Quyana to Sharon Canadine who fearlessly took on a major project with me this Spring. Sharon spent countless hours working with me on our Middle School Reading Apprenticeship trainings this year. She gave up weekends, afterschool time, and ultimately helped me train 290 middle school teachers with an overview of the Reading Apprenticeship classroom model in one month's time. She was always available, never scoffed at any task from moving boxes and supplies to co-training groups as large as 75 teachers. I appreciate Sharon's dedication and am proud to have had a chance to work with such a committed educator. Thank you for all your hard work Sharon! Thank you to Julye Neel at Hanshew for allowing us to utilize Sharon for this large scale training effort!
- Stacy Miller, peer
Quyana to Jennifer Knutson at Related Services! I'd like to recognize Jennie who has been an instrumental player in the success of our Middle School Response to Instruction Academy this year. Jennie has offered her time, expertise, and bravely jumped in to work with our school based implementation teams as we prepare for implementing RTI at the Middle School level. Thank you Jennie for all of the time you have spent teaching our school teams about the foundational concepts of RTI and the tools you have given us to plan and prepare for our RTI implementation.
- Stacy Miller, peer
Quyana to Scenic Park Elementary staff! Our second child will be graduating from high school today. She had a great start to her academic career at Scenic Park. She was a part of the wonderful multi-age program that focused on teaching with a team of teachers working together as a small learning community. She had a great start with her kindergarten teacher Mrs. Larson and her first-grade teacher Mrs. Beck. The rest of her time was spent with her multi-age team of teachers. Kelly Newman and Lynn Mayberry taught side by side working hard to teach to each child's needs. They embraced our child's quirky/silly personality. They were firm but loving when they dealt with their students; our daughter just loved them! She ended her time at Scenic Park with Becky Forsyth and Heather Jipping. They worked hard to help our daughter become a strong independent learner. She had the best of both worlds with these two teachers. Mrs. Forsyth is wonderful at teaching writing skills and Mrs. Jipping is equally adept at teaching math. Our daughter was well prepared for her middle school years. Scenic Park is a wonderful community where all staff members value children and learning. Our Building Plant Operator, Ed Lee, also played a big part in our child's life. He took an active part in watching over the children and enjoying their class activities with them. He often stopped by the gym to join in on the fun or go by the class to check on children or congratulate them on a special accomplishments. It was not uncommon to see him attending our daughter's volleyball games during her middle and high school days. We appreciate all the staff at Scenic Park and everything they did to enrich our daughter’s life.
- Vonda Oswald, parent
Quyana to Timothy Godfrey at Birchwood ABC Elementary! Mr. Godfrey is a tremendous asset to Birchwood ABC. He has been an inspiration and source of motivation for our children over the past two years. They love him and they prosper under his guidance! He always has a smile on his face and a kind word to say! He is the shining example of professionalism, leadership and community spirit for our parents and children alike.
Many of us appreciate Mr. Godfrey and send our Quyanas!
- Katrina Arledge, parent, school volunteer, substitute resource teaching assistant
Quyana to Rick Zelinsky at the Music Department! This year I have had the privilege of experiencing the Anchorage School District music program with my son who played in his sixth-grade band. I love music and was excited for my child to have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument. With the end of the school year upon us, I wanted to express my appreciation for the program after seeing how important music can become to a child.
His band teacher, Mr. Rick Zelinsky, is phenomenal and has given my child much more than the gift of music. He has encouraged and believed in my son to be the very best he can be, provided him with a new confidence and self-esteem, and has made learning fun. Because of my sons experience this year, he is excited to continue playing his instrument for many years to come.
I'm grateful that our children have these opportunities in their schools and I want to thank the entire ASD Music Department for their outstanding job this year.
- Stephanie Dale, parent
Quyana to Henry Ferguson at the Gifted Program! Mr. Ferguson has gone above and beyond his call of duty. He goes as far as calling to see if my child is doing well in the weekends. His tireless effort in instilling motivation and the positive interaction with my child has helped my child grow academically. My family and I greatly appreciate all his efforts and am thankful for this wonderful resource that Anchorage School District offers.
- Ima Bjorkman, community member
Quyana to Sean Murphy, principal at Wonder Park Elementary School! As a Title I principal Sean continually goes above and beyond the call of duty. An example of this is Sean himself provided child care during the recent Title I Central Parent Advisory Committee meeting, which wasn't even held in his school. Thank you Sean for caring so greatly about our children and families and giving your time.
- Karin Halpin, Title I supervisor
Quyana to Jackie VanDaff at Bayshore Elementary! I would like to say congratulations to my supervisor and friend, Jackie Vandaff, for 42 years of service to the Anchorage School District. Your dedication to our Special Education students is obvious and I can see how much you care about them all. You have been a great person to work with and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at Bayshore with you. I wish you all the best in your retirement and all that the future offers you!
- Tracie Swanson, peer
Quyana to Vicki Smith and Lola Long at Human Resources! These ladies are so helpful and patient whenever I call over with my "who do I talk to for?" They always take the time to either try to answer my question or refer me to the proper person who can. I appreciate them very much! Thanks, Ladies!
- Roberta Townes, administrative assistant
Quyana to Robert Tornfelt at Clark Middle School! On behalf of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alaska Alumnae Chapter, I would like to recognize Robert Tornfelt. Robert is an amazing reminder to his co-workers of what professionalism looks like in workplace behavior and attitude. He never partakes in gossip and is always quick to share positive views on any situation. He reminds us that conflict is best resolved when you speak with the other party directly before taking further actions or talking about the situation to others. He is thoughtful and intentional about his teaching practices and strives to build positive relationships with his students and rebuild damaged ones. He holds his students to a high standard and is always eager to create opportunities for them to show off their musical abilities. We always need a calm, level-headed person during a crisis.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Alaska Alumnae Chapter
Quyana to Heather McIntyre at Clark Middle School! On behalf of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alaska Alumnae Chapter, I would like to recognize Heather McIntyre. Heather is a second year teacher of Social Studies but you would never know it by how involved she is. Heather rises above and beyond on a daily basis. She has helped coach cross country running, she is currently the track head coach and all of this while still providing great opportunities for students in the class room. During academic times she conducts seminars on a regular basis, coordinated field trips for students that tie in with academics and she teaches in the after school, extended day, program. All of these things she does with a smile and with great energy. Her efforts are reflected in the way students feel about her class and her ability to care for each student and their learning. Her passions come through in all of her activities. Do not change!
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc Alaska Alumnae Chapter
Quyana to Peggy Brannon, Beth Allman, Barbara Williams and Laura Adams at Kasuun Elementary! I would like to thank my sixth-grade teachers Ms. Brannon, Mrs. Allman, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Adams for being amazing teachers from day one. These four teachers have been inspiring role models and have pushed me to be my best. So thank you Ms.Brannon, Mrs. Allman, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Adams for believing in me and helping me become the best person I can be.
- Taylor Mitchell, student
Quyana to Mr. Richard Sandhoefner at Kasuun Elementary! Mr. Sandhoefner has been an excellent teacher to our son, who came as a new student this year to Kasuun Elementary. He has helped our son to dramatically improve his reading skills and has made attending school something our son now looks forward to. We have seen a new level of confidence in our child that was not evident until he entered the third grade with Mr. Sanhoefner. We appreciate Mr. Sandhoefner's dedication to teaching and helping little guys to succeed and to enjoy elementary school.
- Dmitri and Tonya Shakhov, parents
Quyana to Jamie Rodriguez at Polaris K-12! I want to congratulate Jamie Rodiguez and the Westward Movement cast from Polaris on their amazing production. I thoroughly enjoyed the program and applaud all the hard work that went into making it happen.
- Mary Lee Miller, peer
Quyana to Jamie Rodriguez at Polaris K-12! Her dedication to the teaching profession, effusive positivity, encouragement and challenge to all their students - stands out in Jamie! She shares her love of the theater arts to her students and parents which brought them the holistic theater experience of physical and mental discipline, flexibility, group cooperation, boundless creativity and resourcefulness. You brought out the best fibers in every student that crossed your path. You will be sorely missed Jamie. We offer a heartfelt thanks from your family group!
- Joel and Maria Del Rosario, parents
Quyana to Dale Evern, principal; Elizabeth Wood, administrative assistant; Michelle Hawkins, secretary; students; and parents at Steller Secondary! This is my first year as Steller's nurse and I have found the experience to be very gratifying, to say the least. The principal sets a positive tone for the building with his outgoing personality and positive demeanor. The AA and secretary are amazing - they work together extraordinarily well and have an ardent desire to help others. The teachers are enthusiastic about their job - their drive and vitality is inspirational. The students at Steller as well, have idealism and confidence that makes them a delight to be around. And finally, the Steller parents exhibit unwavering support of the school and are committed both with their time and resources. A fellow school nurse told me that Steller is the most cohesive school in the district. That may well be true. Additionally, I have found that not only does everyone have a strong positive regard for each other, but everyone places a great deal of merit on the wonderful works done at Steller (in academics, community involvement, etc.). All this makes Steller a great environment to work in.
- Anne McCarron, school nurse
Quyana to Sandy Walkins, Tamara Hinkle, Jayne Bredin and Lucy Malloy at Sand Lake Elementary office staff! Sand Lake has an awesome office staff who are the back bone of our school. They are always there to help with a smile. I had the opportunity the other day to do their job for 30 minutes while the rest of the staff served them lunch for National Secretaries Week and during that time it made me really appreciate the ground they walk on. Thank you, ladies for all your hard work!
- Theresa S.Brodish, teacher
Quyana to Kitty Logan, principal at Eagle Academy Charter School! My heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Logan. This is her first year at EACS, and within that short span of time, she has already contributed significantly to the school. Ms. Logan is fantastic with students; my son told me he always enjoys talking to her, and that she has great ideas for fun and educational events. He absolutely adores her.
Ms. Logan is ALWAYS doing whatever is best for the school; she truly cares about everyone, from teachers and staff, to students and parents. I commend her for being an excellent educator and supervisor; as the principal and leader, she sets the tone for the school, and I can honestly say, this past year has been a phenomenal one for my son.
My son has been at EACS since kindergarten and will be attending middle school next year. Fortunately, he will be entering middle school with a solid foundation. He was blessed to receive an excellent education, along with the pleasure of being under the tutelage of superb teachers and surrounded by a caring staff. We have a lot of fond memories to take with us. We are also fortunate we were there during the time Ms. Logan became the principal. Thank you, Ms. Logan, for everything you do for EACS. We will miss you and the school, yet we thank God for blessing us with such a wonderful time there!
- Barbara Ringland, parent
Quyana to Dawn Broquet at Williwaw Elementary School! We are very thankful to Miss Broquet for accommodating our son with special needs in her class. Even though she has more students this year, she opened the doors of her class that enabled our son to learn much from his peers as well as develop friendships along the way. The skills and relationships that he has learned because of your accommodation is beyond this note of heartfelt thanks. You have made a huge difference in the quality of his life! Thank you so much!
- Joel and Maria del Rosario, parents
Quyana to Julie Pierce, Zareena Clendaniel, Phil Farson, Shirley Greeninger and Marina Gantz at Curriculum and Instruction, Accountability and the English Language Learner Program! Quyana to all for assisting the Assessment and Evaluation Department with the processing of the Standards Based Assessment and High School Graduation Qualifying Exam in April. It's hard work and your assistance really made a difference -- it saved us from working a weekend and we enjoyed working with you. A&E thanks you and hopes you join us next year!
- Laurel Vorachek, executive director, Assessment and Evaluation
Quyana to Genne Taganahan at Muldoon Elementary School- Special Education K-2! Ms. Genne as she is affectionately called at Muldoon Elementary has been a very effective teacher in working with her special education students in grades K-2. She works hard with the K-2 teachers in supporting those students and those students have made great gains. She has also achieved her master's degree in Special Education and has been a team player in making decisions in regard to the regular classrooms that she has supporting. Her smile brightens everyone's day and she is wonderful who teaches the lives of every student that comes into her classroom.
- Penny Seliger, peer
Quyana to officers Cyndi Addington and Mark Wells, Dimond School Resource Officers! These two officers came quickly to investigate a break in and theft at Willow Crest and provided incredible support to our school. We were able to recover the items lost within a few short hours and feel very fortunate to have these two on our team.
- Kristina Peterson, principal, Willow Crest Elementary
Quyana to Airyan Pendergrast at Willow Crest Elementary! Airyan's quick thinking and knowledge of the community helped Willow Crest to recover missing items quickly today. Her long standing at Willow Crest and ability to connect with people help our school on a daily basis. We are lucky to have Airyan on our team!
- Kristina Peterson, principal
Quyana to Kent Kuelper at Spring Hill Physical Education! I would like to thank “Mr. K” for his 26 years of dedication to the staff, students and community of Spring Hill. He encouraged every student to do their best, give it a try and always, always have fun. My daughters learned how to be awesome athletes and teammates from him. I will miss you as an integral, fun-loving member of our staff. Thanks for the good times, enjoy your retirement.
- Jeanne Hamilton, peer
Quyana to Cindy Mans at Inlet View Elementary! Cindy Mans is our school librarian, which means she works with every child, every teacher, each grade level's curricula, as well as school-wide activities. That in itself is huge. Cindy's depth and breadth of knowledge to meet all our needs is remarkable. Her follow through with students' individual needs and with parents is consistent and always helpful. Cindy makes Inlet View a better place for our whole school community. She is a joy to work with. With much appreciation.
- Ellyn Derman, peer
Quyana to Fairview Elementary kindergarten teachers Julie Sery, Kim Shields and Katie Sidoti! The superstar kindergarten Team at Fairview Elementary, has once again reached 95 percent proficiency with ALL Kindergartners at Fairview. This is the second year in a row that these ladies have achieved these amazing results. They work every minute of every day to make our students successful readers and confident children. Fairview is lucky to have these talented teachers!
- Nuri Johnsen, Fairview Elementary literacy coach
Quyana to Patrick Garrity at Alpenglow Elementary! Mr. Garrity is the best principal that we have come across with our sixth grade son. He is caring, attentive, and understanding. He takes the time to really get to know his students on a one-on-one level. If a student is having a difficult time, he never rushes to punishment. Instead, he takes the time to discuss the behavior with the student, find the student's strengths, and work with the student in a positive way. Thank you Mr. Garrity for being a positive influence in your students' lives.
- Lisa Bunag, parent
