(Excellence in Education 2024 finalist | Photo courtesy of Bend-La Pine School District)
Bend-La Pine Schools is recognizing staff members from across the district who have distinguished themselves this school year with their leadership, innovation, outstanding professional practice, and positive contributions at work and in the community.
The 73 honorees, nominated by their supervisors, were recognized at the annual Excellence in Education Awards held May 15 at Mountain View High School. They include custodians, counselors, kitchen managers, classroom teachers, educational assistants, office managers, bus drivers and others who have had a positive impact on students.
“It’s a wonderful celebration of the Bend-La Pine Schools exceptional staff members who are exemplars of their profession,” Superintendent Steven Cook said. “This is a talented, dedicated and caring group of educators and support staff that bring their commitment and joy to work every single day.”
At the end of the program, the district named 14 finalists for the certified employee of the year and the support staff employee of the year. Those two honors will be announced at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Excellence in Education finalists for 2024 are:
Support Staff of the Year:
- Carisa Gregg – Custodial Department
- Amanda Caffro – Rosland Elementary
- Tom Hollingshead – Caldera High School
- Nicole Garroutte – Elk Meadow Elementary
- Tiffany Schreiber – La Pine Middle School
- Bobbi Nelson – Juniper Elementary
- Glen Carey – W.E. Miller Elementary
Certified Employee of the Year:
- Heidi Dixon – Realms High School
- Lauren Miller – Cascade Middle School
- Cameron Salvitelli – La Pine High School
- Terri Wolnick – Bear Creek Elementary
- Mary Dean – Elk Meadow Elementary
- Kristina Ebner – La Pine Elementary
- Emily Curfew – Lava Ridge Elementary
Excellence in Education honorees for 2024 are:
- Amity Creek Magnet School — Haley Horton
- Bear Creek Elementary — Terri Wolnick, Eugenia Ryder
- Bend Senior High School — Kevin Cooper, Lauren Roberts
- Bend Tech Academy — Marcus Glassow, Marty Codino
- Buckingham Elementary — Margaret Donohue, Kristina Biederman
- Caldera High School — Lindsay Nickerson, Tom Hollingshead
- Cascade Middle School — Lauren Miller, Jimmy Thebo
- Elk Meadow Elementary — Mary Dean, Nicole Garroutte
- Ensworth Elementary — Jeff Johnson, Rebecca Easton
- High Desert Middle School — Elissa Freeman, Gina Samuel
- High Lakes Elementary — Erin Dugan, Nicole Bianchi
- Highland Magnet School — Michelle Watt, Danielle Donnell
- Juniper Elementary — Kristina Burkhart, Bobbi Nelson
- La Pine Elementary — Kristina Ebner, Alyssa Lohner
- La Pine High School — Cameron Salvitelli, Bridget Montgomery
- La Pine Middle School — Stuart Johnson, Tiffany Schreiber
- Lava Ridge Elementary — Emily Curfew, Kathy Batz
- Mountain View High School — Andy Young, Heidi Hanson
- North Star Elementary School — Allison Harris, Gwyn Bell
- Pacific Crest Middle School — Ryan McLaughlin, Tami Nielsen
- Pilot Butte Middle School — Lyndsey Hendrix, Michelle Harris-Waldow
- Pine Ridge Elementary — Katie Bravo, Cathi Moffenbeier
- Ponderosa Elementary — Cami Green, Bev Nyden
- E. Jewell Elementary — Cody Petersen, Chi Komaki
- Realms Middle/High School — Heidi Dixon, Jae Brown
- Rosland Elementary — Jeannie Thorp, Amanda Caffro
- Silver Rail Elementary — Melanie Kent, Sara Maxwell
- Sky View Middle School — Jennie Wenndorf, Catherine Honey
- Summit High School — Marni Spitz, Lori Davis
- Three Rivers K-8 School — Shalea Zepeda, Joanne Trese
- Westside Village Magnet School — Gabriel Linn, Kelly Duran
- William E. Miller Elementary — Glen Carey, Annette Bowler
- Nutrition Services — Norma Morales
- Maintenance — Jim Scott
- Custodial Department — Carisa Gregg
- Information Technology — Josh Brown
- Teaching & Learning — Kaelynn Adams
- Bend Transportation — Danette Dillman
- La Pine Transportation — Jack Nielsen
- Human Resources — Kelly Marty
- Bend-La Pine Online — Jaye Gibb, Lisa Knowles
