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Carson City School District honors 2019-2020 Educators and Employees of the Year

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce individuals who have excelled in their positions as educators and employees and have been recognized for their works of merit by their peers and coworkers.

Traditionally, the school district selects one Educator and one Education Support Professional (ESP) Employee from all of the school sites to represent the entire district in each respective role.

Due to the restraints of school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the school district has elected to forgo the awards ceremony dedicated to recognizing these individuals. As such, no single overall winner will be selected as Educator of the Year and ESP Employee of the Year.

"Each of these individuals regularly inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn, and have earned the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues,” said Richard Stokes, superintendent for the Carson City School District. “Great teachers and employees are the core of a great educational system. They change the lives of individual students, daily. These winners are not only wonderful representatives for our school district, but they also make profound differences in our community each day.”

The Educators of the Year and ESP Employees of the Year winners recognized and honored (by their site alphabetically) include:

Shanell Cavener, algebra and geometry teacher at Carson High School

Robin Bleuss, account clerk II at Carson High School

Whitney Tynes, counselor at Carson Middle School

Jenny Ayala, para professional ESL at Carson Middle School

Lois Linehan, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) at Eagle Valley Middle School

Denise DiMarzo, administrative secretary at Eagle Valley Middle School

Tara Hornemann, physical education teacher at Al Seeliger Elementary School

Karen Shaffer, office specialist at Al Seeliger Elementary School

Jessica Dunbar, second grade teacher at Bordewich Bray Elementary School

Cathleen Childs, para professional II at Bordewich Bray Elementary School

Theresa Marler, first grade teacher at Empire Elementary School

Carolina Higuera, office specialist at Empire Elementary School

Carol “Susie” Owens, second grade teacher at Fremont Elementary School

Mayelen Garijo, para professional ESL at Fremont Elementary School

Christine Donaldson, kindergarten teacher at Fritsch Elementary School

Dawn Bateman, para professional IV (1:1) at Fritsch Elementary School

Tearra Bobula, computer teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School

Casandra Blankenship, office specialist at Mark Twain Elementary School

John Corbit, math teacher at Pioneer High School

Karen Wayne, cook/baker at Pioneer High School

Kari Pryor, TOSA Implementation Specialist Cognitive Coach for Student Support Services

Sandra Guzzetta, para professional IV for Student Support Services

Michael Luke, bus driver trainer for Transportation

Gary Jones, skilled building maintenance for Operations

Gina Heinz, administrative secretary II for the District Office

The Carson City School District also recognizes Deanne Foley, RN, school nurse at Carson Middle School, as Health Professional of the Year, and Paula Zona, principal at Seeliger Elementary School, as Administrator of the Year.

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