A pulsing soundtrack signaled the official start of the School Opening All Staff Meeting for the teachers and staff of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU). The body language of the assembled gathering of some 200 teachers and staff illustrated that everyone was eager to begin the academic year. Dancing, smiles, waves and hugs were in abundance at the auditorium at the Manchester Elementary Middle school.
“I want every child to walk through our doors and feel pride, excitement and joy,” Superintendent Randi Lowe told the crowd. “We want our students to thrive. And I believe without hesitation that if we come together and trust each other, we can accomplish this goal.”
In the spirit of celebration and achievement, the opening session featured the announcement of the 2023 BRSU Staff Awards honoring teachers and support staff. Each year two recipients in three categories are recognized for their work during the prior school year.
The most recent award is for BRSU support staff which honors the vital contributions made daily by paraeducators, custodians, chefs, bus drivers and administrators. This accolade was inaugurated in 2020 to acknowledge the important staff contributions made during the early months of the pandemic and is now an annual staple. This year’s award goes to Debra Daley, paraeducator at the Currier Memorial School and Margaret Pike, an Account Payable Specialist at the BRSU central office.
The remaining two BRSU award categories highlight the work of the professional teaching faculty. The BRSU Teacher Award goes to honorees nominated and selected by their colleagues. To be eligible for this citation, an instructor must have at least three years of experience at the BRSU and not won previously. This year’s BRSU Teacher Award recipients are Ashley Short, Special Educator in the Anchor Program at the Manchester Elementary Middle School and Holly Hjelt, Fourth Grade Teacher at The Dorset School.
The BRSU also nominates two teachers each year for the University of Vermont’s Outstanding Teachers award from across the state. It honors educators who best exemplify five standards of Vermont teaching: learning, professional knowledge, advocacy, colleagueship and accountability. BRSU principals and senior staff recommend a short list of instructors for the UVM special designation. The final decision for the two BRSU recipients rests with Superintendent Lowe.
This year’s winners are both Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP): Laura Aghajanian of the Mettawee School and Lisa Marchinkowski of The Dorset School. The two, along with other winners throughout the state, will be invited to attend a ceremony in Burlington later this Fall.
Below is the list of the BRSU honorees in each category, and a bit about what makes them so special:
BRSU STAFF AWARDS
DEBRA DALY: Paraeducator, Currier Memorial School
Deb is the paraeducator every teacher dreams about working with at school. Deb is always ready and willing to do anything that is asked of her and, more often than not, she already knows what to do and has a head start.
Deb always puts students first. She is a lifelong learner who seeks opportunities to deepen her skill set in order to provide her students with the best care and support possible. Deb is calm, competent and one of the most humble people you will ever know. Currier families and staff are incredibly fortunate to have Deb working with their children.
BRSU Staff Award: Debra Daly, Currier Memorial School
MARGARET PIKE: Account Payable Specialist, BRSU Central Office
Margaret is simply a pleasure to work with. She serves reliably at the BRSU central office and makes sure payment orders are accurate, processed and paid on schedule. Perhaps her most notable task is to guarantee that her fellow employees are compensated on time - and she never lets them down.
It’s not just what she does but how she does it that makes Margaret stand out from the crowd. She is always patient, kind and reassuring when she resolves payment questions.
People wonder everyday how Margaret can handle it all with a smile on her face. Her reputation is well known, even to those who have never met her in person. No matter who makes the request, Margaret always responds quickly and kind.
BRSU TEACHER AWARDS
ASHLEY SHORT: Special Educator, Manchester Elementary Middle School
Fellow teachers love assignments with Ashley. As one colleague notes, “I had the pleasure of working with Ashley this year with a shared student and I learned so much from both of them. I became a better teacher, listener and colleague as a result of our joint effort.”
Ashley is both supportive and collaborative. She is always eager to raise the bar for all learners and explore rewarding practices for her students. This year, Ashley modeled an effective push-in-service for her special education students. They learned their lessons in the same classroom alongside their fellow classmates. This practice benefits everyone and levels the learning field for all.
Ashley works tirelessly day in and day, mostly under the radar, with the most challenging students. She has a lifelong positive impact on her learners and the BRSU is incredibly lucky to have her in its system.
HOLLY HJELT: 4th Grade Instructor, The Dorset School
Holly’s dedication to teaching shows up in her classroom environment, routines and organization. She is always prepared and thoughtful in her lessons, thinking every day about every student.
Students grow academically and socially in Holly’s classroom. She boosts children’s confidence and builds a community in which everyone has a role, contributes, and is responsible for helping one another. It is incredible to watch her create an environment in which every child thrives. She delivers on so many fronts for her students and well deserves this award.
UVM TEACHER OF THE YEAR
LAURA AGHAJANIAN: Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), Mettawee Community School
Laura is an outstanding SLP, case manager, and colleague. She is a patient, professional and experienced. She collaborates extremely well with others, particular in communicating with the teachers and staff and not only listening, but actually hearing what those around her are suggesting.
Equally important, she does an outstanding job informing parents on how their children are doing in her speech and language sessions. Laura is sensitive when dealing with family concerns and is always dependable at responding to parents in a positive and informative way.
Laura volunteers to do many activities throughout the year. In the past, she has mentored other SLP’s throughout the BRSU. Laura is an active staff member who is there when her support is needed — particularly with challenging situations.
Most importantly, she knows the students in her school and makes certain their needs are being met. There are countless times when she has stepped up and offered to assist students during and after school.
LISA MARCHINKOSKI: Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), The Dorset School
Lisa never ceases to amaze. She is unfailingly positive, helpful and completely student centered. She never speaks ill of a child, even when one is especially challenging!
She has served as Dorset’s SLP for many, many years, but she is so much more than that. Lisa is the go to person for students who need help with social skills. She is as comfortable and effective dealing with middle school students as she is with preschoolers. She understands students who are on the autism spectrum, and gives them the tools that they need to navigate the world and interact positively with others.
She is always ready to help a colleague, keeping what’s best for kids in mind. In dealing with parents, she is warm and approachable, and speaks with a remarkable lack of jargon. Her calming presence is tremendously helpful in dealing with students in crisis. She is usually able to help them regulate themselves and get back to work. Her ability to listen and to give students the tools with which to communicate their feelings helps them feel more in control.
This year Lisa was asked to lead the RISE program - an effort at The Dorset School to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for students with disabilities. She worked closely with the staff in the program, deftly dealing with parents, students and paperwork. She enlisted the help of others when necessary, and led the program with competence and compassion. No surprise, Lisa did an outstanding job.
