Honoring PSD Staff
Poudre School District was excited to hold the first-ever PSD Celebrates awards event on March 30 to honor exceptional staff across the district. The new event combined what was previously three separate employee recognition and awards events into one big district celebration at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. Those honored are listed below along with a video of the recorded event. You can also watch videos of each individual winner on YouTube.
Congratulations to the 2023 award winners and nominees!
Thank you to all who attended and who came out to support and recognize our phenomenal staff.
Association of Classified Employees Awards
Winners:
- Liz Rodarte, health tech, Fort Collins High School
- Debbie Doner, literacy paraprofessional, Bamford Elementary School
- Carly Cooley, behavioral specialist, Kruse Elementary School
- Kat Gebhart, software engineer, Information Technology Department
- Nikki Arensmeier, enrollment coordinator, Early Head Start/Head Start program, Fullana
Nominees:
- Deanna Demarco, Child Nutrition kitchen manager, Bauder Elementary School
- Cindy Evans, bookkeeper, Rocky Mountain High School
- Nadene Kelly, office manager, Wellington Middle-High School
- Maria Nava, early childhood enrollment tech, Fullana
- Monica Smith, health tech, Tavelli Elementary School
- Jen Vaad, office manager, Mountain Schools
- Kim Witman, school secretary, Poudre High School
Don Morford Custodial Employee of the Year
Winner: Karl Trujillo, head custodian at Wellington Middle-High School
Nominees:
- Jesus Bastidas, night lead custodian, Poudre High School
- Amber Lewis, head custodian, Cache La Poudre Elementary School
- Ezetrick Wilson, head custodian, Kinard Middle School
Substitute of the Year
Winner: Mario Campanella, Eyestone Elementary
Nominees:
- Heidi Kremer, Zach Elementary School
- Janel Peebles, Webber Middle School
Student Worker of the Year
Winner: Brady King, student tech, Fossil Ridge High School, Information Technology Department
Nominees:
- Scout Grieves, student worker, Fossil Ridge High School
- Christopher Karr, student worker, Timnath Middle-High School
Brett Holm Transportation Employee of the Year
Winner: Eli Wilson, bus operator
Nominees:
- Pam Annis, bus operator
- Cassondra Baker, bus operator
- Kelly Caramanno, transportation supervisor
- Clinton Ellerbe, lead bus operator
- Rusty Elliott, bus operator
- Terry Evans, bus operator
- Mike Hartman, lead bus operator
- Tracy Hernandez, bus operator
- Bethany Hidalgo, bus operator
- Guadalupe Leon, bus operator
- Chuck Reddick, bus operator
- Amanda Tate, transportation dispatcher
Mary Hull Awards
- Collaborative Award Winner: Morgan Kueter, Science Teacher, Fossil Ridge High
- Honorary Award Winner: Shelly Densberger, Vocational Para, Cooper Home
- Special Services Provider (SSP) Award: Kimberly Spurlock, Speech/Language Pathologist
- Licensed Teacher Award: Ryan Miller, ILS Teacher, Poudre High
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Renee Ostergren, Integrated Services Coach
Nominees:
- Karen Bennett, assistant principal, Rocky Mountain High School
- Tea Feliciano, Integrated Services early childhood teacher, Linton Elementary School
- Ansley Garnett, multi-cat teacher, Kinard Middle School
- Sondra Lee, Integrated Services early childhood teacher, Bamford Elementary School
- Danielle Miller, Integrated Services teacher, Wellington Middle-High School
- Olivia Spanos, multi-cat teacher, Mountain Schools
- Kristin Stolte, principal, Linton Elementary School
Outstanding Educator Awards
Winners:
- Kathryn Kvidera, first grade teacher, Johnson Elementary School
- David Maynard, fourth/fifth grade teacher, Stove Prairie Elementary School
- Kaitlyn Jones, language arts teacher, Lesher Middle School
- Kristy Bibbey, science teacher, Poudre High School
- Mackenzie Tucker, PE teacher, Fossil Ridge High School
Nominees:
- Susan Aronson, early childhood teacher, Tavelli Elementary School
- Kelli Hill, interventionist, Bamford Elementary School
- Riley Hubbard, PE teacher, Timnath Elementary School
- Andrew Schauer, social studies teacher, Rocky Mountain High School
- Shelley Tracy, science teacher, Kinard Middle School
Outstanding Administrator/Professional
Winner:
- Cecilia Bonertz, dean, Kinard Middle School (school-based)
- Sarah Siple, director software development and support, Information Technology Department (central-based)
Nominees:
- Marc Buffington, dean, Wellington Middle-High School
- Barb Fisher, manager and counselor, Employee Assistance Services
- Cheryl Olson, principal, PSD Global Academy
- Susan Williams, Early Childhood Education coach