Honoring PSD Staff
Poudre School District was excited to honor exceptional staff across the district at the PSD Celebrates event April 2 at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins. Thank you to all who attended to support and recognize our phenomenal staff.
Congratulations to the 2024 award winners and nominees!
Association of Classified Employees Awards
Winners:
- Rosella Barella, paraprofessional, Werner Elementary School - Watch Rosella's video >>
- Chris Luther, student monitor, Webber Middle School
- Katie Nelson, office assistant,Timnath Middle/High School
- Jack Robertson, department technician II, Fullana - Watch Jack's video >>
- Jim Runner, Child Nutrition kitchen manager, Harris Elementary School - Watch Jim's video >>
- Jane Spomer, secretary,Tavelli Elementary School
Nominees:
- Teresa Dimick, child nutrition manager, Werner Elementary School
- Kevin Frasier, Integrated Services paraprofessional, Laurel Elementary School
- Yara Gonzalez, paraprofessional, Harris Elementary School
- Emma Hampton, paraprofessional II, Preston Middle School
- Tracy Holcombe, secretary, Futures Lab
- Tonky Mathews, family liaison at Kruse Elementary School
- Amy McCoy, registrar, Rocky Mountain High School
- Mike Nichols, technical system site manager II, Fossil Ridge High School
- Stacey Smith, technology assistant, Poudre High School
Don Morford Custodial Employee of the Year
Winner: Chriss Renzoni, head custodian, Lesher Middle School - Watch Chriss' video >>
Nominees:
- Irma Diaz, head custodian, Harris Bilingual Elementary School.
- Will Espinoza, head custodian, Rocky Mountain High School
Outstanding Substitute of the Year
Winner: Ryan Arithson, Dunn Elementary School
Nominee: Karrie Rookey, Poudre High School
Outstanding Student Worker of the Year
Winner (and nominee): Ezekiel (Zeke) Leimburger, Poudre High School - Watch Ezekiel's video >>
Brett Holm Transportation Employee of the Year
Winner: Amy Carney, route planner - Watch Amy's video >>
Nominees:
- Denise Castellanos, dispatcher
- Laura Chandler, operations manager
- Maricella Duran, route planner
- Rusty Elliott, bus operator
- Dusty Estes, vehicle technician II
- Tracy Hernandez, bus operator
- Kaitlyn Lanteri, activities scheduler
Mary Hull Awards
- Collaborative Award Winner: Jason Tyler, director of theater, Fort Collins High School - Watch Jason's video >>
- Nominees:
- Katie Delahunt, school counselor, Wellington Middle High School
- Carter Janicki, physical education teacher, Boltz Middle School
- Nominees:
- Honorary Award Winner: Carrie Visintainer, School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) Specialist - Watch Carrie's video >>
- Nominees:
- Yuki Bort, speech language pathology assistant, O’Dea and Shepardson Elementary Schools
- Patti Haugen, vocational paraprofessional, Rocky Mountain High School
- Laura Heckart, paraprofessional II, Werner Elementary School
- Korben Koenig, School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) specialist
- Kelly Thibault, SPED paraprofessional I, Werner Elementary School
- Nominees:
- Special Services Provider (SSP) Award Winner: Markay Cosper, Integrated Services Board Certified Behavior Analyst - Watch Markay's video >>
- Nominees:
- Marko Corona, Integrated Services School Psychologist & Multicultural Consultation and Assessment Team (MCAT)
- Leah Goodrich, Integrated Services Occupational Therapist
- Caitlyn Hartjes, Integrated Services School Psychologist
- Sandy Rasmussen, Integrated Services Multicultural Consultation and Assessment Team (MCAT)
- Nominees:
- Licensed Teacher Award Winner: Emmy Egan, ILS teacher, Bethke Elementary School - Watch Emmy's video >>
- Nominees:
- Christopher Case, affective needs/SED teacher, Fort Collins High School
- Deanna Fuller, early childhood teacher, Eyestone Elementary School
- Tara Gross, multi-categorical teacher , Rocky Mountain High School
- Kris Horn, affective needs/SED teacher, Blevins Middle School
- Lexie Petty, autism ,Boltz Middle School
- Nominees:
Melanie Voegeli-Morris Belonging Award
Winner: Erin Glibert, MTSS coordinator Poudre High School - Watch Erin's video >>
Nominees:
- Ashley Dorado, school counselor, Harris Bilingual Elementary
- John Hermanson, director of orchestras, Fort Collins High School
- Karen Irvine, school counselor, Kinard Middle School
- Tricia VanHorssen, social worker, Rocky Mountain High School
Outstanding Educator Awards
Winners:
- PREK –2 grades: Patty Feigle, second grade teacher, Laurel Elementary School - Watch Patty's video >>
- 3–5 grades: Mark Bartlett, physical education teacher, Irish Elementary School - Watch Mark's video >>
- 6–8 grades: Becca Spear, math and science teacher, Lesher Middle School
- 9-12+ grades: Aaron Knobloch, teacher, Rocky Mountain High School - Watch Aaron's video >>
- Outstanding Newcomer: Sydney McPherson, Integrated Service teacher, Johnson Elementary School - Watch Sydney's video >>
Nominees:
- Cole Anderson, social studies teacher, Rocky Mountain High School
- Mike Dyer, teacher, Rocky Mountain High School
- Laura Ecton, math teacher, Poudre High School
- Tori Grode, early childhood teacher, Irish Elementary School
- Sydney Haiston, math teacher, Lincoln Middle School
- Bre Jordan, physical education teacher, Kindard Middle School
- Damien Tutt, third grade teacher, Bennett Elementary School
- Cindy Ufer, fourth grade teacher, Werner Elementary School
- Nancy West, art teacher, Mountain Schools
Outstanding Administrator/Professional/Dean/TOSA Awards
Winner:
- Principal: Danielle Hir, principal, Poudre Community Academy - Watch Danielle's video >>
- Assistant Principal: Ann Longacre, assistant principal, Kruse Elementary School - Watch Ann's video >>
- District Based Winner: Tanya Alcaraz, director of Career and Innovation - Watch Tanya's video >>
Nominees:
- Becca Benedict, director of Early Childhood
- Butterscotch Culhane, assistant principal, Werner Elementary School
- Cori Hixon, assistant principal/IB director, Poudre High School
- Matt Hughes, assistant principal, Johnson Elementary School
- Melanie Mierzwa, principal, Riffenburgh Elementary School
