Carson High School teacher on special assignment dean Matt Morgan said his recognition as Carson City School District’s Educator of the Year was unexpected Tuesday during the annual ceremony celebrating staff members’ work throughout the school year.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Educators of the Year:
Lindsey Ashbaugh-Lorett, kindergarten teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School
Jon Brill, music teacher at Eagle Valley Middle School
Jessica Dunbar, second-grade teacher at Bordewich Bray Elementary School
Julie Gingrich, math teacher at Carson High School – Pioneer Campus
Mitchell Gregovich, seventh-grade math teacher at Carson Middle School
Bethany Henry-Herman, physical education teacher at Fritsch Elementary School
Heather Horigan, TOSA – Instructional Coach at Fremont Elementary School
Joshlyn Jensen, LD/special education teacher at Empire Elementary School
Matt Morgan, TOSA – Dean at Carson High School
Kimberly Shepherd, adaptive physical education teacher at Student Support Services
Brenna White, third-grade teacher at Seeliger Elementary School
Educational Support Professionals of the Year:
Sidnee Abbott, special education paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary School
Vickie Estes, special education paraprofessional at Empire Elementary School
Connie Fronapfel, library media technician at Seeliger Elementary School
Jessica Greener, grants supervisor at the District Office
Teresa Hernandez, paraprofessional EL at Eagle Valley Middle School
Rosella Jordan, administrative assistant at Student Support Services
Maria Lopez Gomez, special education paraprofessional at Carson Middle School
Charles “Danny” Marcin, mechanic at the Transportation Department
Elizabeth Martinez, director of Nutrition Services at Operations
Rebecca McGee, special education paraprofessional at Fremont Elementary School
Troy McLaughlin, custodian at Carson High School
Steven Sousa, custodian at Bordewich Bray Elementary School
Karen Wayne, cook/baker at Carson High School – Pioneer Campus
Marilyn Weese, DHH interpreter at Fritsch Elementary School
Carson High School’s Matt Morgan said he was honored to be working among an amazing group of teachers.
Morgan, a teacher on special assignment (TOSA) dean, received Carson City School District’s Educator of the Year award Tuesday. He previously served as a social studies teacher for 21 years at Carson High and coached baseball after attending Carson schools himself.
“In my job now, I get to work with kids who maybe struggle a little bit more in school, and I get to work a little bit more one-on-one with kids every day, to get them through some hurdles that other kids don’t have to get them to a better spot at the end of the day,” Morgan said.
The district honors educators and education support professionals from each of its departments. Staff members nominate their peers, most of whom are interviewed by a panel of judges.
In addition to Morgan, Jessica Greener, grants supervisor at the district office, was recognized as the Education Support Professional Employee of the Year and Jennifer Ward, Fremont Elementary principal, was recognized as Administrator of the Year.
Ward said she was fortunate to work among heroes every day. She previously was named Nevada Principal of the Year but appreciated the recognition from “mates that are in the boat, too, and trying desperately to paddle.” Educators and support professionals often endure thankless jobs and still keep their passion for students, she said.
“This job can take little tiny sips of your soul sometimes because of all the people and the pressure of doing right by every single level of every single group — everything from parents to students to paraprofessionals to teachers and trying to do right by all of them when not all of those align, and that’s just an immense amount of pressure and work,” Ward said.
The district awarded framed certificates and coins commemorating the recognitions. Greater Nevada Credit Union provided $200 gift cards to Morgan, Greener and Ward.
School Board President Lupe Ramirez congratulated the winners for going beyond their position to help students.
“We recognize that it takes a lot to get our students to advance to graduation and to prepare them with the skills to go out into the workforce or further their education, and your hard work is definitely noticed,” Ramirez said.
Superintendent Andrew Feuling praised the work that most often is unseen in schools but important to the community.
“You know, we are blessed to have such incredible people working in not just in the classroom, but around the classrooms, the inner schools and behind the scenes, people that sometimes don’t get noticed in various ways and sometimes these jobs are so behind the scenes,” Feuling said. “They don't get as noticed, but they're being noticed by people in their buildings for doing such an outstanding job.”