By Syndication 
January 8 – RISE Nominees
“Adam is such a creative and fun occupational therapist. He has made videos available for all district employees, students, and parents to help with various fine motor needs. He is very enthusiastic and great with the students he serves. He is a great leader and so helpful in providing OT services to students in special education.”
Nominated by: Gary Robinson, district employee
“Mrs. Coatney goes above and beyond to show her high school students that she cares about them and to make her classroom a safe place. Her first assignment of the year is for parents to give her a little information about their students so she can better teach them. My daughter struggles with social anxiety and will not talk to her teachers unless she feels very safe. She now has no hesitation asking Mrs. Coatney for anything. This is HUGE & there are only a couple of teachers in her whole school career that I can say this about. In addition, Mrs. Coatney is phenomenal at teaching math!“
Nominated by: Lari Todd, parent
“Mrs. Foliaki is a very nice and engaging person. She tries her best in everything that she does. She is willing to help you out after school to make sure that you have a good understanding of the material that she is teaching. She cares about her students and she is willing to give her students opportunities to learn and engage the curriculum that she is teaching. She has inspired us to pursue a career in the business field.“
Nominated by: Zacharias Shadle and Derek Saavedra Fonseca, students
“Ryan has been an incredible addition to our Lake Mountain staff. Whenever I have been in a jam with technology issues, he’s responded almost immediately every single time. He takes time with me to help me identify the issues on my tech and resolve them extremely fast. I know how busy his schedule is and that he takes the time to help me right away so many times (and being right across the hall from him I see him do this for everyone!), it means the world. He’s very deserving of this recognition for the important role he plays in our school and the impact he has on students and staff.“
Nominated by: Danny Horne, district employee
“Mrs. Kunzler has been our son’s 5th grade teacher this year and has done a beautiful job with him and helping him in all areas. Transitioning to a different teacher this year after a successful year last year with his teacher had us (and our son) a little concerned, but Mrs. Kunzler has helped him achieve learning goals and goes out of her way to ensure he feels seen, heard, validated and supported. Most importantly he enjoys school and feels safe. As parents, this is a huge deal to us and we are very grateful for her. Keep it up, Mrs. Kunzler!“
Nominated by: Danny & Kelly Horne, parents
“Mrs. Ruoho has been our daughters 2nd grade teacher this year and our daughter has LOVED going to school. This is a huge deal! Mrs. Ruoho, from day one, has made our daughter feel seen, heard, supported and safe. Our daughter looks forward to going to school and is excited to learn. She is wanting to give her absolute best for Mrs. Ruoho because of the relationship that was established early. What’s even more amazing is that Mrs. Ruoho reaches out often and asks how she can better help and support our daughter and we know that she does these things for her other students, too.“
Nominated by: Danny & Kelly Horne, parents
“Mr. Knight has been an INCREDIBLE force for good in my son’s life. My son used to hate math and he struggled with wanting to even go to school in 6th grade. Now he tells me it is his favorite class. Ever since he has been in Mr. Knight and Mrs. Curtis’s math class, he has confidence. He works harder than ever before! Mr. Knight has made such a positive impact on my son. He cares about and believes in him! As a parent I cannot express how much that means to us! As an educator I am so grateful to Mr. Knight for believing in my son and seeing that he is capable. THANK YOU!“
Nominated by: Kelli Mansanarez, parent
“Desirae is hard working and loves the students she works with. New to the field, she is willing to jump in and help with any task. She is a great asset to my classroom. She cares deeply for the students she works with. It truly shows in the interactions she has with them daily. Desirae is willing to take on any task she is given and is not afraid of giving me feedback that will help me and the class grow.“
Nominated by: Heather Oswald, district employee
“Both my sons had their struggles in third grade, and Mr. Goodman went above and beyond to help them and keep my wife and I informed on the problems, and all the good things that happened in the classroom. I have never felt that amount of care from a teacher and truly felt like we were working together in my children’s education. My sons continue to look up to Mr. Goodman and still go to him if they are struggling in school. The lessons he taught them in his classroom reach far beyond the classroom and my sons are better people for having Mr. Goodman as their teacher.“
Nominated by: Jason Putman, parent
“Mr. Goodman rises above teaching his kids educational skills – he also teaches them character traits and life skills. My child is developing awareness of honesty, responsibility, and respect & along with many more. Not only will my child grow in his education, but he is becoming a better individual for society because of his experience in Mr. Goodman class.”
Nominated by: Lisa Ferre, parent
“Oakley is a school pyschologist who I’ve worked with at many different schools. I always enjoy working with him. He always has a calm demeanor that soothes teams, and he has excellent resources for school teams. Every time a team is trying to problem solve an intervention to address student behavior, he always has techniques and resources to help support the teams he works with.“
Nominated by: Jen Baeza, district employee
“Bryan is so positive in the work he does with our students. Even when things don’t work out as planned he has an amazing attitude and works to try something new the next time around! My favorite lines of his are, “Today, we learned what didn’t work” and “We’ve got all year to get this.” The children love him as do the staff! Thanks Bryan! You’re amazing!”
Nominated by: Shannon Marie, district employee
“Marlies has some mad skills in teaching preschool! She is so great with every student from gen ed to special ed! She is always seen with a smile! She is kind, fun, and quick to get things done! Marlies, thanks for all you do for our youngest dragons and thanks for how you have helped me as well!“
Nominated by: Shannon Marie, district employee
“Diego Tapia Lugo is a dedicated bus driver who has made a lasting impact on the preschool children he transports each day. Known for his remarkable patience, Diego approaches his job with a calm and steady demeanor, understanding that young children often need extra time and care. He never rushes them as they board the bus, instead offering gentle encouragement and assistance to those who may be nervous or hesitant. His patience also shines through in his interactions, always ensuring that the children feel safe and comfortable during their daily commute.“
Nominated by: Heather Jensen, district employee
“Tara holds high expectations for herself and for students on her bus. She has created a culture of respect among her students and they look forward to seeing her every day. She has a challenging route this year yet continues to go the extra mile to help students be successful at school and safe while traveling. She consistently looks for ways to reinforce daily positive behaviors and to create a culture of belonging and community on her bus.“
Nominated by: Heather Hall, district employee
“Valerie takes time at the beginning of the year to get to know each of her MLL (multi-language learner) students. Listening and supporting others are her superpowers. She knows the students’ academic needs because of her effective use of tools like Ellevation and Acadience scores. Valerie is teachable and always willing to try new things to better help her students. She’s innovative and patient and she’s a great collaborator. She’s an excellent teammate and an amazing advocate and support provider for our MLL students. She’s definitely “rises” to every occasion.“
Nominated by: Gina Wittt, district employee
“Officer Davies embodies the principles of RISE every day at Lehi High School. He is always looking for ways to interact with the students and constantly checks in on them to make sure they are doing ok and to make sure they know that he is there if they ever need anything. He also teaches Law Enforcement and is always looking for better ways to improve the material in his class to make it fun and exciting for his students.“
Nominated by: Ryan Goldsberry, district employee
“This award goes to Elaine & Ashley for the great work they’ve done in getting the Social Studies benchmarks in place to help teachers measure present levels and growth of our students in the areas of sourcing, close reading, corroboration and contextualization. They have spent years building these benchmarks and selflessly investing so many hours putting these together for us to use for our students. It’s a huge undertaking and it’s exciting to see the data coming in from this.”
Nominated by: Danny Horne, district employee
“Miss Halee is always ready to greet the kids with a hug and a smile! Halee loves each student and takes even their smallest problems as a big deal. Miss Halee takes the time to be on the kids level, help with a broken yo-yo, broken necklace, tying shoes, and everything in between! Miss Halee always does her best to help her students understand what they are learning in her reading group and encourages them to ask questions. Miss Halee is always willing to jump in and help wherever she is needed, no questions asked!“
Nominated by: Jody Makin, parent
“Mrs. Rankin is more than a teacher, she is a FRIEND! Mrs. Rankin’s room is welcoming and bright! She is always going above & beyond for her students and trying to do her very best to teach them on their level. Mrs. Rankin makes learning fun and unique! She is loved by each of her students, past and present! There is just something so very special about her and the love she shows for her teaching and her students! I can not speak highly enough of Mrs. Rankin and how amazing she is as a teacher, a co-worker, and a dear friend!“
Nominated by: Halee Young, parent
“I LOVE my teacher!!!! She has been so inspiring to me and has helped me so much this year already! She makes class fun, safe and an amazing learning environment! She is always willing to talk to me and help me when I need it most! If I don’t understand something, she has been great at talking me through it again and showing me more ways to do it! I appreciate all my teacher has and will do for me!“
Nominated by: Renae Young, student
“Ms. Moschetti is my daughter’s teacher. She does not speak Spanish, but the teacher has done everything possible to make her feel integrated and always tries to take her into account so that she can progress and get ahead even if she does not master the English language. She is very empathetic with the children and I love that she is their protector at school.“
Nominated by: Luz Jaramillo, parent
“My child has had the hardest time at school. Every year the office would call because he wanted to go home. Also, he often came home angry and/or in tears. Ms. DeBry was the first one to really love and connect with him. Ms.DeBry just emits love. Everyone around her feels so loved…even me! This was the first year that my child was happy. Ms. DeBry really created a safe, loving and supportive environment for him and all her students to be able to engage and learn.“
Nominated by: Rachel Dutson, parent
“Ms. Stafford pushes us to try our best in our lives whether it’s in school or in our personal lives. She has us working hard.”
Nominated by: Sabrina Felix, student
“Mrs. Oxley goes above and beyond to make her classroom feel special. She teaches her students fun songs, and expands their learning with enjoyable math activities. My daughter absolutely loves school, and it is due to the atmosphere Mrs Oxley has created. She is so loving and thoughtful and works so hard for the kids!“
Nominated by: Sam Frei, parent
“Mrs. Raddatz is a wonderful teacher. She loves her students and works with parents to have a successful student and successful year. She knows how to run a classroom. Kids just love her.“
Nominated by: Kristina Anderson, parent
“Erin is an incredible coach and works so hard to make sure that every team in our school is taken care of. She goes above and beyond for each of us! She is very valued at Harbor Point and we are so lucky to have her!“
Nominated by: Mary Patten, district employee
“Marcie is amazing! She is patient with the adults she works with and most importantly she is patient with the different students she interacts with throughout the day. WE rely on her expertise and appreciate her dedication more than we could ever express. Your hard work and positive attitude have made a significant impact on our team and has inspired those around you. Thank you for everything you do!“
Nominated by: Kailana Downs, district employee
“Alyson does an amazing job as our Community Outreach Coordinator! She handles sensitive situations with grace and patience. She runs valuable Parent Nights to equip parents with skills and resources. She coordinates vital resources for our students so they can have what they need. We appreciate her!“
Nominated by: Portia Ames, district employee
“Mrs. Talonia is a great assistant principal at AFHS. She loves all the students at the high school and loves working with the amazing staff.“
Nominated by: Nathan Kunze, student
“Mrs Hendrickson is the best sped/read & write teacher ever and she loves her students and loves AFHS!“
Nominated by: Nathan Kunze, student
“Mr. Herrmann is an outstanding educator and person. He truly sees the potential of each child and works every day to help them reach that. He instills self confidence and cheers his students on. He presents new information in a fun and engaging way and always has a child focused solution to any problem. My child absolutely blossomed while in his classroom! He is the best!“
Nominated by: Katie Nelson, parent
“Sra. Rojas is one of the most amazing teachers. I feel so happy I had the privilege to be with her during my student teaching. Rojas teaches with love every single day, when you are in her classroom you can feel her passion for teaching! She cares about her students, colleagues, and family in a lovely way. What I like a lot is that she always shows you the most sincere smile! Francy always makes me feel included and safe around her. I feel blessed I got to be in her classroom and learn so much from her!“
Nominated by: Britney Placito, student teacher
“Señora Rojas is very caring and invested in each one of her students. She has taken a special interest in both of my children whom she has taught, simply because she is in tune with the needs of each student. One of my kids picked up Spanish quite easily, and she was able to both celebrate and challenge her. The other has been more hesitant, and she has brought him out of his shell with focused activities and strong encouragement. Her teaching style makes each student feel important and comfortable. I can’t say enough about what a dedicated educator she is.”
Nominated by: Kristin Calquin, parent
“Ms. Nuzman has been a wonderful teacher since the school year began. She sent us parents an email asking us to tell her about our children’s attributes so she could get to know them better. Although this is her first year as a teacher at the school, she has a lot of experience in the educational field. Her classroom is a refuge for students. My children love her. She always has details for the students, entertaining games, and motivates them to improve. Without a doubt, there are many teachers, but very few masters!“
Nominated by: Hemplen Barahona, parent
“Math is a very difficult subject, but Ms.Trewartha has been so kind to my son, helping him to better understand what is taught in class despite my son’s language limitations. She manages to explain things to him kindly and has always responded to our emails with solutions to our problems. I wish all math teachers had that devotion to teaching. I’m sure they would all love numbers.“
Nominated by: Diego Larrea, parent
“Ms. Tillack has the attributes of a persevering teacher. She encourages children and parents to overcome language barriers through continued dedication, she is a sensitive and dedicated teacher in her work, she connects with students, and tries to guide them through example.“
Nominated by: Hemplen Barahona, community member
“Ms. Rea has helped me with my math homework in Spanish since last year and this year she also helped my younger brother, she has always had a smile for us, I used to look for her course even just to say hello or chat briefly. She has a lot of patience to explain and advises us kindly.“
Nominated by: Jared Larrea, student
“I am proud to nominate Mrs. Kirtley for this award. She exemplifies dedication and compassion in her classroom and beyond. Her commitment is evident as she continued teaching during chemotherapy, demonstrating unwavering support for her students. Mrs. Kirtley goes above and beyond, helping families like one with a dad deployed overseas, along with many other acts of kindness. Her effective communication creates strong partnerships in education, fostering a nurturing environment for our children. Her resilience and heartfelt dedication make her truly deserving of this recognition.“
Nominated by: Emily Chance, parent