District 81 Educators Receive Awards

Thu., June 11, 1998

By Kevin Blocker kevinb@spokesman.com

District 81 North Side staff and teachers have recently been named the winners of many end-of-the-year school awards. They are:

Raelene Coster, assistant secretary at Madison Elementary School, earned one of two 1997-98 Staffer of the Year Award.

In addition to her job, Coster volunteers her weekend time to teaching sewing and quilting classes for elementary students, Bloomsday, Junior Lilac festivities, Spirit Club, ASB and PTO board.

Ted Hilderman, a truck driver of 28 years, was chosen to receive the Customer Service Award from the maintenance, grounds and warehouse departments.

“I have the best job in the world,” Hilderman said of the position he’s had for 28 years.

“I get to have a lot of contact with students and staff. It gives me a thrill when I see students in high school who recognize me from when they were younger.”

Sharing the same award with Hilderman is Dick Clark, the head custodian at Logan Elementary School. Clark has been employed by the district for 18 years.

Dan Frye, sixth-grade teacher at Holmes Elementary, was selected as a Distinguished Teacher for the third quarter.

Kris Lindeblad, Shadle Park High School teacher, received the Washington Award for Excellence in Education.

Lindeblad is a national and regional presenter of strategies for the effective instruction of geometry and calculus. Her aim is to include the use of technology in student learning.

Mary Jo Ornsby, a fourth-grade teacher at Lidgerwood Elementary School, is one of the state’s three finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching.

Ornsby was nominated by the state selection committee.

Genevieve Friedlander, liaison at Medicine Wheel, was a winner of a District 81’s Diversity and Equity Award.

Lisa Rinaldi, resource program teacher at Garfield Elementary School, was awarded a service-learning award plaque and check for $500 to be used for student materials.

Linda Lee, kindergarten and first grade teacher at Holmes, was honored by the Spokane Area Council of the International Reading Association at its annual Celebrate Literacy Banquet in April.

Spear named principal at Bemiss

Lorna Spear was appointed principal of Bemiss Elementary School.

She is currently Bemiss’s school facilitator. She’s held the position for the last two years and has also served as the Title 1 intermediate instructional facilitator during that time.

Spear has been a teacher with the district since 1987, having served at Finch, Browne and Bemiss schools as a kindergarten, fifth- and sixth-grade teacher and librarian.

Selection committee picks Kent The Deer Park School Board announced the hiring of Michelle Kent as the new Deer Park Elementary School principal.

Kent was selected by a committee of staff members and community volunteers. She replaces Bob Rundell, who is retiring after 23 years at the school.

She has been a teaching at Progress Elementary School in the Central Valley School District for the past 15 years.

DP teachers, students recognized

Deer Park High School vice principal and teacher Mike Morgan has been named District 5 FFA Administrator of the Year. He has more than 14 years of teaching and FFA involvement as an advisor and vocabulary director.

“Mr. Morgan has been a major influence in my life,” said student Brian Hallgarth. “He helped me set goals and was the inspiration behind my qualifying for the national forestry contest.”

Gary Axtell, a Deer Park High teacher, received the Honorary State FFA degree in recognition of his efforts to help students achieve.

Keith Proctor, a Deer Park High Student, won first place in state-level competition in the 11th annual National Peace Essay Contest sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace.

Proctor will receive a $750 college scholarship and will compete for national awards up to $5,000 June 20-25 in Washington, D.C.

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union recognized 15 Deer Park Elementary School students for the creation of their anti-drug posters.

The winners were Kayla Ayers, Tabetha Buch, Amber Duncan, Adrian Finch, Nicole Gatts, Travis Gibson, Samantha Kampster, Mitchell Kearney, Laura Koppe, Rachel Martin, Sara McNamee, Rachel Miller, Jamie Singleton, Brittany Verzal and Kyle Whitney.

The WCTU contest stresses the danger of alcohol and other drugs.

McGoran wins for excellence

Mt. Spokane High School French and English teacher Andi McGoran won a Washington Award for Excellence in Education.

McGoran will be on sabbatical next year in France. She plans to return to Mt. Spokane in the fall of 1999.

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