SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A3
COMMUNITY
Hermiston School District announces its educators of the year
dously positive impact on our
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Maiocco said Mishra has
Since joining the Hermis- navigated the challenges of
ton School District in 2009, the special programs depart-
Jon Mishra has served in ment expertly and that stu-
many positions, from prin- dent learning has increased
cipal to executive director of because he uses a combi-
special programs.
nation of common sense,
This year, Mishra was commitment to families and
rewarded for all of his work compliance with all legal re-
when he was named the dis- quirements to make decisions
trict’s administrator of the in the students’ best interest.
year at Tuesday’s School
Maiocco said Mishra’s
Board meeting.
peers say he is a valuable as-
Mishra said the award set who is always willing to
came to him as a complete ¿OOWKHJDSZKHUHKHLVQHHGHG
surprise.
and puts the district and stu-
³, ZDV LQ VKRFN DW ¿UVW´ dents’ needs before his own.
Mishra said. “I kept looking
“He never ducks away
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from hard decisions, but he
Mishra said even though it DOZD\V PHHWV WKRVH GLI¿FXOW
feels good to be rewarded for moments with honesty and
all his work, he said the team LQWHJULW\´ 0DLRFFR UHOD\HG
with which he works deserves from one of Mishra’s peers.
the credit in helping to make
Mishra and the Hermiston
the Hermiston School District School District’s 10 educa-
what it is today.
tors of the year will be hon-
“It is the systems of sup- ored during the Hermiston
SRUW ZH KDYH LQ SODFH´ KH Chamber of Commerce’s
said. “We are a well-run dis- Distinguished Citizens Award
trict. All the folks I work with, banquet Feb. 4 at the Herm-
we all realize our goal is to be iston Conference Center. The
premier in everything we do. event will begin with a social
Having those structures in at 6 p.m. Dinner will begin at
place have allowed me to be 6:30 p.m., and awards will be
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presented at 7 p.m. The event
After serving as a middle will be catered by Simply
school principal in Coos Bay, Catering. Tickets cost $30
Oregon, Mishra moved to and may be purchased at the
Hermiston in 2009 to become Hermiston Chamber of Com-
the Sandstone Middle School merce.
principal. Shortly after, how-
ever, he became the principal
The following are teach-
at Armand Larive Middle ers who were chosen as ed-
School.
ucators of the year:
Superintendent
Fred
Cathy
Duffy,
Maiocco said in both assign- D i s t r i c t - w i d e
ments, he did exceptionally educator of the year
well.
Duffy works with 18- to
“While middle school 21-year-olds in the transition
achievement improved, staff program at the Kik Center.
morale improved and collab- Mishra said he would com-
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pare Duffy’s program to
Then, in 2011, in what Disneyland because “magic
Maiocco said as the result happens in Duffy’s program
of his great work at the mid- DQG 'XII\ LV WKH PDJLFLDQ´
dle school level, Mishra was He said her students are al-
promoted to director of oper- ways out in the community
ations and business services, working with their commu-
where he streamlined various nity-based learning. Mishra
business practices and pro- said one of the people who
cesses and improved com- nominated Duffy describes
munication throughout the KHU DV GHGLFDWHG VHOÀHVV
schools.
committed and collaborative.
“He took time throughout Other people said Duffy has
the year to visit each building a real heart for the students
administrator and seek in- in her program and cares for
put about how these services them and their futures and
could better thrive and sup- works collaboratively with all
port the work going on in our staff, administration, students
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and parents in order to meet
In 2014, he was promoted the needs of her students and
to executive director for the families.
special programs department.
Joseph Thornton, Herm-
Maiocco said he has worked iston High School
to reorient the special pro-
Thornton teaches in the
grams department to be part Innovative Learning Center
of the premier vision that the where he helps students who
Hermiston School District struggle in the regular high
has.
school setting. HHS Principal
“His hard work and will- Jocelyn Jones said Thornton
ingness to do what is right is the students’ greatest advo-
is already having a tremen- cate and helps students who
BY MAEGAN MURRAY
HERMISTON HERALD
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she is a master teacher but is
always looking for that next
best thing to help students in
her classroom. He said she
works tirelessly to help all
her students get where they
need to be academically. He
said Velasquez absolutely de-
serves the award, and he can’t
think of a better person who
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grade student.
Susan Scheibner Sunset
Elementary School
Scheibner is a sec-
ond-grade teacher at Sunset
Elementary School. Principal
Devin Grigg said he would
normally use his own words
to express how wonderful
MAEGAN MURRAY PHOTO she is, but, instead, he enlist-
Hermiston Superintendent Fred Maiocco talks about the accomplishments of Jon Mishra, the
ed the words of students. Her
executive director of special programs for the Hermiston School District, right, as his family
students said that Scheibner is
stands in the background. Mishra was named administrator of the year for the HSD.
the greatest teacher because
she is able to teach them math
might want to give up keep Spoo said, sets high expec-
Susan Thurman, High- and does fun things to help
moving forward. She said tations and refuses to accept land Hills Elementary them learn. Her students said
she also makes them hap-
he has been instrumental in mediocrity. At the same time, School
KHOSLQJ PDQ\ VWXGHQWV ¿QG he said, she makes her class
Thurman teaches fourth py, is helpful, is pretty, truly
their educational pathways, fun and interesting. She also grade at Highland Hills El- cares about her students and
whether it be with a diplo- works well with others and ementary School. Principal LV WKH ³EHVWHVW´ WHDFKHU DQ\-
ma or a GED. Jones said he creates a comfortable work- Brad Bixler said Thurman one can dream of. Grigg said,
routinely brings in members ing environment. Her fellow builds a foundation for her when Scheibner learned she
of the community to share staff members describe her students, not only academi- received this year’s award,
about their careers and does DV³FKLSSHU´DQGDOZD\VVD\V cally, but at citizens. He said she gave credit to everyone
as much as he can to take stu- hello to anyone she passes in her efforts to help shape stu- around her, which makes her
dents out of the classroom to the hallway.
dents into young adults who the greatest team member and
experience life and help them
Tracy Hodges, Sand- have the courage and wisdom teacher.
Suanne
Fitz-
explore their interests. Out- stone Middle School
to make the right choices,
West
Park
side of school, he is active in
Hodges is an English lan- understand right and wrong gerald,
his church and volunteers his guage learning teacher at and realize that hard work has Elementary School
Suanne Fitzgerald is a
time with several community Sandstone Middle School. it rewards regardless of the
programs.
Principal Larry Usher said outcome. Thurman was pre- ¿IWKJUDGH WHDFKHU DW :HVW
Josh Browning, Hermis- her peers describe Hodges sented a Generation College Park Elementary School.
ton High School
as someone who inspires a Award in 2009 by a Herm- Principal Kevin Headings
Browning teaches En- love of learning in all of her iston High School student said when people think of
glish and communication at students by setting high stan- who remembered the impact educator effectiveness and
Hermiston High School. He GDUGVDQGVKDULQJFRQ¿GHQFH Thurman had on her educa- teacher quality, they would
said he is dedicated to giving in her students’ abilities. He tion. Bixler said he learned immediately think of Fitz-
his students high levels of said Hodges has put in count- this week Thurman will retire gerald. He said, at West Park,
instruction and understands less hours to earn her students’ after this year. He said her the mission statement is “to
the value of building respect trust and assurances. She also positive impact on students engage all students at high
and trust. He also tries to works to not only meet stu- is felt throughout the High- OHYHOVRIOHDUQLQJ´DQGZKHQ
learn more about each stu- dents’ needs, but those of their land Hills building and he is he walks into Fitzgerald’s
dent on a daily basis. Jones families, as well. Usher said, so proud and honored that he classroom, he sees that is hap-
said Browning achieves the on a personal note, Hodges had the chance to work with pening. He said her students
are routinely engaged, and
perfect balance between so- is an “unbelievable resource her.
ciability and professionalism, DQG LQFUHGLEOH SURIHVVLRQDO´
Ibbet Velasquez, Rocky she makes the most mundane
creating an environment con- in the Sandstone building. He Heights Elementary School whole-class reading activity
ducive to learning for all his said he couldn’t ask for a bet-
9HODVTXH] WHDFKHV ¿UVW exciting and fun. Headings
students. She said he is pos- ter teammate.
grade at Rocky Heights Ele- said the one thing that stands
itive and respectful with his
Linda Mruk, Desert mentary School. Principal BJ out most about Fitzgerald is
colleagues and gives useful View Elementary School
Wilson said this past summer, how strong of an advocate she
advice that is to the point.
Mruk is a kindergarten the school made T-shirts that is for her students. He said he
Jones said he was quick to teacher at Desert View El- said “Striving to be better than is very proud and quite frank-
incorporate the Chromebook ementary School. Principal ZH¶YHHYHUEHHQ´DQG9HODV- ly thinks Fitzgerald is also the
labs into his instruction and Michael Roberts said if he quez does each day. He said ³EHVWHVW´WHDFKHU
shares newfound skills and were to compare educa-
ideas with staff. After school, tion with building a house,
Jones coaches the golf team.
Mruk’s students have the best
Chelsea Bergstrom, Ar- foundation. He said Mruk en-
January 23rd • 1:00 -4:00 p.m.
mand Larive Middle School courages her students to love
Good Shepherd Medical Center • Conference Room #2
Bergstrom is a math teach- school. Roberts said, last year,
Hermiston, OR
er at Armand Larive Middle Mruk’s kindergarten class
School. Principal Tom Spoo UHDFKHGSHUFHQWSUR¿FLHQ-
said Bergstrom, in addition cy in reading. She was also
to ensuring her students are the only teacher voted unani-
growing academically, prides mously to the leadership team
herself on knowing her stu- during the election. He said
dents and building relation- she was also surprised to be
ships. He said she also helps honored with educator of the
with extracurricular activities year because she is so humble
and works with many stu- and doesn’t realize just how
dents after school. Bergstrom, great of a teacher she is.
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P O W E R
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
McNary Substation
Project Notice
From January 2015 to December 2017, the Bonneville Power Administration
(BPA) will make major improvements to the McNary Substation in Umatilla,
Oregon. The substation improvements are necessary to meet the growing
power needs in the area, to integrate new generating resources, and to
support a safe and reliable BPA transmission system.
The project will physically expand the substation and include the
installation of power transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and
other equipment.
Construction activities will normally take place on weekdays between the
hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. There will be increased noise levels typically
associated with construction activities and, at times, there will be a slower
traffi c fl ow on Hwy 730 due to the movement of heavy equipment. For your
safety, please be aware of construction activities and equipment in the area
around the substation.
Your patience and cooperation during this time of construction are
appreciated.
For more information please visit www.bpa.gov/goto/McNary or contact the
BPA Project Manager Amy Gardner toll free at 800-282-3717 or amgardner@
bpa.gov.