Honoring Excellence: 2024-2025 Outstanding Staff Award Recipients

On August 19, 2024, our district proudly recognized the exceptional educators and staff who were honored with this year's Outstanding Staff Award. These individuals are true Rockets, embodying our commitment to Learning Without Limits and demonstrating remarkable dedication, creativity, and leadership. Their inspiring work makes a tangible impact on our students and school community, and we are thrilled to celebrate their achievements. 

Outstanding Support Staff - Elementary Level: Stacy White

Stacy White, Building Administrative Assistant at Spring Grove Elementary, was selected as the Outstanding Support Staff Member at the elementary level for 2024-2025.

Mrs. White is the face of Spring Grove Elementary for students, parents, visitors, and staff. She is welcoming, friendly, and helpful, and will lend her hand or expertise to anyone in need. She will also take on tasks that are not considered her responsibility.

She is the "go-to" person with all of the answers. If she does not have the answer, she is tireless in finding the information from the appropriate source.

Mrs. White is invaluable with ordering, organizing, sorting, and arranging classroom materials so that teachers have what they need at the start of each year. She is a problem-solver and thinks outside the box to find the best solution to problems and projects.

She is reliable and can be counted on to see things through to completion. Mrs. White goes above and beyond to make each school day productive by assisting other staff, often while putting her own tasks on "pause." She carries herself well, puts others before herself, and greets everyone with a warm and friendly smile.

Outstanding Support Staff - Secondary Level: Rhonda Priest

Rhonda Priest, Head Custodian at Spring Grove Area High School, was named the Outstanding Support Staff Member at the secondary level for 2024-2025. She consistently demonstrates an exceptional work ethic, unmatched dedication, and an unwavering willingness to go the extra mile.

Mrs. Priest has an eye for detail and models Rocket pride in our schools, our community, and in the work that she and her team do to keep our facilities clean, welcoming, and safe. The outstanding cleanliness and upkeep of the high school building frequently earn the compliments of visitors and community members. She is an outstanding member of the high school team, partnering with staff, students, and community members to ensure events take place seamlessly, and she follows up to see how they went.

She is a servant leader who thinks outside the box and looks for ways to support students. She recently helped one of our graduates achieve his dream of having his own business by inviting him to sell snowballs to summer staff. That former student is now part of our custodial department. Mrs. Priest also partnered with the Special Education department in helping students prepare for and engage in employment and pre-employment opportunities by understanding potential obstacles, creating a supportive and inclusive environment, and collaborating with O.V.R.

She is a clear and thoughtful communicator, providing concise direction and tasks to student workers and offering any support that may be needed. Her kindness extends to all students, staff, and families, creating a welcoming and positive atmosphere throughout the high school. Her optimistic and friendly attitude is infectious and contributes significantly to our Rocket pride and school spirit.

Outstanding Educator - Secondary Level: Holly Strait

Holly Strait, Mathematics Instructor at Spring Grove Area High School, was named the Outstanding Educator at the secondary level for 2024-2025. Mrs. Strait holds a Master of Science degree from Wilkes University and is pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Wilkes. Her professional teaching certificate is in secondary mathematics.

Mrs. Strait uses data to drive her instruction, creating a student-centered classroom focused on helping students master algebraic skills. She collaborates with teachers at the middle school to identify students who may need additional support upon entering the high school. She also works with teachers to identify specific skills students need to be successful in algebra.

She strongly advocated for the Rocket Leadership 1 course and worked with colleagues to write its curriculum. She is a member of the high school's Lighthouse Team and runs the Leadership Lighthouse and Student Lighthouse teams. Mrs. Strait is having a positive impact as a teacher and is also affecting positive change in the high school building.

Mrs. Strait has a positive demeanor and exudes a growth mindset. Like a coach, she challenges her students and holds them to a higher standard, wanting them to grow and improve. She is solutions-oriented, never gives up, and is willing to take risks because she understands that it is through risk and failure that the greatest growth is experienced.

She is a mentor teacher for first-year teachers, a cooperative teacher for student teachers, and a co-advisor to the high school gardening club. The administrative team is thrilled to see the educator that Mrs. Strait has become at the high school.

Outstanding Educator - Elementary Level: Megan Myers

Megan Myers, Autistic Support Instructor at Paradise Elementary, was selected as the Outstanding Educator at the elementary level for 2024-2025. Mrs. Myers holds a dual bachelor's degree in Elementary K-6 and Special Education N-12 from York College and a master's in Educational Leadership from Edinboro University.

She excels at the science and art of teaching, using data to drive daily individualized instruction for each of her students. Mrs. Myers advocates for learners with autism respectfully and works to increase awareness, understanding, and acceptance of neurodiversity among teachers and paraeducators. She regularly plans and provides training in the Autistic Support program and collaborates with colleagues to elevate the curriculum, remove barriers, differentiate instruction and assessment, and understand and change behavior. Her work gives every student the opportunity to learn without limits.

Mrs. Myers frequently shares her students' strengths and celebrates their successes. She empathizes with parents, praises their efforts, and provides them with strategies to use at home. Her passion extends beyond her classroom, as she planned autism family events and a holiday concert, serves as a district Safety Care trainer, and participated on the Special Education Plan Committee.

She supports district, building, and student-led initiatives. She is an innovative leader of the Autistic Support program and is described as professional and encouraging. Mrs. Myers does the little and big things that lift others up.