December 4 – RISE Nominations

“Those who know Tom cannot help but love him and his humor. He is engaging, deeply compassionate and loves his job as a counselor. He does not shy away from being silly but also knows when to lock in and connect deeply with parents, students and faculty. He is often seen in the halls and lunchroom making authentic connections with students and will do everything he can to help the student body in every way. He also announces at many Westlake events and does a phenomenal job. Tom is an inspiring and amazing educator and we are grateful to have him in the lives of our kids at Lake Mountain.”

Nominated by: Danny & Kelly Horne, parents

“Mr. Wiltbank is an incredible asset to all at Lake Mountain. He connects so well with students, parents, and teachers and goes the extra mile to help all feel informed and included. As a middle school counselor, he adeptly helps students and parents navigate both the crossroads from elementary to middle school, and the transition from middle to high school with wisdom and kindness. He is a beloved sports announcer and supporter of the arts as well. It is truly evident how much he cares and Lake Mountain would not be what it is without him.“

Nominated by: Amanda Borneman, parent

“I have the privilege of working with a lot of teachers in very hard and sometimes escalated situations. I have been continually impressed with Breanne’s professionalism and positive demeanor throughout the begining of the school year. Despite having a large class size and many tricky students, she has been solution oriented and incredibly positive and motivating towards her team of aides and administartion. She is someone who works with a small group of our most impacted students and needs to be recognized. Thank you Breanne for everything you are doing and will continue to do.“

Nominated by: Jack Kingsford, district employee

“For years my kids couldn’t wait to get to 5th grade so that they could have Mr. Horan for their English teacher in the DLI program. He is an exceptional teacher because he listens, he cares about the individual, and he is consistently joyful. Mr. Horan truly listens to the students and parents, he doesn’t just listen with his ears, but his whole demeanor listens. He has an exceptional ability to care about the needs of each individual in his class. He focuses on their strengths and builds up their weaknesses. Mr. Horan has a constant smile, he shows up every day full of joy to be teaching.“

Nominated by: Jill Hughes, parent

“Rachel goes above and beyond in her role as a paraeducator in a small group autism classroom. She demonstrates problem-solving skills and a positive attitude that inspires the students and colleagues around her. One of the most remarkable aspects of Rachel is her willingness to help others. She regularly goes out of her way to support other teachers and other students throughout the school. Her hard work and dedication to Foothill does not go unnoticed!”

Nominated by: Kailana Downs, district employee

“Laura is a ray of sunshine walking into a room, she always makes you feel loved and seen. She is so supportive of her teams, and the people that have the pleasure of interacting with her across a day absolutely love Laura. She is so willing to help others with a smile and a witty joke.“

Nominated by: Jen Baeza, district employee

“Staci is one of the most compassionate teachers that any of our 8 children have had in ASD. We’ve been blessed to have her teach 3 of our younger children so far. Staci is positive, genuine, and sincere. She is innovative and uses great activities to keep her first grade students engaged. She truly cares about each student, how they learn and treat each other. During the Covid shutdown she took time to check in with each student through individual and class video calls. She is fantastic at keeping parents updated, showcasing what the students learn in daily Instagram posts.“

Nominated by: Erin Ashton, parent

“I think Pam is deserving of this award because she makes you feel very welcome. I haven’t felt more like a peer with a teacher than with Pam. Just by having us call her by her first name makes it feel less hierarchical. She always tries to make sure you understand the concepts and makes detailed videos to help us learn. She also makes class fun. During the holiday season, she made us homemade hot chocolate. During the blood drive last year, she helped organize it, recruit donors, and provided us opportunities to volunteer.“

Nominated by: Declan Case, student

“Mrs. Barker is the only teacher at Lehi in all of my years there that has made me excited about going to their class. She was the only math teacher I had that helped me understand what we were learning and you could tell she cares about her students.“

Nominated by: Nathan Ehat, student

“Ms. Grow has been helping me with my Early Childhood Education pathway since my sophomore year, and continues to be encouraging and support me in earning credentials to work in the ECE field. She’s always so nice and I know that she is a lot of student’s favorite teacher from being super kind and supportive of everyone’s interests and hobbies. Ms. Grow is awesome!“

Nominated by: Avery Guernsey, student

“Coach Roberts is a great fitness teacher with a sense of humor that i enjoy and he’s been the most helpful in my opinion.“

Nominated by: Kaedyn Hoglund, student

“Mrs. Garcia has been so crucial to my education my entire high school experience. She has always been my safe teacher that makes me feel understood and wanted. Anytime I’ve needed help with schoolwork or needed to talk about what’s going on in my life, she’s always been there for me. Garcia is also a really good teacher and has helped me improve my writing so much in the past 3 years. She is such a remarkable person and has such an impactful effect on all her students.“

Nominated by: Caitlin Wagner, student

“Mrs. Garcia is the best teacher I could have asked for. I loved English classes with her she is so smart and so sweet. She does a remarkable job as an English teacher. She helps students when they are struggling and need help not only with school. She is a very trusted adult and I am so happy I was her student.”

Nominated by: Kylie Theobald, student

“After a family loss, I had a very hard time going to school and was sensitive to a lot of different things. Mrs. Farr went above and beyond in making me feel comfortable coming to class and meeting with me almost every day to see where I was at and how I was feeling, including modifying her lesson plans and activities for me to accommodate my feelings. She is extremely personable, empathetic, and makes sure her students know how much she cares. You can tell she truly loves her job, and that’s what students need. Mrs. Farr is amazing!“

Nominated by: Avery Guernsey, student

“If it wasn’t for her in eighth grade when I had Ms. Hopkins for CCA, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to have her as a teacher all 4 years of my high school experience. My whole trajectory of my future has been greatly impacted by her convincing me to join FFA. She always tells us “You can do hard things,” and is our biggest supporter. Hopkins encourages my love for floral design and I am so grateful for the relationships and education I have received from her.“

Nominated by: Caitlin Wagner, student

“Mrs. Wilcox is one of the best teachers I’ve had at Skyridge. She is so supportive and has always made me feel welcome in her classroom. When I was going through one of the toughest years of my life I needed a change and Mrs Wilcox was there for me without ever asking questions. She’s one of the kindest and most generous people I know and I genuinely get excited to go to her class. She’s someone that I feel so comfortable talking to whether it’s about an issue with an assignment or about how my day was. I’ve loved having her class these last two years!!“

Nominated by: Brailyn Dunkley, student

“I nominate Mrs. Wilcox because she is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She always makes everyone who walks through her class feel safe and accepted. She takes time to make sure you are understanding what we are doing in the moment. She also is one of the nicest people I know. She has helped me personally when I haven’t understood something or when i am lost or confused.”

Nominated by: Dawson Butler, student

“Ms. Wilcox is the Digital Curriculum teacher, and she works with all of us to help us with our East Shore packets. She is very chill and ready to help us out however she can, even by silently cheering us on during our tests. She puts a lot of work into making sure we have a safe space where we can just work on our classes, and celebrates our victories with us by giving cute bee sticker rewards whenever we get through a unit. She does not sit with us and hold our hands, instead allowing us to take charge over ourselves and accomplish our goals while she encourages us to do our best.”

Nominated by: Hope Jense, student

“Mrs. Wilcox is an amazing individual who never fails to make my day better. She’s super energetic and encouraging of my efforts. She is extremely supportive and genuinely a great teacher who tries to make the best of every interaction. She encourages me to work hard in my East Shore classes so I can succeed in completing my pathways and 100% makes my learning experience better.”

Nominated by: Erin Holmstead, student

“I am nominating Tyler Davis because he has been one of the few people that supports my school journey. Mr. Davis has been extremely helpful, patient, and understanding. I always know that If I have any questions or issues regarding my schooling or life Mr. Davis is there to help me. I am grateful to have him as a counselor and would not be where I am today if not for him.“

Nominated by: Nicholas Oyler, student

“Holly Robinson has been my best teacher at Skyridge High School. I have never had a teacher as intelligent as her. Mrs. Robinson has helped me understand English so much better and I am very thankful for that. Even though the class was just a normal English 11, she pushed us to be better than we were. She genuinely cared about us understanding the content we were consuming and how to better ourselves. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for her. Even if I was behind or I didn’t understand something, I always felt comfortable to go and talk to her about it and get help.“

Nominated by: Abram Griffiths, student

“I nominate Sonya because she helps me a lot. She makes sure that I do my work and makes sure I’m in school on time and checks up on me and how I’m doing in school. When i have hard days and stuff like that she just is always there to help me.“

Nominated by: Milika Taiese, student

“Mrs. Bolander is the GOAT. She made learning a lot of fun and made coming to class so much fun. A lot of the lessons weere fun and so where the labs. She’s also a really good person to talk to about whatever.”

Nominated by: Tristyn Baid, student

“Ms. Bolander is the best! She is always so fun and understanding. Her classroom was such a safe environment and I always looked forward to her class. Sometimes Ms. Bolander was the only reason I was motivated in my academics. She’s the embodiment of the RISE award!”

Nominated by: Julian Fernandez, student

“Mrs. Ereth has helped my kindergartener (and her class) thrive, in just a month. After some kids were mean at recess, my daughter was sad and not excited to go back to school. But my daughter knew how much Mrs. Ereth cared about her and wanted to go back for her. She has been the biggest blessing to my sweet 5 year old and encourages her to be brave, strong, and shows genuine interest in her life every day. We are so grateful for her!“

Nominated by: Alayna Gentry, parent

“Kay comes in regularly to my workplace buying her students things to make class fun/ recognizing their birthdays with her own money. She always has a smile and good attitude when she’s around. Always saying how much she enjoys teaching and bringing smiles to her students. You can tell she enjoys what she does and has dedicated so much time to her students.“

Nominated by: Samantha Larkin, community member

“Ms. Ball relates to her students and makes them feel comfortable around her. Her students learn well, and easily. She makes sure her students and fellow staff members are all feeling okay. If she notices something is wrong, she tries to make sure it is right. She is able to be a friend towards her students, making them feel accepted in the school environment.“

Nominated by: Jacob Goms, student

“Mr. Griffith is deserving of the RISE award because he Is remarkable and Inspiring. I have taken multiple of his classes and in all of them he cares about teaching and will go out of his way to make sure his students know the information. He has extensive knowledge of all the subjects he teaches as he has experience in most of them.“

Nominated by: Canyon Murie, student

“Mr. Griffith clearly loves what he’s teaching and keeps his lessons very engaging and informative. In addition to that, you can tell that he takes the time to get to know his students and works with them. The combination of these two makes it a pleasure to be his student and makes him a remarkable teacher.”

Nominated by: Owen Jones, student

“I’m nominating Mrs. Berrett because she has been so inspiring and helpful to me. She always sees the best in her students and encourages them in everything, she is always welcoming and kind.“

Nominated by: Claire Luker, student

“I am nominating Mrs. Ercanbrack because she is super helpful, inspiring and encouraging. She has helped people so much to make sure they are working hard and working to their full potential. She is super kind which makes that inspiring to be like her. She helps every single one of her students. She always thinks about others and how they are doing.“

Nominated by: Kalli High, student

“Lindsay is a personable and approachable instructional coach. I am a new hire and she has been assigned to support me. She listens to my frustrations and helps me find solutions. She has used our coaching cycle time effectively and is supporting me in sharpening my instruction in a way that I feel comfortable and seen. She is quick to share her expertise and resources that she has spent hours creating. My classroom is immensely benefiting from her effort and compassion. I am so grateful to her!”

Nominated by: Kelsey Hamilton, district employee

“Mrs. Ercanbrack has always been a teacher who has been interested in who I am. I only had her my sophmore year but we still talk all the time. She really does make her students feel loved and important, but still has us work hard in our education. Just an outstanding person.”

Nominated by: Nate Hansen, student

“Mr. Sagapolu is encouraging because he is always helping me with my homework or helping me understand subjects that I don’t know. He always tells me to get my grades up so I can graduate. And he always makes sure I’m on task and caught up on work so I don’t fail a class. He’s always inspiring me to do great things in life. And to also be successful and to work a job that I want.“

Nominated by: Amando Robles, student

“I’m nominating Amy Anderson because she’s very encouraging, and cares about the students she looks after. She goes out of her way to inspire and help students whenever she can. Whenever she can, she will email you or pull you aside to check up on you. She encourages students to do their best work and helps them when they can’t, and she’s also very inspiring to look up to. She’s amazing at what she does.“

Nominated by: Seriah Chamberlain, student

“Mrs Amy is an awesome advocate. I’ve only known her for so long but she’s awesome. She’s helped me in many ways and has helped me get a lot of my work done. She’s always there for support and treats all of her students very kindly with whatever they come to her with. I believe she deserves the RISE award for many reasons, including these!”

Nominated by: Psalm Clapperton, student

“I have had Mr. Perazzo’s class before, and at the time of that, I was struggling at home with some stuff. I was struggling with my grades and Mr. Perazzo let me know the bigger assignments to finish up to pass. He has been patient with the class, and even when the class is disruptive he manages to get them to calm back down. He inspired me to be more patient when it comes to other people, even letting me know to keep up and do my best which helps determine me. He let me have a plastic fork cause I forgot one, The smallest things make big changes.“

Nominated by: Genezareth Dominguez, student

“Ms. Childs has been very helpful to me and helped me realize what I wanted to do with my life. She went to bat for me many times and I very much appreciated it. She has helped me work through some of my problems and always provides sage advice.“

Nominated by: Blake Austin, student

“Amanda is a passionate, talented and invested teacher. On top of all of her curriculum, she has done a phenomenal job helping me, a new hire, feel prepared for my job. She uses time outside of contract to help me plan, understand my curriculum, and feel confident in my classroom. She gives specific comments that provide valuable feedback and continually checks on me and my needs. I am grateful to her and her mindful efforts!”

Nominated by: Kelsey Hamilton, district employee

“My sophomore year of high school, I was scared to come to school and I failed math for the first half of the year, I switched into coach Gardner’s class and I was able to attend and pass the class. He was super funny and nice so I felt comfortable being in his classroom. He showed patience when I was behind and went to catch up. He encouraged people to come to class and everyone would come to hear his funny stories.“

Nominated by: Hazel Hill, student

“Mr. Andersen knows each of his students and is involved in their lives. When falling behind in one of his classes, he will come talk to you and make an effort to bring you up to date and work with you. He spends a large amount of his time focusing on students. From the Chinese New Year festival he organizes every year, to the Taiwan trip, Mr. Andersen is absolutely incredible. All of his students love and appreciate him. Thank you, Mr. Andersen!“

Nominated by: Oliver Gibb, student

“Mr. Anderson has been an amazing teacher. This is the first year I’ve had him and I really enjoy his holistic grading. I like his teaching methods and I feel he really cares about my life.”

Nominated by: Kate Palmer-Davis, student

“Mrs. Lewis is always super helpful and understanding. She has helped me with my schedule every single year I’ve attended Skyridge. She responds quickly to emails and is always willing to help in any way she can.“

Nominated by: Ashton Hallstrom, student

“Mr. Scott is a Calculus and Sec 3 teacher – math is especially hard for a lot of people. Mr. Scott blends his clear teaching with personal stories which are always funny and interesting to get our attention so we can divert the focus to the actual teaching. He understands each individual student and tries to understand what it is exactly that they don’t get, then he targets their weak areas. He puts down whatever he’s doing to help the students understand what they need to for the AP exam, and for this I will never be grateful enough.“

Nominated by: Anastas Serenko, student

“Mrs. Druce is such a hard worker. She really made my son’s first full year at school a fun and safe place to be. She cares about her students and you can truly see that.“

Nominated by: Stephanie Smith, parent

“Ms. Moe has encouraged me to do well in school and she has showed me that I’m capable of doing it I just need to work hard. I’ve always gone to her when I don’t know what to do or when I feel like I’m getting behind. She’s been very understanding and patient and she always figures out a way to help me get back on track. Without her support i don’t think I’d have the drive to finish high school.“

Nominated by: Azareya Elias, student

“For the last year Lisa has been sending weekly emails to the faculty celebrating all the great things others are doing in the school. She’s deliberate about visiting as many teachers as possible and capturing the great things happening in the school. She also adds fun jokes & images that capture things of the past. It’s like reading the Sunday comics. She does all of this as a labor of love & it does not go unappreciated or unnoticed. Keep it up, Lisa!“

Nominated by: Danny Horne, district employee

“Mrs. Eisenhart is INCREDIBLE to say the least! She brings such light and happiness everywhere she goes. Every time I have set foot in the school or at a school event she is ALWAYS walking around interacting with the students and handing out heart stickers to every student she sees telling them “Mrs. Eisenhart loves you!” She is so fun and engaging and has such a light about her. She has a way of making every child feel noticed and loved which frankly every teen needs this so badly! Both of my students that go to Willowcreek love her! Even my 4th grader is excited for the day when she will be attending Willowcreek because she knows Mrs. Eisenhart from interactions at school functions! I wish every administrator was this loving and involved with students. She is absolutely remarkable!!! She is an amazing asset to the leadership at that school and I wish every school had an administrator just like her.We need more Mrs. Eisenharts in the schools! We love Mrs. Eisenhart!!!“

Nominated by: Missy Liston, parent

“She is always wanting show me and all of the students and staff at Willowcreek how much she loves them but giving heart stickers out to everyone and telling them that she loves them. She is outstanding and deserves to be recognized for the impact she makes on our school.”

Nominated by: Kaitlyn Liston, student

“Mr. Facer is one of the greatest teachers I’ve ever had as a student. He always makes the subject he is teaching something that you can remember. He is very funny and can always make the class more enjoyable. There are so many people that love him as a teacher at Viewpoint and it is for good reason. He has made school more enjoyable for so many students including me.“

Nominated by: Jack Smith, student

“Mrs. “Kissy” Richards notices everyone’s efforts. She is always willing to help anyone or go over something again even if she’s already gone over it twelve times. She doesn’t let anyone get left behind. She is also hilarious and amazing at teaching us music. We have never and will never sound bad because of her.“

Nominated by: Avery Call, student

“Denise has been a great resource for me. She has been encouraging in my new position and supportive with suggestions to improve my instruction and relationships with students. She is always there with a smile and a helping hand when I need it!“

Nominated by: Amy Benton, district employee

“Darcy is an exceptional counselor who has gone the extra mile for my children since the first arrived at LPHS. As each of my children has met her, they report that she is their “best friend” at school. Darcy is an advocate, role model, and mentor, providing encouragement and guidance. Our family cherishes and values her immensely. Thank you, Darcy, for being “all in” in your work with students and families. We love you!“

Nominated by: Jody Lindsay, parent

“Nicole is the definition of RISE. She radiates warmth and kindness. Nicole goes out her way to constantly help other people, often prioritizing the needs of everyone around her before herself. Riverview Elementary thrives because of Nicole Parker!”

Nominated by: Sara Dunfield, district employee

December 4 – RISE Nominations

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