A district recognition program honors employees for their commitment to the students and staff of Vancouver Public Schools. The Excellence Award is given to individual employees who have created a positive, caring and productive school/work environment through exceptional effort, dedication, or performance in their area of responsibility.
Four employees were selected for the October 2010 recognition. They were honored at the October 26 school board meeting. Pictured left to right are:
• Nicole Niesz, Human Resources Specialist
• Theo Mikaele, District Resource Officer, McLoughlin Middle School
• Don Mattson, Building Operator, Harney Elementary School
• Linda Gustafson, K-12 Literacy Specialist, Curriculum and Instruction
The Excellence Award is given to two to four employees each month. Nominations are open to staff, students, parents, and community members. Nominees are selected for recognition by a committee of their peers.
Please nominate! Forms are available by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.
Learn more about the Excellence Award recipients for October . . .
Nicole Niesz
Human Resources Specialist
Hired October 2004
Organization is a desirable skill in all jobs, but it’s absolutely essential in the role Nicole Niesz fills in Human Resources. Nicole works with school administrators to hire coaches and directors, even student employees, for after-school sports and activities. Consider the number of sports and activities offered, multiply these for every school at the high school, middle school and even the elementary level, then multiply it again for girls and boys teams, coaches, assistant coaches, and directors. If you do the math, you end up with hundreds of people to be hired throughout the year. Nicole not only manages the hiring of this vast network of employees, she has made the entire system more efficient. Nicole is a problem-solver. She answers endless questions and remains supportive and professional. Nicole provides clarity in areas that need clarification. She has improved the process for tracking the many requirements of coaches, making sure all procedures and policies are met. One example of this is a checklist Nicole created so athletic directors can be sure they are hiring the highest quality coaches. Sports and other activities are critically important to many of our students. Students are often more engaged in school because of positive relationships built through sports and activities. Nicole’s impact can be felt throughout the district because she is behind this strong program.
Theo Mikaele
District Resource Officer, McLoughlin Middle School
Hired March 2005
Theo Mikaele is dedicated to improving students’ lives. Theo is a District Resource Officer at McLoughlin Middle School, but he gives selflessly to students throughout the district. His influence is far reaching. One of Theo’s strengths is his ability to work with gang-affected youth, encouraging them to stay in school and avoid negative behavior patterns. As the lead District Resource Officer for gang-related issues, Theo works hand-in-hand with staff from the juvenile justice system and other schools to steer students away from the gang lifestyle. Theo and his family (including wife Elizabeth, a counselor at Hudson’s Bay High School) have taken steps outside of the school setting to mentor individuals with gang-related backgrounds, and to limit the gangs’ impact on them. They have attended multiple community gatherings to celebrate individuals who make choices to avoid the gang lifestyle. At McLoughin, Theo is beloved by students and staff members. As a DRO, Theo is responsible for school safety. But Theo is a mentor, and he cares for the students’ wellbeing. He has a knack for forming strong relationships with students. He goes out of his way to strike up conversations with them. Theo also is a head football coach and track coach at McLoughlin, and he leads the freshman basketball team at Hudson’s Bay. Theo has been known to spend a weekend helping a student and his family move. During track season, Theo works out rides home from practice so kids who wouldn’t otherwise have transportation can participate. Theo does all of this with humility and grace. He does it because it’s the right thing to do, and it makes the community a better place.
Don Mattson
Building Operator, Harney Elementary School
Hired March 2002
Amazing, hard worker, friendly, supportive, inspiring . . . these are some of the adjectives used over and over in the 13 nominations of Don Mattson, building operator at Harney Elementary School. One nomination states, “Don Mattson truly embodies the idea that we are all here to help kids learn.” Don is self motivated and driven by excellence. He is highly conscientious and diligent—Harney shines. The quality of his work is reflected in many compliments from visitors about the cleanliness of the school. Don not only keeps the building in good working order, he makes it a better place to work. He interacts with students and staff daily and takes the time to build relationships. He greets everyone with a smile. Don is a kid magnet. He knows all of the students’ names, and he always has a kind word and a cheerful and calm demeanor. Even under trying circumstances “Mr. Don” has the right words of encouragement. He provides students with special jobs and opportunities to be helpers. Don has the gift of knowing how to instill responsibility by insisting on high standards. He also is a teacher of Harney’s school values of safety, respect and responsibility. Mr. Don is a team leader at Harney, instilling confidence, character, and a peaceful environment for kids and teachers. His dedication is unwavering. With Don on board, miracles happen for Harney students.
Linda Gustafson
K-12 Literacy Specialist, Curriculum and Instruction
Hired November 1978
Linda Gustafson could write the book on literacy. During her lifelong career in education (beginning as a high school English teacher at the age of 20), Linda has devoted herself to making sure students learn to read. Linda has spent the last 32 years of her career in Vancouver Public Schools. She has worked as a special education teacher, a data literacy facilitator, a reading specialist, and a K-12 literacy specialist. Linda’s contributions to literacy programs include leadership with Reading First, development of the intervention model used in middle and high schools, development and coordination of the annual Secondary Summer Literacy Institute, and the implementation of a range of programs including Read 180, Read Well, and many more. Linda is respected and known by her colleagues as an instructional leader who is still grounded in the classroom. Her ability to connect and build relationships with classroom teachers makes her invaluable to them. Linda not only listens to teachers, she checks back with them. Her passion for teaching provides a true model of lifelong learning. Linda’s energy, creativity, and enthusiasm for staying current with the best instructional practices make her a tireless advocate for the children of our community. This month, Linda is retiring. She will be missed, but she has taught the teachers well. Our students will learn to read thanks to Linda. And that is a happy ending.
