NSCSD Shining Stars
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unexpected challenges to both teaching and learning but we know that many of our students and teachers are thriving in this environment. We also know other staff are going above and beyond to keep students and families safe and informed. We'd love to hear (and share) the inspirational stories you have so we can keep the positive vibes going. If you'd like to recognize a North Syracuse Central School District student, employee or even a volunteer, please complete a short online form giving us some basic information. Many thanks to everyone who submitted nominations for shining stars during the 2020-2021 school year! We're excited to have received so many entries and are working to put together the stories we have already gotten. We will no longer be accepting nominations for the 2020-2021 school year but will continue this popular feature next school year. If you submitted a nomination, keep checking to see your featured star! |
NSCSD Shining Stars (Click the name of the teacher/staff/school/program to go directly to that write-up)
May 21, 2021: As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, we’ll be taking time to feature multiple Shining Stars each week.
June 11 Shining Star #2: Meghan Stasko, Kindergarten Teacher at Smith Road Elementary School
June 11 Shining Star #1: Courtney Sprague, Occupational Therapist at KWS Bear Road Elementary School
June 4 Shining Star: Tammy Guarno, Fourth-Grade Teacher at Lakeshore Road Elementary School
May 28 Shining Star #2: Zuriel Dickerson, Eighth-Grade Student at North Syracuse Junior High School
May 28 Shining Star #1: Steve Bacon, Fifth-Grade Teacher at Gillette Road Middle School
May 21 Shining Star #2: Kelly Hahn, First-Grade Teacher at KWS Bear Road Elementary School
May 21 Shining Star #1: Nancy Kadlecik and a team of Gillette Road Middle School Staff
May 14 Shining Star: Heidi LaVere, North Syracuse Junior High School Teaching Assistant
May 7 Shining Star: Roxboro Road Middle School Teacher David Schmidt
April 23 Shining Star: North Syracuse Junior High School, Our first Shining Star School
April 16 Shining Star: Meghan Cumber, North Syracuse Junior High School 8th Grade Student
April 9 Shining Star: Amanda Menikheim-Morey, North Syracuse Early Education Program Teacher
March 26 Shining Stars: Lakeshore Road Elementary School Second Grade Student Paul Lucason and his Classmates
March 19 Shining Stars: Steve Sagnella, Head Custodian at KWS Bear Road Elementary School and the NSCSD Custodial Staff
March 12 Shining Star: Fully Remote Second Grade Teacher Nicole McCarthy
March 5 Shining Stars: NSCSD Support Staff (Bus Drivers and Transportation Employees, Custodial and Maintenance Workers, Food Service Staff, Clerical and Office Personnel and Everone who Supports Instructional Staff)
February 26 Shining Stars: Shannon Knapp and the NSCSD Instructional Coaches for Technology Integration
February 12 Shining Stars: NSCSD Building Technology Teaching Assistants (Tech TAs)
February 5 Shining Star: Cicero-North Syracuse High School Business Teacher and Northstar Coach Mike Lucia
January 29 Shining Star: Cicero Elementary School Speech/Language Teacher, Colleen Hinrichs
January 29 Student Shining Star Shout Out: Julia Kulakowski
January 22 Shining Star: North Syracuse Junior High School and Cicero-North Syracuse High School Teacher, John Nadler
January 15 Shining Star: KWS Bear Road Elementary School Teacher, Janelle Jacobson
January 8 Shining Star: Gillette Road Middle School Teacher, Domenic Liccione
December 18 Shining Star: Cicero Elementary School Teacher, Ashley Stevens
December 11 Shining Star: North Syracuse Junior High School Teacher, Tim Krueger
December 4 Shining Star: Cicero-North Syracuse High School Teacher, Danielle Rausa
November 20 Shining Star: Lakeshore Road Elementary School Teacher, Ginell Iversen
November 13 Shining Star: North Syracuse Junior High School Student/Family
November 6 Shining Stars: Roxboro Road Middle School Physical Education Staff
May 21 Shining Star #2: Kelly Hahn, First-Grade Teacher at KWS Bear Road Elementary School |
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One of our two Shining Stars this week is Kelly Hahn, a first grade teacher at KWS Bear Road Elementary School. Kelly not only works for the North Syracuse Central School District, she grew up in the community and is a graduate. Kelly considers herself a “proud Northman,” having graduated from North Syracuse High School in 1981 before the District was centralized. She also attended Allen Road Elementary School and Roxboro Road Middle School. After graduating from high school, Kelly briefly left the area for college at SUNY Geneseo. When it came time to begin a teaching career, Kelly returned to the community she grew up in. Kelly’s first teaching job was in a neighboring school district but when her children became a part of the NSCSD, she began looking for a job here. Kelly said, “When my oldest daughter was about to start kindergarten at Smith Road, I decided that it would be best for my family if I taught [here] also, so I interviewed here at Bear Road with Mr. Karl Saile and have been here ever since!” Over her career at Bear Road Elementary, Kelly has taught at various grade levels, from first through fifth and enjoys each level. “There are many things I love about teaching,” Kelly said. “I love the connections I am able to make with my students and their families. The students become such an important part of my life,” she continued. Kelly has a special affinity for the work she does as a first grade teacher. Kelly said, “I think my favorite thing about teaching first grade is when I get to help a child learn to love books and reading! The best part of my day is read-aloud time. I can foster the love of reading by choosing great books to read to my students. I use those books to teach all of the reading comprehension skills necessary for success in first grade.” Kelly was nominated for Shining Star recognition earlier this school year by Amanda Maddison, the mom of one of her (then) hybrid students, Audrey. Mrs. Maddison, whose older daughter, Charlotte, also had Kelly as a teacher last year, was thankful that her daughters both had such an amazing teacher to help them through a difficult time. |
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Amanda wrote, “Kelly taught both of my children during the pandemic and has handled this scary time bravely. She never once allowed technology to take place of actual teaching. On more than one occasion she made home visits to deliver materials, drop by with donuts or just FaceTime to say she’s proud of her students.” Kelly admits that this year has been challenging for a number of reasons but says that she was able to succeed because of her wonderful school community. “The COVID pandemic has been difficult on its own, but because Bear Road is under construction, that has added another layer of stress,” Kelly said. “The students have been so resilient through it all! I think the ‘tools’ that have helped me the most have to be my first grade teammates here. We all have leaned on each other and helped each other get through! I’m 100% serious when I say, I couldn’t have made it through without my teammates here at Bear!” Congratulations to Kelly Hahn, who is also featured in her school’s PTO newsletter this month. Click here to view the newsletter on Peachjar. |
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