2022-2023 Staff Recognition

Nominate a Marysville Joint Unified School District Employee by clicking here and filling out the form!

A huge thank you goes out to the companies that have donated items so we can recognize our hard working staff. If you are interested in donating a gift card or other item to help recognize and thank a MJUSD employee, please contact Zachary Pless in Educational Services.

April 2023 Employee Recognition

Each month, nominations are accepted and names are randomly selected for recognition.

Steve Johnson at Foothill

I have worked at Foothill with Steve for over 25 years. I am a teacher and he has been our custodian. He has raised a big family alone and has worked tirelessly to support them, while giving and giving at Foothill, keeping our school clean and beautiful. Steve recently had a knee replacement because of all the hard work at school, and in his life. He came back to us full of energy and a desire to help kids and help our school.

Tiffany Bautista at Cedar Lane

Tiffany has been an amazing mentor and team member. She goes above and beyond for our students. She has been an amazing team member to work with and I have learned a lot working alongside her.

Miranda Clayton Denton at Olivehurst

Miranda is always willing to help out students. She takes our tier 3 intervention students and gives them the extra help that they need. Miranda is also a great resource to talk to for students who are having behavior problems and gives great suggestions to help them become successful. She also attends SST meetings and has great insight and suggestions for parents. For our school garden she has worked tirelessly to schedule a garden clean up day with Say Love, get donations of dirt and plants, and picked those donations up.

Dr. David Vujovich at Marysville

Dave noticed that I was struggling with my health after being diagnosed with Covid and he took the time to check in on me. This small gesture made me feel valued as an employee.

Neville Henry at McKenney

Neville is always so positive and friendly! Even when a student is having a challenging day, Neville maintains a calm and patient presence. I appreciate all of the times we cross paths on campus because he always brightens up my day!

Sharon Criddle at McKenney

Sharon is always willing to help fill in at the office or wherever may be needed. She always has a smile and works really hard to keep the library stocked with great books. We absolutely love having her here at McKenney.

David Jones at North/South Lindhurst, Abraham Lincoln

David Jones is an amazing principal! He is intelligent, kind, consistent, forward thinking, inclusive, and he probably works harder than any of us! He is extremely supportive of his teachers, but his real effectiveness comes from his absolute dedication and determination to helping our students succeed. He expects a lot from his teachers, but he is always right by our side helping us deliver. I feel very fortunate to work with Mr. Jones, he is a shining star in our district.

Constance Franklin at Johnson Park

I have the privilege to be Constance's mentor and I am just so inspired by her dedication, enthusiasm and hard work. She is doing an amazing job. Her colleagues, students and school community are lucky to have her at Johnson Park!

Tiffany Shelton at Yuba Feather

Tiffany is truly one in a million. Whether it is her job, volunteering, PTSA, or yearbook she always goes above and beyond. When storms hit, dumping feet of snow at Yuba Feather Tiffany exceeded beyond! She somehow managed to get to the school providing daily updates and photos of conditions. When snow loads became increasingly close to exceeding capacity Tiffany pushed aside her fear of heights and was up on the roof assisting with snow removal. When rains and runoff were too great for drains to handle causing flooding, Tiffany waded out in her water socks to divert the water away from classrooms. There is nothing Tiffany will not or cannot do! Staff is in awe of her might and have affectionately referred to her as Mountain Mama and The Incredible Woman. She is also a kind and caring human, coworker and friend. It is my honor to recommend Tiffany, she genuinely makes a difference.

Teri Shrader at Browns Valley

Mrs. Shrader is such a talented teacher. The energy and creativity she puts into for our rallies is so impressive. I am so blessed to work with staff that put in so much time and effort for our students.

See all nominations for April 2023

March 2023 Employee Recognition

Each month, nominations are accepted and names are randomly selected for recognition.

Antonio Chavez at District Office

Antonio is the best custodian we have the pleasure to work with. He comes to work every day with a great attitude and does so much for out offices. He definitely spoils us! With his can-do attitude, he is always willing to help out no matter what. He constantly goes above and beyond unprompted and we are thankful to have him!

Cassandra Fifield at Cedar Lane

Miss Cassie has been doing great things this school year for our students. They have had such a blast with her different activities from Literacy night, Read Across America, and a variety of other reading themed contests. Thank you for all your dedication and hard work in promoting positive reading habits.

Esmeralda Davis at District Office

I feel so fortunate to have met Esmeralda earlier this year. She has consistently helped me with any issues/concerns/questions I've had regarding my medical leave. She was always available, able to explain things in ways I could understand and seemed to truly care about my situation. Esmeralda's hard work and dedication makes her such an asset to MJUSD. Thanks for all your help this year, Esmeralda!

Jeri Echols at Marysville

She is an awesome person always smile on her face. We can ask her million questions, she always answers with a smile. She is always in a positive mood which encourages me to have a very positive attitude. I appreciate her ability to resolve everything quickly and her willingness to help others.

John Georgopoulos at Edgewater

John is someone who truly enjoys being around kids and always tries to bring out their best. He steps up to support students through his engaging, positive lessons, to his running of an after school gaming club, to being a huge helper during our Watch D.O.G.S. Kickoff Event. He's there to help when and where you need him. Mr. G is a big part of our excellent campus culture. He is a true Edgewater Shark!

Josh “Big Mac” McFarlane at Foothill

Josh is fun to work with! He has an attitude, but keeps the atmosphere fun while keeping an eye on all students and staff. The school is lucky to have him here for sure. He has built relationships with kids, and while he is involved in disciplinary actions, he is a good friend to all who know him!

Kevin Yang at North Marysville

It is great to work with Kevin! He is kind and funny and sincere and professional all at the same time. The students love and respect him and the whole school relies on him to schedule our classes and make sure our students are on track to graduate. He definitely has the students’ best interest in mind as he excels at his job as counselor of NorthSLHS. We are lucky to work with him. He definitely is having a positive impact in our district.

Kimberly Smith at Cedar Lane

Ms. Smith goes above and beyond for all of her students and Cedar Lane as a whole. Her dedication to students, families and her profession is second to none. I cannot thank her enough for her hard work this school year. Cedar Lane is so lucky to have you!

Luis Villanueva at McKenney

Luis has plenty of routine things to take care of on a daily basis and he does an amazing job keeping our campus clean and in top shape. Even with his daily work load he is quick to come to the rescue when his help is needed for all of those sudden and unpredictable custodial needs that arise. No matter what comes up, he is there with a smile and a positive attitude.

Steven Stanaland at District Office

Steven is such a pleasure to work with in the print shop. Over the past year and a half he has proven time and time again that he can handle projects big and small with tight timelines. He is a motivated self starter and I am very lucky to work with him. I could not do this without him!

See all nominations for March 2023

February 2023 Employee Recognition

Each month, nominations are accepted and names are randomly selected for recognition.

Hailey Carlson at Linda

We had a long-term substitute teacher take over a second grade classroom for several weeks. During that time, Hailey made sure the substitute teacher had all the instructional plans and materials needed to ensure the students continued to receive a high-quality education while their teacher was out. The students and their families, the second grade team, and Linda Elementary are fortunate to have such a caring, hard-working professional like Hailey Carlson serving our school community!

Shelly Arrenquin at District Office

6am was when the AVID conference registrations opened and we heard it was like a Taylor Swift concert as they sell out quickly. Shelly came in early and was in contact constantly with our department for those unusual questions or unregistered employees. Needless to say multi sites with 40+ employees got their location and sessions within hours of the registration opening. 3 of out the 4 selected locations are sold out. Shelly is our Taylor Swift pop star.

Adriana Jacquez at Johnson Park

Adriana is new this year and has done an amazing job helping both students and staff. She has rocked the SST process and has also helped with touchy student situations, as well as translating whenever needed. I don't know what we would do without Ms. Adriana!

Yesenia Cachu at Marysville

This young teacher is hot! It took me a good 5 years to learn what this new teacher already knows.

Fernando Ibarra at McKenney

Fernando is always a joy to work with. He is always positive and eager to jump in and help out when needed. He covers from the office to the classroom without a complaint.He also handles our kiddos with care, even the ones who think they are too old to be handled with care.

Tisa Dominguez at Arboga

Tisa comes in every day with a smile. She has unlimited patience, kind and gentle communication with her students and always a fun and cheerful attitude. Her positive energy is infectious. Her students love her and it shows when they come in ready & excited to be in class every day. She encourages them to be the best versions on themselves. Tisa is such an asset to Arboga!

Mathew Fridrich at MCAA

Mat regularly goes above and beyond in his support of students, colleagues, and families. He recently spent many hours coaching and encouraging students as they prepared for a local Poetry Out Loud event, but still made time for last minute review and assistance with a speech contest. All of this while teaching classes students are excited about, helping a colleague develop a proposed new class, holding accountable students from the D & F list by talking with them individually and helping them develop new study habits, and preparing for our school's upcoming WASC accreditation visit.

Kim Moody at Edgewater

Mrs. Moody goes above and beyond to support all students in her classroom. She puts in so much effort to ensure students with disabilities are included. Mrs. Moody always comes to work with a great smile and makes it very easy to collaborate with!

Randy Swann at Olivehurst

Randy creates great relationships with students and is always willing to provide help where it is needed. He is very supportive of all staff members. Thank you for being so great!

Ruda Nelson at District Office

I probably email Ruda weekly regarding Clever and Google, and she is always so helpful. Thank you for helping us navigate through all the random technology issues we encounter! You've been a great helping hand for the reopening of adult ed.

See all nominations for February 2023

January 2023 Employee Recognition

Each month, nominations are accepted and names are randomly selected for recognition.

Angela Greshem at Ella

Angela is always doing her best to help to out with our families and finding resources for them. She not only works great with families but with staff too. She has helped me out with what she can and always offers a helping hand. If she doesn't have the answer for you she will find it. Thank You for all that you do.

Olga Hudson at Covillaud

This is Mrs Hudson's first year at Covillaud, and I believe it is also her first year with MJUSD. In this short period of time, she has shown herself to be a great addition, and a blessing to her students. She goes above and beyond, it is clear that she truly cares for her students.

Kachli Bechtel at Cordua

She has been instrumental in my success transitioning to the Principal role. She has helped me to navigate the dual principal role. She is one of the reasons that I have been able to quickly acclimate to the school culture and climate and she is a huge part of the school community. She loves every student, and I have never seen one person give or receive as many smiles in a day!

Betty Adamson at Linda

By coincidence, Linda Elementary's first grade team has included at least one long-term substitute teacher on their team throughout the entirety of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. While these guest teachers have been willing to do the work, they come to us without experience with, and knowledge of, our instructional program; curriculum; assessments; report card and grading processes; PBIS expectations and procedures; etc. Time and time again, Betty has stepped in to provide guidance and assume a mentor-like role for these long term substitute teachers and helped support them in managing the many roles and responsibilities they must assume as a classroom teacher. While we are very much looking forward to the day our first grade team is once again complete with our full starting teacher lineup, we appreciate Mrs. Adamson's efforts and dedication to supporting our substitute teachers to ensure ALL of Linda Elementary's first graders have access to a high-quality education!

Amber Reyes at Yuba Gardens

Ms. Reyes is a first year teacher here at Yuba Gardens and is absolutely killing it! Students love being in her class, and she does a great job creating a safe environment for all her students to learn and play in. Ms. Reyes comes to work each day with a smile on her face and is always willing to help out around campus. She jumped right into her first coaching job in the fall. Keep up the good work!

Christine Clark at Foothill

Mrs. Clark is always here for the students! She is always there for any concerns but also to encourage and celebrate the good behavior and achievements of all of the students at school! She creates a safe place for everyone to get help and a positive word when they need it.

Crystal Richards at Johnson Park

Mrs. Richards hosts a STEAM club after school for multiple grade levels. Thanks to her, our students get to experience STEAM activities.

Lynn Lucas at Ella

Lynn has helped to make my transition from 3rd grade to TK much smoother. We collaborate weekly and she shares her experience and expertise with me regularly. She is always there for her students and her colleagues.

Melissa Murray at Cedar Lane

Melissa goes above and beyond for her students. She has really helped her students learn about kindness week with multiple projects that are cute and educational. She deserves a pat on the back. Thank you Mrs. Murray.

Nicole Verkuyl at Arboga

Nicole is an amazing coworker and teacher. She runs our PBIS program and comes up with so many creative and fun ideas to help it run effectively. She is organized and efficient in all that she does. I enjoy sharing lesson ideas and strategies with her. She's also a great listener. I'm so glad she's been a part of our 5th grade team this year!

See all nominations for January 2023

December 2022 Employee Recognition

Each month, nominations are accepted and names are randomly selected for recognition.

La Song at Lindhurst

La is a very conscientious person and cares deeply for the students. She is always helpful and kind. Thank you La for being who you are!

Ana Correa at District Office

Ana is always so helpful. She is our go-to person for so many things. We couldn't live without her in the Ed Services Department. Thank you, Ana, for all you do to help us out.

Taylor Elkins at Lindhurst

Taylor is very patient and upbeat. He has a genuine concern for the students and can often be seen walking with them around campus. He does a great job and it's nice to have him around. Thank you Taylor, for all you do!

Rebecca Evers at Cedar Lane

I wanted to thank my admin for being extremely supportive as I navigated this part of the school year pregnant ( and headed towards maternity leave. ) They have made many accommodations and have checked-in with me often. Thank you for being there for me during this special time!

Andy Magenheimer at Cedar Lane

Marcy Tarr at Kynoch

Mrs. Tarr has created such a welcoming and safe environment in her classroom. She ensures that all students have the best learning environment and that all of their academic and social/emotional needs are met.

Carol Chilton at Lindhurst

Carol has been with the district for many years! One thing that has been constant with her has been her smile, her love for the children and her friendliness with the staff! Carol has truly embraced what working in education is all about! Thank you, Carol!

Kayla Haka at Lindhurst

Kayla has been a great addition to our school. She does a wonderful job and brings a lot of cheer and smiles to everyone she's around.

Itzella Bedolla at Cedar Lane

Itzy has been wearing many hats at Cedar Lane. She is always on the move and doing the job of three people. She goes above and beyond in completing her tasks instantly. She is so hard working and dedicated to helping the whole school function to help serve our students and families. Thank you Itzy for all you do for us. You are our superhero.

Charlotte Jackman at Loma Rica

Charlotte goes above and beyond to get to know our students, support students and staff and provide a welcoming/decorated office experience. Charlotte is new to our school and has really done a great job so far!

See all nominations for December 2022

November 2022 Employee Recognition

Shannon Fryan at Olivehurst

Shannon is a bright light around campus. Her presence brings a smile to your face and she is adored by both the students and her co-workers. She is always a phone call away and will do her best to help you in whatever way is needed. Thank you for all that you do to make our campus a positive and loving atmosphere. We appreciate you!

Chris Babb at Kynoch

Chris is always willing to help in any capacity needed. He helps with understanding new programs, technology issues, he shares resources, and much more. He is an educator who is invested and is willing to serve in any way he can.

Tracy Hutchinson at McKenney

Tracy is a jack of all trades. From representing our campus in Student Attendance Review Board meetings, serving as our athletic director, monitoring student behavior to dressing up in a turkey suit, Tracy does it all. He is a true asset to our school.

Kenny Her at Lindhurst

Mr. Her is an amazing counselor! Most of the work he does goes under the radar and he never seeks the awards and attention. Mr. Her spends countless hours building and coaching our future and current tennis players. We joke all the time that he's the "Head Counselor" in the office but he really is! This is my 6th year working with Mr. Her and I still learn from him every day.

Alina Shelton at Kynoch

Mx. Ali really loves working with the students. They put in lots of their own time, especially during the holidays to make things magical for the students and to help the students succeed in their endeavors.

Allicia Wiggins at Marysville

Wiggins is the most amazing college o have ever had the pleasure of bonding with so quickly so fast. In all my years of teaching I have never met someone who supports students and her department with such conviction and love. Like her contributions to MHS are endless. From her dedication to student success to elevating nurturing of her colleagues' success. She advocates for everyone to shine the brightest they can each day and my daily experience glows because she validates me as a person and fellow math teacher.

Nicole Burgess at Ella

Thank you Nicole for bringing holiday cheer to Ella. We appreciate you organizing our Secret Santa activity and our staff holiday breakfast.

Alicia Stokes at Marysville

Alicia is a true gift to our students. Time and again I have students tell me how she helped them through their darkest hours. It's an honor to work with her.

Justin Noreen at Marysville

Justin goes above and beyond whenever needed. I needed some very last minute help and he was able to jump in and save the day for a student. Thank you, Justin!

Grace Inman at Abraham Lincoln Independent Study

Grace is an awesome member of the staff! She is the glue that holds our school site together. We love that Grace helps keep us all in line and moving toward our goals.

See all nominations for November 2022

October 2022 Employee Recognition

Kiley Lagorio at Arboga

We are so lucky to have Mrs Lagorio at our school. She is the glue that has been holding us together for weeks while several staff have been out due to a bug going around. She has been continuing to do her own duties as well as many other peoples duties. We are an amazing team and she has had to work so hard to make sure our team is still running. Thank you for being such an amazing leader.

Melissa Murray at Cedar Lane ES

Melissa keeps student learning as her top priority, develops strong relationships with her students, families and peers. She also has a wicked sense of humor, keeps us all on our toes and creates fun activities for her students like 'Looking for Boo' that extend beyond her classroom to most of the school. Melissa is the kind of teacher that students remember!!

Michael Pennington at Cordua

I've never seen Mr. Mikey without a smile and his positivity is contagious! We could use more people like him on our team. Thank you for all of your hard work and your can-do attitude Mikey! You rock!

Jenna Ahlberg at Kynoch Elementary

Jenna is the definition of empathy. Even with her tight schedule, she is still available to meet with and encourage students who need empathy the most.

Mrs Gamez at Linda Elementary

Mrs. Gamez has been so much more than just a reliable sub on our campus. She has filled three different long-term positions and is always willing to be a part of her grade-level team to provide the best education possible for students.

Nohemí Arroyo-Magaña at Lindhurst High

What can we all say about Mimi? She's Super Mimi! We are so proud and blessed to have Mimi here at Lindhurst. Every day she brings her smile, upbeat energy, and endless amount of knowledge to support parents, students, and staff. We are glad Mimi came back to us. :D

Sarah Hyatt at Marysville High School

When it came to light (a few days before the deadline) that a student group did not have a trailer for a homecoming float and needed a space to build a float, she readily offered her truck, trailer, and home for students to build

Kristen Haase at McKenney

Kristen goes over and beyond to help the school by doing many "unnoticed" tasks, like filling our soda machines, helping make dance decorations, providing accounting services to numerous organizations, tutoring, AND teaching 3 completely different classes.

Paul Shergill at Olivehurst Elementary

Mr. Paul is, and always has been, here to help students and staff however he can. Through his positive "can-do" attitude he creates a caring and safe school environment for students. He has earned the respect of staff and students alike. Mr. Paul cares about our students and does all he can to ensure their success both behaviorally and academically.

Maria Magana at Transportation

Maria radiates cheerful happiness. She decorates our transportation office and makes it festive for the holidays. She truly cares for the students she helps and the people she works with. We really appreciate her positivity!

See all nominations for October 2022

September 2022 Employee Recognition

Alex Romero at Marysville High

Alex is amazing at handling many tasks at once and always is ready with an answer for anyone who needs help. She also works hard to complete the tasks she is given, even when given last-minute ones. She is amazing to work with.

Ashley Vette at Foothill and Loma Rica

Mrs. Vette is always available for any questions or concerns. She does not judge and is quick to find a positive solution to any problem. She is there to support staff, students, and parents alike! She is an amazing person and principal.

Jami Larson at District Office

Jami is the epitome of efficiency!! Her positive can-do spirit is infectious and inspiring. I can only hope to do a fraction of the amazing things she does for our students and co-workers.

Jessica Alcantar at Covillaud

Ms. Jessica has spearheaded a "Girls on the Run" team for Covillaud this year. She has taken on the Head Coach role and encouraged several of us to work with her and the girls as assistant coaches. This is such a great program for girls, and I'm thankful Jessica took the initiative to bring the opportunity to Covillaud.

Kelly Buchanan at Lindhurst High

Mrs. Buchanan is a kind, considerate teacher that consistently models respect and kindness in class.

Meaghan Alvarez at Lindhurst High

Mrs. Alvarez goes above and beyond for her students. Every day she comes into her classroom ready to be there for her students. She also runs the OH club and works hard to ready her students for a career in the floral industry. Her class does an outstanding job with the flower of the month club (if you haven't put in your order ...DO IT NOW! You won't regret it). GREAT JOB Mrs. Alvarez! LHS is that much better because you are here!!!

Pete Pantoja at District Office

Mr. Pantoja is thoughtful about making decisions that will positively impact our students. He is always looking for and finding things for our students to learn that they would not otherwise have the opportunity. He is very intentional about making sure that our afterschool program is extended learning and more meaningful than after-school babysitting. We appreciate you and all that you do for our schools and community, Mr. Pantoja!

Sunshine Harlow at Arboga

When I first started working at Arboga, Sunshine came into my classroom to demonstrate lessons on many different phonics skills. She sent me resources and was a great listening ear. Now she is teaching right next door to me! I know I can go to Sunshine for anything. She is a great friend and an even better teacher. She genuinely tries hard at everything she does. Any child in her class is lucky to have her. I wish I could get her a million warm and fuzzies, just like the ones she gives her students!!

Taylor White at Cordua

Cordua is so lucky to have Taylor White as our Librarian. She is a walking ray of sunshine and brightens every room that she is in. Students look forward to going into the library and spending time with her. Kinders love having story time with Ms. Taylor, and they always have a fun coloring project afterward.

Taylor plays an important part at Cordua, and we are so thankful to have her!!

Victoria Topete at Foothill

Victoria is ALWAYS hard working and smart in her approach to her job. She was tasked with starting the afterschool program at Foothill. She has done so without a ton of instructions, she asks great questions and is constantly meeting or exceeding expectations. Thank you for your hard work, Victoria!

See all nominations for September 2022

Marysville Joint Unified School District