Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/135412
WDSD All-Star Educators A bus driver, school safety officer and school nurse chosen as All-Star Educators! n partnership with WDSD 94.7FM, DSEA has sponsored an All-Star Educator of the Month program this year as part of our Great Schools Great Communities campaign. Listeners are encouraged to go to www.wdsd.com and nominate a non-teacher, someone in their child's school whom they admire, someone who has connected with their child and made a positive difference in their lives. Honorees are chosen by the staff at WDSD, not by DSEA. Since the last issue of ACTION!, we've honored three All-Star Educators of the Month. The final one for May will be announced on our Facebook page at www.face book.com/dseafan, and in the July issue of this publication. I It seeks to let the public know that schools are more than teachers, that support personnel keep our schools functioning, and, in fact, affect student learning. Read a few of these, and you'll see why we're resuming this sponsorship with WDSD in August for the next school year. Lou Vento helps keep staff and students safe Lou Vento has been a school safety officer at Christiana High School for just five years. A member of the Christina Paras Assoc., his first career was in safety and security also, working for both the State of New York and a private corporation before moving to Delaware. He was nominated by his wife, Katherine, who wrote: "Lou impacts the lives of more students in one day than most of the other professionals in his building. His job is safety and security which, unfortunately, is often referred to as hall monitor. The job and Lou are so much more! He is the first line of defense when fights break out or intruders enter the building. He is Congratulating Lou Vento (center) is his principal, Kristina Diviny, and to his left, colleague Albert DesChamps, also a safety officer and member of the Christina Paras Assoc. Milford Middle School Nurse speaks with a reporter from Milfordlive.com. respected by staff and students as fair and equitable, often giving staff his personal cell number to directly contact him if they feel unsafe. He LOVES his job and is a team player, willing to do anything asked of him." March All-Star is Dan Hooper, a Brandywine bus driver, nominated by a student Dan Hooper was nominated by one of his students. Jessica Skurkay says that she "...rode bus 29 (his bus) for most of my high school career, and everyday he was there. He greeted me with a smile and when he dropped me off at school in the morning, he would say, "Have a good day It made even ." 6 May/June 2013 DSEA ACTION! The school district made sure that student Jessica Skurkay was at the bus yard when we came to present Dan with his surprise All-Star Educator Award. Also present were many of the other drivers who waited around to honor their colleague before leaving for their midmorning break. the rough days at school a little easier to take because he was easy to talk to and could always make us laugh. I want Dan to win because I think everyone should know how awesome and kind he is, not just me and his other former, loyal bus 29 riders." Milford Nurse Kimberly Cole "helps my son stay in school" The April All-Star Educator of the Month is School Nurse Kimberly Cole, nurse at Milford Middle School. We surprised her during the final meeting of a school club she started called the "Nightingales." The club is for young men and women who are interested in nursing as a possible career. She was nominated by the mother of a student, Jaxson Subers. "Jaxson has severe asthma," wrote Melanie Subers. "Mrs. Cole is the school nurse, and I rely on her heavily so that Jaxson can attend his classes safely She is constantly . checking on him, and calling me with updates. She takes the time to make sure that he is not wheezing or out of breath. I can call her anytime, and she is so attentive. Mrs. Cole goes above and beyond so that my child can learn safely, and that makes her an All-Star in Education." Great Schools Campaign hits the airwaves n late May and early June on radio stations up and down the state, we've been running two spots: One about summer learning loss and the other about the state's important emphasis on Early Childhood Education. To hear them, go to www. dsea.org. I www.dsea.org