On Monday, May 13, the Wayzata School Board recognized Korey Riley and Annie Stokes from Gleason Lake Elementary as the May Employees of the Month! Read their full nomination below:
Korey has been with the district for the past seven years, during which she has served as a special education
teacher at both Wayzata West Middle School and Gleason Lake. Annie has been our behavior support paraprofessional for the past six and a half years, following three years in other paraprofessional roles. Both Korey and Annie bring exceptional dedication, compassion, expertise, and care to their work, enriching our school community in numerous ways.
Korey is a compassionate educator who creates an inclusive, supportive environment where all students can thrive. She adapts lessons to meet diverse needs, ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education in a safe and welcoming space.
Her colleagues shared the following:
"Korey's collaboration with her special education teammates and paraprofessionals has been vital in building a strong, supportive learning environment. She provides ongoing guidance and training to paraprofessionals, helping them effectively implement instructional strategies. This teamwork fosters personalized support, allowing students to thrive both academically and socially."
Annie is known for her dependability, flexibility, and calm demeanor. She responds to student support walkie-calls throughout the day, always with patience and a problem-solving mindset. Annie consistently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of our school.
Here’s what staff members had to say:
"Annie is someone we can all count on—steady, reliable, and always ready to lend a listening ear. Her calm presence makes even the busiest days more manageable, and her quiet leadership brings out the best in all of us. Annie exemplifies what it means to be a team player. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, and consistency make our school a better place."
Korey and Annie have played key roles in supporting our students’ growth, development, and confidence. We deeply appreciate their positive energy, influential leadership, and steadfast dedication to the success and well-being of our entire school community.
Congratulations to Korey Riley and Annie Stokes—our well-deserving Wayzata Employees of the Month!