Employee of the Month - June
Wayzata Transition proudly selects Heather Baker as the employee of the month honoree. As a special education case manager and teacher, she is a critical team member whose expertise in supporting all students, meeting them where they are, and encouraging students to continue to grow helps Transition in many important ways.Heather demonstrates a passion for supporting students and a sincere commitment to their success. Being one of the founding licensed staff members opening Wayzata Transition, she has contributed to the team effort to help it grow and make Transition what it is today. Heather meets students exactly where they are in life and works tirelessly to support them in pursuing their individual goals. From supporting students in learning in their community to learning life skills of personal and financial management, cooking skills, and interpersonal skills, Heather has been pivotal in Transition’s success.
One of Heather’s greatest strengths is bringing joy and fun to learning every single day. Her positive, upbeat attitude engages students and staff alike. She brings a spirit of creativity, joy, calm, and optimism to Transition. Her classroom and community-based instruction are created with students at the forefront. Heather will go the extra mile when planning student activities, making them fun and enjoyable, ensuring all forms of communication are planned for, and providing support and structure for students and staff. She approaches situations with a can-do, flexible attitude. She is organized yet flexible. Heather is caring and collaborative. She works to communicate and connect with every person at Transition. Heather is often the first one in the building and the last one out at the end of the day. She goes above and beyond to make Wayzata Transition and its students flourish. She is willing to undertake any task, big or small,to make the program run smoothly and ensure that every student has a great experience and that her co-workers feel supported.
Employee(s) of the Month - July
The Early Learning School is pleased to honor two staff members as the July Employees of the Month!
Lisa Hess is one of our Employees of the Month! Lisa’s presence in our classrooms both as an Early Childhood Family Education paraprofessional and as a preschool assistant is nothing short of magical. Her joy and enthusiasm create a vibrant learning environment where children thrive and feel valued. With her exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills and unwavering dedication, Lisa goes above and beyond to ensure every child’s experience is both fun and enriching. Her genuine love for our students and their families, paired with her collaborative spirit and tireless commitment, makes her a true asset to our team. We are incredibly lucky to have Lisa as a part of the Early Learning School! Her humor, integrity, and passion for excellence continue to inspire us all. Congratulations, Lisa—thank you for all that you do!
Melanie Noelting is also one of our Employees of the Month! Melanie is an outstanding early childhood special education teacher whose dedication and expertise shine brightly in our school community. She consistently goes above and beyond to support our students and staff, always meeting each child where they are in their learning journey. Her positive attitude and unwavering willingness to find solutions make her an invaluable asset to our team. Melanie's ability to juggle multiple tasks and provide excellent classroom support and advice to her colleagues is truly commendable. Her informative trainings and continuous support make a significant impact on both our students and staff. Thank you, Melanie, for all that you do—your hard work and dedication do not go unnoticed! Congratulations!
Employee of the Month - August
Wayzata Cafés is proud to select Deb Hough as the August Employee of the Month. As the HS Unit Coordinator, Deb has demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and innovation in her role. She has consistently gone above and beyond in ensuring that our students receive nutritious, delicious, and well-balanced meals each day. Deb has streamlined kitchen operations, resulting in a more efficient workflow and reduced food waste. Through her meticulous planning and organization, she has ensured that meals are prepared and served promptly, maintaining high standards of quality and safety. Deb has shown remarkable adaptability in the face of challenges, whether it's managing supply chain disruptions or addressing unforeseen issues in the kitchen. She approaches each challenge with a proactive mindset, finding innovative solutions and continually striving to enhance our meal programs. She also takes on any crazy idea we throw her way!
As a manager, Deb has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentoring and supporting her team to achieve their best. She has created a positive and collaborative work environment that motivates staff and enhances overall team performance. She was a key team member in implementing a successful student worker program. By involving students in the kitchen, she has provided valuable hands-on learning experiences while also addressing staffing needs. This initiative has not only supported the kitchen team but also fostered a sense of responsibility and pride among students. Deb's commitment to excellence in school nutrition has made a significant impact on our students' well-being and our school's operational efficiency. Her innovative approach, coupled with her unwavering dedication, truly sets her apart as an exemplary employee. We are proud to recognize Deb as our Employee of the Month and look forward to her continued contributions to our school community. Congratulations, Deb! Thank you for all that you do!
Employee(s) of the Month - September
Wayzata Public Schools is honored to select Austin Tollerson and Abhi Brar, directors of teaching and learning, as the September Employees of the Month, for their support of our middle school staff and students in the transition to a new schedule.
Following a large-scale middle school program review, our three middle schools began the process of reimagining and implementing a new daily schedule and expanded course offerings. Austin Tollerson partnered with our middle school leadership team in both visioning and shepherding this transition with an expedited timeline due to cost containment. Austin played a critical role in seeking resources, providing assistance, collaborating with others both in and out of the District and collectively problem solving with the team.
As the scheduling stage of this work progressed into the spring and summer, the middle school team faced unexpected hurdles and challenges to manage. Meg Bennett, principal of Middle School East explained that “Our middle school team needed to broaden our team as we worked to finalize our middle school schedules. Austin and Abhi immediately stepped in to be in full partnership with the team. Our urgency to ensure the new launch of schedules was successful for both students and staff became their urgency. They were willing to do whatever it takes to ensure a successful start for our middle schools.” Ryan Carlson, principal at Middle West also added; “Both Abhi and Austin really approached our scheduling needs with the same urgency we felt as a building when it would have been easy to pitch in but not have that same sense of urgency that we do as a building.”
Mike Rice, assistant principal at Middle School East shared, “After reaching out to Austin in July to explain the complications we were having scheduling, he immediately responded and came to East. His prior experience and expertise with scheduling proved to be invaluable in setting up a way to look at the master schedule. Once we were able to lock in a master schedule that worked, Austin committed to staying late hours, hand scheduling students, one by one. There were many extra hours he put in on nights and weekends to ensure that all the students at East Middle School would have the best schedule possible. On behalf of the East Middle School administrative team, a big THANK YOU is in order for Austin Tollerson! The students and staff are grateful for all that you did!”
Carly Bailey, assistant Principal at West also shared, “Both Abhi and Austin were critical to the success of student schedules at West! The patience they both had with helping to hand schedule so many of our students was absolutely incredible! Abhi and Austin put in countless hours, including late into the many evenings, continuing to put the puzzle pieces together. They collaborated with special education teachers, our counselor and student services to balance meeting the needs of our students and class sizes! The support that we felt as West, as well as the hours they each put in to create so many student schedules, was so far above and beyond our hopes and expectations! We will forever be grateful!”
Thank you Abhi and Austin for your dedication and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure each and every one of our students and schools were ready to embark on a great school year. You are a great representation of the “All In” culture we strive for in Wayzata Public Schools.