Jerome School District and Jiffy Lube/Burton Group announce the Excellence in Education recipients for February 2021: Horizon Elementary School Teacher Angela Chojnacky; Jerome Middle School Teacher Afton Martin; and Jerome School District Receptionist Gina Haynes.
Guidelines for selection are:
- Recipients must be a current employee of the Jerome School District; for Certified Nominations: recipient must hold a valid Idaho teacher or pupil personnel certificate; for Classified Nominations: recipient must be employed in any non-certified position;
- Administrators are not eligible for this recognition;
- Students, parents, administrators, or fellow staff members may nominate the individual;
- The recognition is for those who go above and beyond in making difference in the life of an individual student or lives of a group of students.
The Excellence in Education Award recipients for February, 2021 are:
1. Elementary certified recipient: Angela Chojnacky
With 13 years school teaching experience, Angela has worked as a Kindergarten Teacher at Horizon Elementary School. She was nominated by an elementary teacher, who wrote the following: Angela is a teacher who is always up to taking the students that have more needs and challenges. She is firm yet loving, and makes kids excited to come to school each day. She provides a safe classroom with clear expectations and consistency, which is why these challenging students are successful. It is clear that her students love her. She builds strong relationships with parents, so much that parents request the next siblings to be in her class. I know that Angela is part of the Jerome Music Boosters, which is amazing that she is willing to take on this extra!
2. Secondary certified recipient: Afton Martin
As a Jerome Middle School Teacher, Afton, has taught in the district for 10 years. She was nominated by a fellow middle school teacher, with these comments: This person is the perfect example of a caring teacher that goes the extra mile for her students and school. Each year she makes sure to find a way to connect with her kids and get to know them on a personal level. She greets her class, every class every day the same way with a good morning or good afternoon. She does more than just teaches math to her students. She teaches them to be honest, caring, and respectful. She earns students respect by first and for most respecting them. This year has been very crazy as we all know and Mrs. Martin has taken on another class so now she does not have a prep hour because she is teaching an additional class. Yet instead of skipping out on some of the things that other teachers might do she just works longer hours and harder to make sure everything is done. Students know that she is a safe place to go and feel comfortable talking to her about things that may be bothering them. She is always with kids often staying after school with kids to help them get their grades up and it is not only in math she helps them with other subjects as well. She has them in a lunch also. So here is this teacher that doesn’t have a prep that spends her lunch and after school prep time with students. She comes into the school almost every Sunday to prepare for the week. She works way more hours than she is contracted to because she wants to do what is best for kids… Mrs. Martin is the first to say yes if another staff member needs help. She would bend over backwards to help another staff member’s day be easier. More times than not I have heard her say to another staff member, “What can I do to help you?” …To me she is a Rock Star teacher. She goes above and beyond to make every student feel like they are important and has great connections with kids so in turn they work hard for her because they respect her. Mrs. Martin is not just a teacher at JMS she is a counselor, excellent colleague, team player, leader, mentor, and just an all-around good person. This district is so lucky to have her.
3. Classified staff recipient: Gina Haynes
Gina has been with the district for 2 years as the Receptionist and Sub-Coordinator. Gina was nominated by a district administrator, and the nomination included this information: Gina has been a great addition to Jerome School District. She is a very welcoming face as patrons visit our office. She greets everyone with a smile and pays special attention to our Falls City Academy students cheering them along and greeting them each day. She does not always know all the answers but is very willing to seek out support when needed or investigate a bit further to support our patrons. Gina has a very gentle way about her, she takes everything in stride with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn more each day. As we all know this year has been a challenge in our world. Gina has been confronted with angry phone calls and in person angry parents. She addresses these situations with respect for the individual and helps to calm the situation. Helping set up substitute teachers is always a challenge, even more so this year in light of all that is happening. Gina approaches this task each evening and then again each morning with a smile on her face and a calm demeanor.
The Excellence in Education Award program began in 2016 and continues through the 2020-21 school year and has recognized the district’s outstanding teachers and classified staff each month, for a full list of award recipients contact the district office. The Jerome School District presents each recipient a plaque with a $50 gift card provided by Jiffy Lube/Burton Group at the monthly school board meetings.
Excellence in Education Award Nomination Form 
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