Jerome School District and Jiffy Lube/Burton Group announce the Excellence in Education recipients for April 2023: Horizon Elementary School Teacher Cortney Day; Jerome High School Teacher Susan Fullen; and Jefferson Elementary School Para Professional Johana Garcia.
The Excellence in Education award recognizes the outstanding work by the staff in the district and schools. The Jerome School District Superintendent, along with a committee of representatives from each building, reviews nominations received by staff, parents, students and community members, and then each month selects 1 elementary certified, 1 secondary certified, and 1classified staff member consisting of para-professionals, maintenance, food service, secretaries, to receive the award.
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 April, 2023 are:
1. Elementary certified recipient: Cortney Day. With classroom experience of seven
years, Cortney has been a Third Grade Teacher at Horizon Elementary School for
five years. She was nominated by an elementary teacher with this nomination: I have
worked with Cortney Day for the past couple of years and have grown as a teacher
thanks to her help and willingness to collaborate. She is willing to stand up for what
she believes is right in education but is also willing to compromise so that we can
work as a team and collaborate as a unit. She brings valid points to meetings, is
patient and kind to her students, and is eager to grow professionally (and share her
growth) as well. I know that Cortney genuinely cares about our students and
community through the way that she speaks and the actions that she takes.
2. Secondary certified recipient: Susan Fullen. As a Jerome High School CTE Business
Teacher, Susan has taught for seven years at Jerome High School. She was nominated by
a high school teacher with these comments: What a GEM we have working for us at
Jerome High School. Susan Fullen is smart and helps the students learn about personal
finance. The students learn what it's like to have unexpected bills come up. She uses real life situations to help the students understand their financial responsibilities. Ms. Fullen has
been a very helpful mentor. She is there to lend an ear and help me whenever I need it. I
3. Classified staff recipient: Johana Garcia. As a Jefferson Elementary School Para
Professional, Johana has worked for the district for one year and was nominated by an
elementary teacher with these words: Johana works with two different small groups at the
end of the day for an extra intervention. She has a rather rowdy bunch of boys. She does
an amazing job of realizing they are high energy especially at the end of the day but she
also is able to rein them in and get them to focus. She has an abundance of patience with
those kids. I also appreciate her willingness to jump in and help out whenever we ask. She
is an amazing part of our Jefferson staff.
The Excellence in Education Award program began in 2016 and continues through the 2022-23 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.