Cheney district gives credit to employees, retirees and volunteers during annual recognition ceremony
By BECKY THOMAS
Staff Reporter
As another school year nears its end, Cheney School District employees gathered to honor each other at an employee recognition ceremony May 11.
The ceremony, held at Betz Elementary and coordinated by Salnave Elementary staff members, honored retirees and awarded select individuals for their work during the school year.
Retirees were Rick Hamrick, Linda Arnold, Robyn Anderson and Sandy Lane. Each retiree received a plaque recognizing their years with the district as well as a necklace made of dollar bills—the start of their “retirement fund” donated by fellow staff members.
Hamrick, most recently a science, math and social studies teacher at Three Springs High School, retires after 20 years with the district. Fellow Three Springs teacher Jennifer King thanked him for his dedication to students.
“He just brings so much professionalism and educational value to our program, but I think what really makes him amazing is his heart,” she said.
Linda Arnold is a longtime secretary at Betz Elementary School who said she would miss the students' energy.
Jeanne March, president of the Public School Employees of Cheney, said Arnold was “beloved.”
“I speak for the entire district secretary's pool when I say, you will be missed,” she said.
Robyn Anderson has worked in the district for 25 years, most recently as a paraprofessional and Homework Center coordinator at Cheney Middle School. March read a poem dedicated to Anderson that was written by CMS “resident poet” Denise Templeton.
“We'll never have another Robyn, not even one who's a good stand-in. She was here through thick and thin, coming through time and time again. Now the many hats she'll wear will be for gardening and child care. Or maybe Northern Quest for solitaire. She's a friend beyond compare and we will miss Robyn,” a portion of the poem read.
Sandy Lane, administrative coordinator at Cheney Middle School, was sick for the ceremony and was unable to attend, but Superintendent Larry Keller spoke about her.
Keller said that Lane spent her entire career working with grades 6-8, first in Western Washington, then in Cheney. He read comments from her past colleagues, who highlighted her dedication to students, commitment to quality instruction and sense of humor.
“She's not one of those noisy people who you see out front, carrying the banner and the baton,” Keller said. “She's one of those people who works to make the school what it is and to support the kids, the staff and the co-principals at the building. We will be sad to see her leave.”
Several employees received tokens for their anniversaries working in the district, and a select few received awards for their work.
A team from CMS—Tami Hauer, Jeni Ferry and Jennifer Kerley—received the Annette Grainer Team Collaboration Award for their work in training staff on student learning protocols.
“Each year they have tailored the protocol to the learning needs of our staff through focusing on different aspects of teaching and learning in the protocols,” CMS co-principal Erika Burden said in a letter.
Teachers Heidi Hoblin (Salnave), Jeff Omlin (CMS) and Alan Harmon (CHS) each received the “You Raise Me Up” Award in honor of former superintendent Phil Snowdon. Students read nomination letters for the teachers, sharing how they were lifted up by their teacher's encouragement.
Cheney dentist Robert Stockton and employee April Brogan were given the Community Leadership Award for their work donating dental services to students in need and for organizing Give Kids a Smile Day in the district.
Keller closed the ceremony with a few numbers.
“I've been doing some math,” he said. “We honored 1,295 years of experience tonight and, assuming a 30-kid average per class, that is 38,850 kids the people in this room touched. That's about four times the size of Cheney. That's pretty cool.”
Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
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