Past Awards

 

Administrator of the Year – 2008

This year the BAEOP Administrator of the Year was nominated by Kathleen Gleich and Jackie Wheeler. Together they wrote the following comments about Spencer Welch: He is kind, caring, professional, thoughtful, compassionate, always willing to listen,, courteous, fair, honest, forthright, deeply concerned about education and a leader with unquestionable integrity. His many talents, natural grace and kindness make him stand out as a leader wherever he is. His dedication and abilities make him a role model for everyone in the district.

Spencer has been in education since 1979 and was a teacher for many years at Lake Washington, Ferndale and Bellevue School Districts. Since 1997, when he began working in Bellevue, he has held various administrative positions.

Educational Office Professional of the Year – 2008

Our Office Professional of the Year for 2008 is Karen Penewell. She was nominated her Principal Estelle Collins and her staff. They had the following to say about her: Karen has the ability to effectively create an atmosphere that is friendly and inviting to students, parents and visitors, while being supportive of the needs of staff and faculty. Her caring attitude toward children makes her particularly aware of their needs and sympathetic to their inadequacies, which she works diligently to help them overcome. Karen has served on the Bellevue School Board, has been the Office Manager and Assistant to the Director of Alternative Programs for the past eight years and was recently elected the WAEOP Area 7 Director.

GEM Awards – 2008

Following are our first year winners of the newly established GEM Award (Going the Extra Mile):

Debra Hitchcock, Paraeducator at Odle Middle School, was nominated by Liz VandenBerghe. Liz wrote that what inspires her most about Debi is that she works full time with students who face great learning challenges. Each day she meets with groups of students in a small office and works with them on their assignments. Each student comes with a different set of needs and challenges and she meets them with her understanding, patience and consistency. Debi does a job that not many could handle and does so with grace and persistence. Debi has worked for BSD for 10 years.

Jacquelyn Wheeler, Paraeducator at Highland Middle School was nominated by Jeanie Turner. Jeanie wrote that Jackie is a tireless advocate for children and staff. In addition to working in the centered program, Jackie is active in the SEIU union activities, always striving to support the
needs of staff and children. Jackie has been with BSD for 13 years and does her best to educate district personnel, the BSD board and state legislators, to insure the safety and educational needs of all children.

Theckla Roginski, Technology Assistant at Bellevue High School was nominated by Paula Burke. Paula wrote that Theckla stepped forward four years ago to be a SEIU representative for Technology Assistants. She has advocated for recognition and pay for technology assistants and has done an excellent job of keeping them well informed about SEIU issues and decisions. Theckla is quick to communicate any technical information that she thinks would be helpful and would enable other tech assistants to do their jobs better. Theckla has been a Tech Assistant at Bellevue High School for eight years and the staff appreciates her positive attitude and her quick response to problems.

BAEOP Educational Administrator of the Year 2007

Q.Estelle Collins came to Bellevue School District in 2002, from the Baltimore County Public Schools. She is currently the Principal of Robinswood Middle and High School and the Director of Alternative Programs, which brings with it the title of Administrator for Kelsey Creek Home School and the responsibility of overseeing all alternative programs in the District.

Since coming to Bellevue, she has made a significant impact at Robinswood and in the District. She has been instrumental in improving the attendance record and graduation rate at Robinswood. She also restructured the middle school program and started Advanced Placement course offerings, which resulted in Robinswood being awarded the Academic Improvement Award from the State of Washington in reading, writing and math.

The fact that Estelle has great rapport with her students and parents and that there has been little or no staff turnover, is a direct result of her leadership skills, sense of humor, personality and fairness. She is highly respected by many and the staff members at Robinswood School. BAEOP will be honored to submit Estelle as our nominee to WAEOP and NAEOP next year.

BAEOP Educational Office Professional of the Year 2007

Paula Jo Brave is currently the office manager in the Capital Construction Department of Bellevue School District, where she has worked since 2001. She has just completed her third year as BAEOP’s President and as WAEOP Area 7 Director.

She has put her heart into working with other educational office professionals and support staff, which has resulted in significant growth in membership for both BAEOP and Area 7. She has been a gracious leader, who has helped many members feel valued and encouraged them take pride in their accomplishments.

She began this year with an announcement that BAEOP would be hosting a series of workshops designed to help members obtain their PSP Certification. She reached out to several members who had previously expressed an interest in obtaining their PSP, but had felt a bit overwhelmed by the process. She offered words encouragement to help them move forward and begin the process.
Through friendly phone calls and e-mail reminders, she has personally brought many new members to BAEOP this year and has made an effort to coordinate activities that will promote personal and professional growth. Paula Jo has done this, while drawing little attention to her own work behind the scenes.

BAEOP Educational Office Professional of the Year
First Runner Up

BAEOP Awards Committee was very impressed with the application received on behalf of Linda Porter, Office Manager at Spiritridge, from her principal and staff. The committee decided to also present Linda with the First Runner Up Award for Office Professional of the Year.
She was not able to attend the Spring Celebration, so Dr. Abby Adams and her staff surprised Linda with the plaque at one of their weekly staff meeting.

Linda has worked for Bellevue School District since 1996 in various rolls, the last six being as office manager in two elementary schools. She is the “heart“ of Spiritridge, cheerfully keeping all systems operating smoothly, while answering non-stop phone calls, tending to parent volunteers, PTSA requests and soothing students’ cuts and scrapes received during recess. An active listener, known for her helpful advice, Linda is consulted daily by staff and community members. Linda is a leader in the Spiritridge community, spearheading programs at the Phantom Lake Club, Hidden Village (subsidized housing complex) and our school, which have helped children and families thrive. Linda takes great pride in her work and is a leader/ coach for other elementary office managers. As noted by our most experienced teacher, “To see her in action is to watch a symphony performed.”

Written by
Abby Adams
Principal of Spiritridge Elementary

BAEOP LOGO Contest Winner – Jonathan Hwang

There was a large response to our BAEOP logo contest held in the Spring of 2005. We had more than sixty entries from students and school district staff. The Logo Selection Committee judged the entries on their simplicity and how the design would appear when reduced and used for letterhead,flyers, newsletters, etc.

Amy Roberts, a graphic arts teacher at Newport High School, gave her students a class assignment to design a logo for BAEOP. Our winning logo, designed by Jonathan Hwang, was one of the entries submitted by her class. BAEOP awarded Jonathan a gift certificate in the amount of $50.00 at the BAEOP spring general membership meeting.

Jonathan, a senior at Newport High School, enjoys discussing political issues, playing the clarinet and reading. In September 2005 he will attend Princeton University.

WAEOP - Paula Thomas Distinguished Service Award
Dot Matthews – Bellevue School District – Retired 2003

"Paula Thomas Distinguished Service Award", is a very special award that is voted on by the WAEOP Board. Once the Board makes their decision, it is their task to keep it confidential until the Award is announced at the WAEOP Spring Conference. In April 2005, that special award was presented to our own Dot Mathews for her many years of dedicated and tireless service with other educational office professionals, at the local, state and national levels. Dot was definitely surprised and in shock when her name was announced. Congratulations, Dot!

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