October 19, 2021
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Governor Steve Sisolak today announced
his selection of two nominees to represent Nevada in the national selection
process for the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. Mr.
Arthur Dahlstrom and Ms. Heather Staunton-Williams were chosen by the Governor
to represent Nevada based on their steadfast dedication to Nevada’s students
and school communities.
“Mr. Arthur Dahlstrom and Ms. Heather Staunton-Williams are
exemplary employees who demonstrate their unwavering commitment to our students
daily,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “Both of these exceptional school
employees have dedicated their lives to bettering their school communities and
have stepped up even further during the pandemic to support their school
communities in innovative ways. I am pleased to recognize these well-deserving
school employees and express my gratitude for their tireless work.”
The RISE Award, initiated by the U.S. Congress in 2019 and overseen by
the U.S. Department of Education (USED), honors classified school
employees who provide exemplary service. Each state was invited to nominate up
to two outstanding employees for selection of a national honoree by the U.S.
Department of Education.
- Mr.
Arthur Dahlstrom is a
School Nurse at Fernley High School in Lyon County School District. Mr.
Dahlstrom brings 42 years of medical experience in multiple facets of nursing
to support his school community, performing nursing duties for the school’s
1,300 students with a calm and positive demeanor. During the pandemic, Mr.
Dahlstrom has worked beyond his duties to provide COVID-19 testing for
students, staff, and families in the town of Fernley, and has volunteered at vaccination
clinics. Mr. Dahlstrom’s supervisor, Lyon County School District Chief Nurse
Jeannie Bisard, nominated him, saying that Mr. Dahlsrom is “a perfect example
of someone who fulfills his job duties with humor, compassion, and no
complaints. He is always early to work, ready to listen, and available to help
anyone who needs his assistance. Mr. Dahlstrom has experience in a multitude of
nursing positions which have contributed to his unflappable response during
emergencies and vast knowledge of how to best deal with those emergencies.”
- Ms.
Heather Staunton-Williams
is the Kitchen Lead at Dayton High School in Lyon County School District. Working
tirelessly, Ms. Staunton-Williams ensures that each student has a healthy
breakfast and lunch daily, and has elevated the quality of food service for
students. Ms. Staunton-Williams started a food pantry at Dayton High School to
offer food to students on the weekends, and she puts together larger food boxes
during school breaks for students who do not have enough to eat. She has worked
hard throughout the pandemic to make sure that every student is taken care of,
whether they were learning on campus or not, and even supported other local
schools in providing food to their students. Principal Julie Bumgardner said
that “Ms. Staunton-Williams is an outstanding person who is extremely dedicated
to her job and supports all of the students and staff at Dayton High School. Our
food services have shown tremendous growth and improvement under her
leadership, and she strives to ensure that no student in our school community
goes hungry.”
“I am grateful for the dedicated,
resilient, and caring Nevadans like Mr. Dahlstrom, Ms. Staunton-Williams, and
our other RISE finalists, who devote their careers to improving our school
communities,” said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public
Instruction. “I thank Governor Sisolak for selecting these two outstanding
finalists, and I am proud to have them represent Nevada on the national stage.”
“We are thrilled to have Heather and Art selected for this
prestigious award,” said Wayne Workman, Superintendent of Lyon County School
District. “You could search the entire world, but you will not find
individuals who are more dedicated to their profession and to meeting the needs
of every individual student, staff member, and family. I am honored to be their
colleague and am so grateful for their example of service.”
Governor Sisolak chose Nevada’s nominees from a pool of five finalists selected
by the Nevada Department of Education based upon nominations made by school
communities across Nevada. The selection process was anonymous, with all
identifying information redacted and determinations made on the merit of the
nomination. The Nevada Department of Education received 31 nominations in
total.
Nominees were evaluated based on
excellence in the following areas: work performance; school and community
involvement; leadership and commitment; local support (from co-workers, school
administrators, community members, and others who speak to the nominee’s
exemplary work); and enhancement of classified school employees’ image in the
community and schools.
The three other finalists include Ms. Olga Storla, Mrs. Samantha Linares, and
Ms. Eloisa Guillen.
- Ms. Olga Storla is the Community Involvement
Specialist and Parent Engagement Director at Mater Academy of Nevada East
Campus, sponsored by the State Public Charter School Authority. Ms. Storla has
been a pillar of the Mater Academy of Nevada community for the past eight
years, starting as an office manager. In her current role, she coordinates with
students and family members on their needs, and handles community outreach to
fulfill those needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has identified community
partners and provided food and resources to families experiencing economic hardship.
Mater Academy Principal Danielle Ranney, who nominated Ms. Storla, said she “makes
things ‘magical’ in the Mater Academy system, brings a positive attitude and sense
of togetherness to the school community, and does not leave until the job is
done. She is truly the heart of the Mater Academy System and keeps her eyes and
ears open for anyone needing support.”
- Mrs. Samantha Linares is the Office Administrator and Admissions
Director at Mountain View Lutheran School in Las Vegas. As the first person
with whom new Mountain View families will interact, Mrs. Linares ensures their
enrollment and integration into the Mountain View community runs smoothly. She
is the main contact for the school community’s K-5 families for anything and
everything, and families regularly commend her kindness, professionalism,
honesty, and helpfulness. Mrs. Linares always steps into roles where she is
needed, including serving as the school’s Bus Driver at one time to enable
students to participate in off-campus educational opportunities. Mountain View
Principal Kristopher Schneider says that “Mrs. Linares is an individual who is
passionate about making our school community thrive to enable us to serve more
families and fulfill our mission and purpose.”
- Ms. Eloisa Guillen is the Parent Involvement
Coordinator at Booth Elementary School in Washoe County School District. An
essential member of the Booth Elementary School team, Ms. Guillen organizes all
of the school’s parent groups and ensures parents’ voices are heard. She is
known throughout Washoe County School District as the longest-serving Parent
Involvement Coordinator and has an outstanding reputation among Booth students
and families. Ms. Guillen also ensures equitable access for students who are English
language learners and their families, helping teachers communicate with Spanish-speaking
parents and offering English classes to parents. Booth Elementary School
Principal Joe Pazar said that Ms. Guillen “is an essential member of our school
team and is absolutely vital to our school’s success; she does it all and will
always jump in to help accomplish an important or urgent task.”
This is the second annual Nevada
RISE Award selection. In its inaugural year, NDE received
21 nominations representing six counties across Nevada. The two 2021 RISE Award
recipients were Mr. Victor Garcia-Mendez from Mark Twain
Elementary School, Carson City School District; and Ms. Kim Ruiz at
Winnemucca Junior High School, Humboldt County School District.
The RISE Award recipient will be
announced by the U.S. Department of Education in spring 2022.
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