Educators of the year were honored by the district

Four educators were honored for their services at Tabernacle Elementary School and Olson Middle School.

By Melissa Riker

The Sun

Educators take on the role of shaping students’ lives every day, but they also shape the lives of their colleagues and their community. The Tabernacle School District recently honored the teachers and educational services professionals of the year at both Tabernacle Elementary School and Olson Middle School for doing just that.

Stacia Delaney, a third-grade special education teacher at TES, was named teacher of the year, and was presented the award by principal Gerald Paterson. Paterson described Delaney as a difference maker and a fabulous role model throughout her time at TES.

“Mrs. Delaney is more than a special education teacher, she’s a difference maker in the lives of her students. She’s empathetic, caring, and her approach expands outside of her classroom,” Paterson said. “She empowers other teachers and her students to explore the world through experiences that spark curiosity, kindness and, most importantly, empathy.”

Superintendent Glenn Robbins said he has seen tremendous growth in Delaney throughout her profession, as he thanked her for her contributions to the district.

“The growth that she has shown has been paramount, it’s been outstanding,” Robbins said as he directed his comments toward Delaney. “You can see the kind of devotion you put inside and outside the classroom.”

Paterson thanked another difference maker at TES, Ahnnalisa Regotts, a speech language specialist, for the profound effort she has put in to each student she assists.

“She’s always looking for opportunities to introduce new learning experiences for her students. She really is second to none, and she does such a fantastic job,” Paterson said. “She’s responsible for improving students’ listening and effective communication skills, and she really goes above and beyond her role as a speech therapist by volunteering her time for a vast number of school and weekend activities that support her students and the Tabernacle community.”

Robbins said Regotts does a wonderful job day in and day out with her creative ideas and effective communication skills with parents through social media, making her a great choice for the TES educational services professional of the year.

As for OMS, the educational services professional of the year was awarded to Bridget Bauer for her services as a guidance counselor.

Principal Susan Grosser expressed her gratitude for Bauer’s leadership skills and commitment to the district.

“Mrs. Bauer is warm and approachable, well rounded, open minded and has excellent and effective communication and problem-solving skills,” Grosser said. “Her effective communication and listening skills, along with her empathetic demeanor, allow her to bridge gaps with students, offer advice and share tips and building blocks for social and emotional development.”

Grosser went on to describe Bauer as an outstanding counselor who maintains strong relationships with students and staff.

Lastly, fifth-grade teacher Linda Carr was named OMS teacher of the year.

Grosser described Carr as a staple of Tabernacle education and a beloved teacher and community member.

Robbins supported that statement by saying, “Mrs. Carr, I love her to death, every time I see her she has a beautiful smile on her face. Her demeanor and the fact that when you walk into her room you can tell there’s a special amount of love between her and her students.”

Grosser said her students have never questioned Carr’s compassion and love for them due to her attentive nature, listening ear and willingness to support them.

“There are few who deserve the honor more, and out of her own humbleness, would desire it less,” Grosser said. “She is the epitome of what we mean when we say ‘tiger strong,’ ‘educating for a lifetime’ or ‘the Tabernacle way.’”