KSD announces employees of the year

The Kellogg School District recently announced their employees of the year for the 2016-17 school year.

Canyon Elementary Teacher, Jamie Haralson and Kellogg School District Transportation Dispatcher Lori Osterberg. Osterberg’s award came on the heels of her winning the School Bus Driver Trainer of the Year from the Student Transportation Division of the Idaho Department of Education.

Allison Carney, one of KSD’s bus drivers, nominated Osterberg for the award because of her hard work, loyalty, and willingness to help.

“Wow, how would one describe Lori Osterberg,” Carney said. “She is everything to the transportation department. She is our dispatcher, trainer, secretary, coordinator and so much more. She is always there for us, no matter if it is answering a question, requesting a day off, she’ll even drive for you. If you need to talk she’ll listen, there is no drama with this lady. With Lori it is always safety first, for all of the students and the drivers. Lori is already our employee of the year and I hope she is yours as well.”

Haralson was nominated by Canyon Elementary School principal Jennifer Ferreira.

“Not only is Jamie a phenomenal classroom teacher, she also has contributed immensely at the building level and, even at the district level,” Ferreira said. “As Canyon’s BTL (Building Technology Leader), she troubleshoots and manages our building’s technology devices and is the liaison between our building and the technology department. At the district level, Jamie was instrumental in the development of the new GT (gifted and talented) Plan.”

With the GT Endorsement, Haralson’s input and leadership in developing the plan has been very important and she will continue to assist in the district’s plan next year by coordinating professional development and in the student screening/testing process.

She has already committed to coordinating and running Canyon’s Lego League Team next year as part of the GT implementation at Canyon. “Jamie’s work ethic is certainly inspirational,” Ferreira said. “With all of the additional things she has going on, she is at school each morning at 6:45 and does not leave before 5, even on Fridays. I feel very fortunate that Jamie is a teacher at Canyon and think that she is deserving of Teacher of the Year.”

Kellogg School District superintendent Woody Woodford was very pleased with the selections and is proud of their hard work.

“I am very appreciative of all our staff,” Woodford said. “They truly believe that our kids are worth whatever it takes. Although we have a number of staff worthy of this award, I am particularly proud of Jamie Haralson and Lori Osterberg.”