Outstanding Service Awards

To be skilled at many things is to be a “Jack of All Trades”.

A “Jack”, in 16^th Century English, was a term for a master craftsman.

Brittany Duckett-Belleperche does many things at Marlborough Public School, and by all accounts, she does them with joy, imagination and finesse.

“She is a great teacher because she makes us happy.”, commented one student.

Another wrote, “You are so pretty and so smart. So, thank you for all the things that you are doing.”

Her admirers are boundless in their compliments.

A colleague submitted that her “unwavering dedication, humility and kindness make her a truly inspiring individual.”

So what is it, specifically, that elicits such praise?

She’s been called “an invaluable asset” for her “exceptional contributions”. She has supported children in Kindergarten, the GAINS room, RISE and various homerooms. She forms strong bonds with her students, which often continue after she is no longer officially assigned to them.

Brittany is also skilled at cookery. Her work in the school’s kitchen not only teaches young people essential life skills, but working together, they provide a healthy snack program for the entire student body.

She is a fixture at Marlborough’s graduation each year and at school concerts where she acts and dances alongside the students, some who might otherwise be hesitant participants due to shyness or lack of confidence.

You will also find her each year at Special Olympics and on field trips, providing important supervision and support.

During the COVID pandemic, Brittany was essential in preparing materials and lessons, creating learning packets for students studying at home, with all the necessary supplies such as coloured pencils and workbooks for families who needed them. It shouldn’t be overlooked that Brittany serves and supports her colleagues as the school’s Union Representative.

Robert Greene, a 16^th Century English literary critic used the term “Johannes Factotum” – or “Johnny-do-it-all” to dismiss the work of a young writer by the name of William Shakespeare. This affirms that it is acceptable to do many different things, and you can be good at them all.

Such is the Outstanding Service of Brittany Duckett-Belleperche.

Astronomer Carl Sagan once lamented the lack of resources for children to view the future. He asked, “Where are the cartographers of human purpose?”

Sagan need not have looked farther than Leamington District Secondary School, where Lyndsey Grassi heads the, fittingly named, MAPS program – My Achievement Pathway to Success.

Before there was GPS, without maps we had no idea where we were or where we were going.  Early 20^th century pilot and adventurer Beryl Markham said of maps, that they were, “the earth in the palm of your hand.”

Lyndsey Grassi is helping students in her program - which is for those with exceptionalities and diverse learning styles - discover the world.

But first, as MAPS was being launched at LDSS Lyndsey had to chart the course. Like Henry Hudson, Samuel de Champlain or Louis Jolliet she had, through exploration and the work of those who came before, a rough idea of what the landscape looked like. It was up to her to lay it out in Leamington in an easily understood fashion.

She has been described as “visionary” and a “guiding force”.

This year there are 50 students in the program at LDSS. From the start, she engaged families and demonstrated why this route was the best for their children to follow. A once reluctant parent says of her son, “he’s finally finding his way and I feel it’s because of her continued dedication and care for his well-being.”

This June, 3 students from the very first MAPS class in Leamington will be graduating from Lambton College ‘s Community Integration through Co-operative Education program.

While at LDSS, her students are active and important citizens of their school community. They deliver the healthy snack and recycling programs and participate in sports and athletics as Leamington Lions.

Lyndsey is also a mentor and guide for her colleagues, who say she can “navigate complex situations with grace and professionalism.”

Neither we, nor Carl Sagan would require a telescope to identify this star “cartographer of human purpose”. Lyndsay Grassi shines brightly with her Outstanding Service.

There’s a popular series of books which have sold more than 110 million copies worldwide since 1993. They incorporate “stories and inspirational lessons which give comfort and motivation” with “universal themes such as compassion, kindness and resilience”.

Most people know them as the “Chicken Soup” books.

The anecdotes and parables are usually targeted to identifiable groups: kids, pet lovers, parents, caregivers and so on…275 titles so far.

We would like to suggest another: Chicken Soup for the GECDSB Administration Building’s Soul. It’s a series of stories about Rachel Jordan.

Rachel has, literally, served her colleagues and co-workers soup which pleased their palates and appeased their appetites. One of her proudest moments – a regularly repeated story - is when she won the best soup competition at a social committee event.

But she has satisfied many more souls with her countless acts of kindness, generosity and good cheer.

Even if it’s just spontaneously breaking into song to lift someone’s spirits or ease tension.

Her benevolence reaches well outside the office, though, into the homes and hearts of her co-workers who may not, because of illness or injury, be able to make it into work.

She has made house-calls with meals, desserts and supplies to aid their recovery or just to ease their burdens. On one occasion, in the middle of summer, she arrived as Santa Claus, with elves in tow.

Rachel also helps people she doesn’t know well. She works in the community providing food, support and encouragement to those in need.

She has also assumed some of the responsibility for the care and feeding of the feral cats that live in the neighbourhood and frequent the Board’s parking lot.

Professionally, she uses the same recipe for success when working with vendors and staff. She is calm, patient and helpful, ensuring that all business is accurately and efficiently concluded.

Soup is a simple meal - a medley of broths and spices, meat, vegetables and starches. It can be hearty, sweet, warm and nourishing, which coincidentally, is the way we describe Rachel Jordan’s Outstanding Service.

A colleague describes Elaine Richardson as “one of the most dynamic teachers of our time!”

Let’s examine, for a moment, the primary descriptor in that sentence: “dynamics considers the forces that affect the motion of moving objects and systems”.

The concept was codified by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17^th Century with his laws of motion, and Elaine has been to the teaching of Spec Ed at the GECDSB  what Newton was to the Scientific Revolution.

Neither were founders of their fields of study but were “culminating figures” – people who brought understanding and illumination to complex notions.

Elaine, like Newton, had humble beginnings as a classroom teacher. Her patience, creativity and commitment to her students’ success were all evident in the progress they made academically, socially and emotionally.

When not in class, she was a devoted advocate for the students, working with families, therapists and fellow educators in the development of comprehensive support plans. As well, she was always willing to assist her colleagues and became a mentor to many new teachers as the need for Special Education services grew rapidly.

Eventually, coaching other teachers became her vocation when Elaine joined the GECDSB “Behaviour Team” as an itinerant teacher. Her impact on learning became exponential. She and her partners re-shaped the foundations of teaching students with special needs. Elane helped make structured learning effective and inclusive. Staff better understood the development and use of I.E.P.s and videos were produced to demonstrate how to execute strategies.

After a successful run, Elaine has happily returned to the classroom where she supports her students in her own, dynamic style. Elaine instills confidence, celebrates their unique strengths and inspires a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

As Isaac Newton said, “Truth is ever to be found in simplicity and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.”

Truly and simply, Elaine Richardson is Outstanding!

Jason Scott makes all the right moves at F.W. Begley Public School. One might call him a Custodial Grandmaster.

He understands that a well-cared-for building fosters a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for students and staff. Jason also knows that positive relationships are vital to his goal of maintaining a safe and happy school community.

This strategy has not only made him a luminary in the halls and classrooms of Begley, but it has also made his job a little bit easier.

Students are pawns in this gambit as Jason creates opportunities for them to have ownership of their school environment, and they eagerly assist him with tasks such as the recycling program.

One of his shrewd ploys in building personal connections is drawing young people into vigorous games of chess.

17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal called the game “the gymnasium of the mind”. It invigorates the brain and stimulates creative and critical thinking.

We don’t know for sure if Jason throws the occasional match to further ingratiate himself into their ranks, but it is, in fact, a meaningful moment of kindness and attention that makes lasting impacts on children.

And chess is not his only game. One student in the GAINS class stated, “I love that Mr. Scott shoots baskets with me sometimes in the gym and he always high-fives me in the hallway. When my ball goes over the fence, he gets it for me.”

In all sincerity, there are no ulterior motives to Jason Scott’s dedication, care and leadership.

He begins his day assisting with the school’s breakfast program and throughout his shift, he applies serious attention to detail to all his responsibilities. One of which he joyfully accepts is the well-being of children.

Jason recognizes when someone is struggling and needs some encouraging words, a pat on the back or a good laugh.

Another student says, “Mr. Scott keeps our school clean and is nice. He tells funny jokes.”

Jason Scott is clearly a king of outstanding service…check and mate!

An occasional question during some job interviews is, “If you were an animal, what would you be?”

We are, in no way, intimating that Justin St. Pierre should prepare himself for the open market…but just in case he ever needs it, we believe he would be an octopus – the wizard of cephalopod kingdom.

For one thing, Justin’s tentacles are everywhere through his Community Outreach duties as a Teacher-Consultant with the Specialist High Skills Major program.

On a regular basis, he works with St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, community groups, trade unions, health care providers and even a professional basketball team.

Nothing, it seems, is beyond his grasp in the acquisition and development of practical learning opportunities for young people.

In his tenure, the number of Specialist High Skills Major programs at GECDSB high schools has grown from 20 to 80, and the students participating has nearly doubled.

The octopus is an amazing creature! Like Justin, it can competently handle multiple tasks at the same time…each of its 8 arms has an individual neural system. It has the highest brain-to-body mass ratio of any invertebrate.

Justin not only juggles the responsibilities of expanding program offerings, he also works with teachers to successfully implement them.

He also works with and on behalf of students to increase their engagement in their chosen fields.

He’s been a driving force behind “Express to the Trades” a skilled-trades expo for students in cooperation with the Windsor Express basketball team.

A recent project had students in the Enhanced Construction Program rebuilding the deck at the John Freeman Walls Historic Homestead.

And, for 2 years now, Justin has spearheaded the Hack the Holidays – Adapt-it Workshop. The objective is for students to modify toys for children with physical limitations. They rewire or reconfigure traditional toys to make them accessible for kids at the John McGivney Children’s Centre.

An octopus also has 3 hearts.

The documentary version of Justin St. Pierre’s Outstanding Service might aptly be titled “Our Octopus Teacher”.

A 2017 article published on LinkedIn was titled, Why Robots will Put the “Human” back into Human Resources.

A recent online blog post debated The Pros and Cons of Implementing Robots in HR.

The latter item concedes that AI driven systems “struggle to replicate the emotional intelligence and creativity of humans”.

Although she has been mistaken for an automaton – some employees thought her name was TESS – because that’s the automated system they reported to for work absences – Toni Toldo is a living, breathing example of why HR requires humanity.

Over her 30 year career she has amassed a computer-like knowledge of HR practices and policies for the multitude of the board’s unions and federations. In many cases, it is her whom people call with their questions. It’s usually faster and more thorough than looking it up online.

Without appearing to be technophobes, we prefer the human touch.

Can it be said that a robot has a friendly smile and a positive attitude? Does AI have a great sense of humour and send witty texts and emails that make everyone in the office laugh? Will an automaton make great treats, share them with her co-workers and plan themed potluck lunches? Could a computer pull off incredibly unique costumes each Halloween?

Unlikely! But Toni does all those things.

She also…all previous evidence to the contrary…maintains an unimpeachable level of professionalism in the HR office. Whenever staff are faced with challenges or last-minute requests for data and reports, Toni is there to help devise a plan or create a solution.

She is also instrumental in analyzing and interpreting legislation and directives from the Ministry of Education.

HR is background player in the grand scheme of public education, but it would be at least ironic - at worst a complete disaster - if staff, who depend on real relationships to achieve success for students, were dependent on automation to deal with their employer.

Toni Toldo remains an insurmountable impediment to AI in HR. She knows the difference between person and personnel and she always provides Outstanding Service.