Mentor Schools Board Recognizes Award Winners for Excellence in Teaching, Outstanding Service

The Board of Education recognized some of the district's best teachers and support staff during its meeting Tuesday night when it gave out its annual Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Service awards.

The six educators who were recognized include:

• Ann Dietrick, a fourth grade teacher at Brentmoor Elementary. She is well known for her use of data to drive lessons home.
• Ivana Dzanko, an intervention specialist at Lake Elementary, who received the nickname the "Queen of Differentiation" for her willingess to meet each student's needs.
• Christina Malnar, a Title I reading coach at Lake Elementary, who helps lead , the reading invasion, the backpack program and more.
• Pam Ferrell, a seventh grade science teacher at Memorial Middle School. She was also just recently appointed to serve as curriculum specialist at the Board Office.
• Piper Greenlee, an intervention specialist at Shore Middle School, where she also serves as the chairman of the special education department and is involved in several extracurricular programs.
• Carissa Richards, an English teacher at Mentor High School for the last eight years. She helps students reach out of their comfort zones by having them perform plays or take quizzes as a group.

The support staff who were recognized include:

• Coleen Bell, whose responsibility it is to find substitutes for the certified and classified staff. "She is often met with a flurry of last minute phone calls, but always maintains her calm, positive and gracious demeanor," according to her nomination.
• Rita Dougherty, who works in the special education program at Fairfax Elementary.
• Barb Livengood, who has worked at Mentor Schools for almost 27 years, most recently in the treasurer's office. Barb was nominated by all the Student Activities secretaries in the district (13 in all) in part because of her knowledge, understanding, and willingness to assist the secretaries with their questions and concerns pertaining to student activities and athletic fees.