Ryan is a supportive colleague who is always willing to help, answer questions and ensure both students and staff feel supported. His calm, thoughtful approach helps students work through challenges while building strong relationships rooted in trust and respect.

Ryan’s commitment to supporting students academically, emotionally and socially is evident in everything he does, creating a positive environment where students can learn and grow.

Thank you, Ryan, for the leadership, empathy and dedication you bring to KUSD every day!

Rita goes above and beyond each day to support the students and staff at Harborside Academy with compassion, professionalism and unwavering dedication. As the only counselor serving a building of nearly 600 students, she handles countless responsibilities with grace while always making herself available to help whenever needed.

Her positive attitude and genuine care for students are evident in every interaction, creating a supportive environment where students feel seen, heard and valued. No matter how busy the day gets, Rita consistently supports students and staff, demonstrating an incredible work ethic and commitment to her school community.

Thank you, Rita, for the heart, dedication and care you bring to KUSD every day!

Katherine shared her inspirations for writing, her deep love of animals, and the importance of perspective and point of view in storytelling. She encouraged students to keep trying, embrace mistakes as opportunities to grow, and never give up on their ideas and dreams. Students also got an exciting introduction to her newest book, Wombat Waiting!

A huge thank you to our students and staff for the warm welcome and thoughtful participation throughout the event. We are also incredibly grateful to Blue House Books for partnering with us to help make this experience possible for our students!

Join us in congratulating our 2026 Spark Award winners and thanking them for the difference they make every day!

• Dawn Antrim, Kindergarten Teacher, Bose
• Michelle Ishmael, Adult Graduation Test Teacher, Bradford
• Janette Shumaker, Administrative Support, Bradford
• Kyle Sinclair, Special Education Teacher, Bradford
• Charelle Brown, 3rd Grade Teacher, Brass
• Meghan Fisher, Special Education Teacher, Bullen
• Hannah Tryban, ESL Teacher, Bullen
• Deanna Hawlish, Administrative Support, Chavez
• Gina Torres, Administrative Specialist, Curtis Strange
• Rachel Walecki, Physical Education Teacher, Curtis Strange
• Nicole Wickersheim, Special Education Teacher, Curtis Strange
• Jo Ann Hughes, Benefits and Leave Specialist, Educational Support Center
• Erin Roethe, Data Analyst, Educational Support Center
• Danielle Kohler, 4th Grade Teacher, Forest Park
• Lou Ann Daniels, Instructional Coach, Frank
• Kimberly Krohn, Instructional Coach, Grant
• Jason Shike, 5th Grade Teacher, Grewenow
• Kevin Aronin, Special Education Teacher, Harborside
• Rita Allen, School Counselor, Harborside
• Allyson Lauer, ESL Teacher, Harvey
• Dawn Clayton, Special Education Teacher, Hillcrest
• Sarah Antczak, Spanish Teacher, Indian Trail
• Patrick Connors, Physics Teacher, Indian Trail
• Michelle Zazula, ESL Teacher, Indian Trail
• Anita Galusha, 2nd Grade Teacher, Jeffery
• Nayda Meulbroek, Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher, KSOL
• Lisa Dittlof, Music Teacher, LakeView K-8 Academy
• Megan Panasewicz, 1st Grade Teacher, LakeView K-8 Academy
• Kathryn Milschewski, English Teacher, LakeView Technology Academy
• Jessica Freng, Math Intervention Specialist, Lance
• Demere Kentcy, Educational Support Professional, Lance
• Kassendra Talley, English Teacher, Lance
• Chad Dahlk (Administrator of the Year), Middle School Principal, Lance
• Heather Gaddy, Special Education Teacher, Mahone
• Lorena Rasmussen, English Teacher, Mahone
• Stacey Zwirlein, Band Teacher, Mahone
• Louisa Rizzo, 1st Grade Teacher, Nash
• Brian Zielsdorf, 5th Grade Teacher, Pleasant Prairie
• Andrew Werkema, Kindergarten Teacher, Prairie Lane
• Alicia Chapa, Administrative Specialist, Reuther
• Dawn Propsom, 4th Grade Teacher, Roosevelt
• Amanda Spaulding, Dean, Ruth Harman Academy
• Kimberley Parker, 3rd Grade Teacher, Somers
• Raquel Flesch, 2nd Grade Teacher, Southport
• Dorothy Maccanelli, Math Teacher, Tremper
• Charley Tocci, English Teacher, Tremper
• Charlene Smith, Technology Education Teacher, Tremper
• Kimberly D’Angelo, Special Education Teacher, Washington
• Todd DeBoer, Orchestra Teacher, Washington
• Andrew Papadolias, ESL Teacher, Washington
• Joan Oehlberg, Intervention Specialist, Whittier

Please join us in thanking our Friends in Education for the positive impact they make across our school community every day!

• 1HOPE
• Beverly “Bunny” Stoops
• Joy Falcon
• Mary Kueppers
• Melanie Mikula
• Michael Redding
• Mike Middleton
• Samantha Jacquest-Zura, Blue House Books
• St. Peter’s Church & Knights of Columbus

Join us in recognizing:

• Denise Mireles – Bose Elementary School
• Lorikaye Kristiansen – Brass Community School
• Jason Standish – Bradford High School
• Kirsten Krug – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Kelly Maack – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Stacy Guckenberger – ESC
• Brenda Post-Chvilicek – ESC
• Richard Stella – ESC
• Karen Coniker – Forest Park Elementary School
• Karen Giese – Frank Elementary School
• Jane Caya – Grant Elementary School
• Melissa Zgorzelski – Grewenow Elementary School
• Jeffery Slater – Hillcrest School
• Diana Relich – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Denise Nalker – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Sean Dolan – Lance Middle School
• Michelle Burns – Nash Elementary School
• Julie Brede – Tremper High School
• John Matera – Tremper High School
• Bill Vassos – Tremper High School
• Jeffery Wirch – Tremper High School

Join us in recognizing:

• Jennifer Bertz – Bose Elementary School
• Kim Kaskin – Bose Elementary School
• James Brown – Bradford High School
• Karen Burrow-Niemeyer – Bradford High School
• Michelle Ishmael – Bradford High School
• Johanna Mcgrath – Bradford High School
• Amanda Schwantes – Bradford High School
• Jeffrey Teerink – Bradford High School
• Babette Montee – Bullen Middle School
• Beth Nottingham – Bullen Middle School
• Mary Ann Brodjeski – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Lynn Drenner – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Jessica Roscioli – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Steven Lockrem – ESC
• Karin Mccarville – ESC
• Lori O’connell – ESC
• Christina Miller – Forest Park Elementary School
• Shana Kupfer – Frank Elementary School
• Julie Schuler – Frank Elementary School
• Mame Casper – Harborside Academy
• Melissa Jakubowski – Harborside Academy
• Susan Johnson – Harborside Academy
• Steven Plato – Harborside Academy
• Kristy Brooke – Harvey Elementary School
• Barbara David – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Jeffrey Laurent – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Doreen Perri – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Santos Cruz – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Nayda Meulbroek – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Tina Kellner – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Jennifer Krueger – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Sarah Mcmillian – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Chad Dahlk – Lance Middle School
• Mark Lesnik – Lance Middle School
• Shawn Verborg – Mahone Middle School
• Lindsey Smith – Nash Elementary School
• Cheryl Talley – Pleasant Prairie Elementary School
• Heidi Kessler – Prairie Lane Elementary School
• Deborah Fredericks Thoennes – Reuther Central High School
• Andrew Moore – Reuther Central High School
• Mary Williams – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Jill Haberski – Ruth Harman Academy
• Denise Jensen – Ruth Harman Academy
• Amy Ashburn – Somers Elementary School
• Deborah Shivers – Somers Elementary School
• Jennifer Barbian – Southport Elementary School
• Ann Hearn – Tremper High School
• Matthew Kellner – Tremper High School
• Lorena Passarelli – Tremper High School and Lance Middle School
• Tricia Steinbrink – Tremper High School
• Denise Bosman – Washington Middle School
• Richard Coshun Jr – Washington Middle School
• Christina Oldani – Washington Middle School
• Jayme Wright – Washington Middle School

Join us in recognizing:

• Jeffrey Bardwell – Bose Elementary School
• Nancy Friedrich – Bose Elementary School
• Barbara Howell – Bradford High School
• Donald Kauffman – Bradford High School
• Sarah Franz – Brass Community School
• Amos Beernink – ESC
• Tammy Brown – ESC
• Dawn Dobrinska – ESC
• Barry O’Connell – ESC
• Gilberto Rosales – ESC
• Michelle Santelli – ESC
• John Setter – ESC
• Cindi Salisbury – Forest Park Elementary School
• Michele Zapp – Frank Elementary School
• Susanna Miller – Harborside Academy
• Tamara Rakow – Harvey Elementary School
• Sarah Antczak – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Scott Kennow – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Christine King – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Alberto Saldivar – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Mark Brown – Jeffery Elementary School
• Anne Serpe – Jeffery Elementary School
• Michelle Crawford – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Adam Nighbor – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Louisa Rizzo – Nash Elementary School
• Ericka Anderson – Pleasant Prairie Elementary School
• Jessica Dahl – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Kimberly Solomon – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Katie Battle – Ruth Harman Academy
• Mirinda Danielson – Ruth Harman Academy
• Elizabeth Williams – Ruth Harman Academy
• April Nelson – Somers Elementary School
• David Franz – Southport Elementary School
• Jeremy Kalbfell – Tremper High School
• Nathan Deboer – Washington Middle School
• Mary Witt – Washington Middle School

Join us in recognizing:

• Heather Bower – Bradford High School
• Nicole Ferrille – Bradford High School
• Christi Geidner – Bradford High School
• Curtis Goettge – Bradford High School
• David Koel – Bradford High School
• Brandon Menor – Bradford High School
• Nathan Sabin – Bradford High School
• Brian Schulz – Bradford High School
• Noel Zanotti – Bradford High School
• Rishana Alexandrescu – Brass Community School
• Scott Crossett – Bullen Middle School
• Ric English – Bullen Middle School
• Daniel Wahl – Bullen Middle School
• Francesca Angel – ESC
• Ryan Binninger – ESC
• Joseph Bredek – ESC
• Delana Davis – ESC
• Michael Graziani – ESC
• Erin Roethe – ESC
• Marivel Saldana – ESC
• Lisa Salo – ESC
• Wanda Castelli – Forest Park Elementary School
• Courtney Gotz – Forest Park Elementary School
• Rebecca Zigmond – Forest Park Elementary School
• Mandy Fischer – Frank Elementary School
• Trisha Kochersperger – Grewenow Elementary School
• Amy Prondzinski – Grewenow Elementary School
• Daniel Lohner – Harvey Elementary School
• Sara Meyer – Harvey Elementary School
• Erika Lequia – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Steven Los – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Joshua Mayerak – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Norvilus Monestime – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Kimberly Schneider – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Daryl Strait – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Gen Ling Chang – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Kryssia Johnson – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Amanda Blosmore – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Jennifer Mccarthy-Wertzler – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Megan Panasewicz – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Kristi Koschkee – Lakeview Technology Academy
• Jamie Loomis – Lakeview Technology Academy
• Tori Gann – Lance Middle School
• Shay James – Lance Middle School
• Eric Legler – Lance Middle School
• Erik Belsky – Mahone Middle School
• Emily Carton – Mahone Middle School
• Mallory Finnigan – Mahone Middle School
• Jamie Kelnhofer – Mahone Middle School
• James Kutz – Mahone Middle School
• Elizabeth Lange – Mahone Middle School
• Christina Cray – Nash Elementary School
• Anne Peper – Nash Elementary School
• Lisa Erickson – Pleasant Prairie Elementary School
• Laura Ashford – Prairie Lane Elementary School
• Timothy Nickel – Prairie Lane Elementary School
• Joseph Stevens – Prairie Lane Elementary School
• Grant Howe – Reuther Central High School
• Kaylynn Steinmetz – Reuther Central High School
• Suzanne Rizzo – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Molly Meehan-Scuglik – Ruth Harman Academy
• Cody Frykman – Somers Elementary School
• Timothy Jensen Jr – Somers Elementary School
• Ellen Teague – Southport Elementary School
• Laura Blise – Tremper High School
• Rebecca Brugge – Tremper High School
• Katie Debartolo – Tremper High School
• Lynne Neumann – Tremper High School
• Amanda Nickel – Tremper High School
• Ryan Schultz – Tremper High School
• Mindy Dietz – Washington Middle School
• Tiffany Taylor – Washington Middle School
• Jeanna Thompson – Washington Middle School
• Sharon Ciskowski – Whittier Elementary School
• Brent Siedjak – Whittier Elementary School

Join us in recognizing:

• Michael Axthelm – Bradford High School
• Kelli Griffin – Bradford High School
• William Lynch – Bradford High School
• Alison Merritt – Bradford High School
• Gloria Morales – Bradford High School
• Maria Sabourin – Bradford High School
• Halee Schaefer – Bradford High School
• Danielle Shumann – Bradford High School
• Tamara Weathersby – Bradford High School
• Jean Goedel – Bullen Middle School
• Kayla Larsen – Bullen Middle School
• Daniel Perron – Bullen Middle School
• Cameron Sponenburg – Bullen Middle School
• Hannah Tryban – Bullen Middle School
• Catherine Vaughn – Bullen Middle School
• Elizabeth Ade – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Shannon Lother – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Amber Perez – Curtis Strange Elementary School
• Rhea Burks – ESC
• Kolar Chamberlain – ESC
• Timothy Harris – ESC
• Brian Hennig – ESC
• Eric Mulder – ESC
• Daniel Noonan – ESC
• Belinda Petkovic – ESC
• Annette Ruffalo – ESC
• Tami Runyard – ESC
• Jeffrey Wroblewski – ESC
• Dakota Roberts – Forest Park Elementary School
• Juliet Bohaczek – Frank Elementary School
• Stephanie Durfey – Frank Elementary School
• Jacob Bohlman – Grant Elementary School
• Samantha Stefferud – Grant Elementary School
• Wendy Carpenter – Grewenow Elementary School
• Rebecca Johnson – Grewenow Elementary School
• Barbara Martin – Grewenow Elementary School
• Jaclyn Walton – Grewenow Elementary School
• Emily Barrera – Harborside Academy
• Jennifer Benhoff – Harvey Elementary School
• Erica Lord – Harvey Elementary School
• Seth Musick – Hillcrest School
• Analise Biddle – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Grace Cannon – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Eric Nyberg – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Molly Sheahan-Spector – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Rebecca Wandsnider – Indian Trail High School and Academy
• Emily Alioto – Jeffery Elementary School
• William Apgar – Jeffery Elementary School
• Jennifer Kenyon – Jeffery Elementary School
• April Kvitek – Jeffery Elementary School
• Barbara Sanchez – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Kimberly Saucedo – ��������Դվ School of Language
• Agata Arnold – LakeView K-8 Academy
• Julie Spangler – LakeView Technology Academy
• Katherine Turek – LakeView Technology Academy
• Bergen Hanson – Lance Middle School
• Brianna Jandrowski – Lance Middle School
• Demere Kentcy – Lance Middle School
• Laken Poupart – Lance Middle School
• Michael Talley – Lance Middle School
• Jennifer Bondus – Mahone Middle School
• Kimberly Skendziel – Mahone Middle School
• Tara Shreve – Nash Elementary School
• Lauren Anderson – Pleasant Prairie Elementary School
• Suzanne Petts – Reuther Central High School
• Vincent Iorio – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Emily Seigworth – Roosevelt Elementary School
• Jaime Kamakian – Ruth Harman Academy
• Angela Last-Konicki – Ruth Harman Academy
• Jessica Meristil – Ruth Harman Academy
• Melissa Schroeder – Ruth Harman Academy
• Elizabeth Corwith – Somers Elementary School
• Katie Wtorkowski – Somers Elementary School
• Heidi Bassler – Southport Elementary School
• Carly Kroes – Southport Elementary School
• Alma Niendorf – Southport Elementary School
• Andrea Nikula – Southport Elementary School
• Casey Cushman – Tremper High School
• Barbara-Anne Dawson – Tremper High School
• Mitzi Gonzalez – Tremper High School
• Amanda Peterson – Tremper High School
• Tricia Vargas – Whittier Elementary School