Jerome School District and Jiffy Lube/Burton Group announce the Excellence in Education recipients for January 2023: Jefferson Elementary School Teacher Shawn Silva; Falls City Teacher Stephanie Seig; and Jerome School District Migrant Liaison Patty Villavicencio.
The Excellence in Education award recognizes the outstanding work by the staff in the district and schools. The Jerome School District Superintendent, along with a committee of representatives from each building, reviews nominations received by staff, parents, students and community members, and then each month selects 1 elementary certified, 1 secondary certified, and 1 classified staff member consisting of para-professionals, maintenance, food service, secretaries, to receive the award.
Guidelines for selection are:
Recipients must be a current employee of the Jerome School District; for Certified Nominations: recipient must hold a valid Idaho teacher or pupil personnel certificate; for Classified Nominations: recipient must be employed in any non-certified position;
Administrators are not eligible for this recognition;
Students, parents, administrators, or fellow staff members may nominate the individual here;
The recognition is for those who go above and beyond in making difference in the life of anindividual student or lives of a group of students.
The Excellence in Education Award recipients for January, 2023 are:
1. Elementary certified recipient: Shawn Silva. With classroom experience of 19 years,
Shawn is currently teaching in the district’s English as a Second Language program
in Jefferson Elementary School. She was nominated by two elementary teachers with
this nomination: Shawn Silva is a light in our school for students. She takes so much
time to get to know and love each child she comes into contact with. This is my first
year having her working with my students. I see the love and positivity she shows
them at all times even when things get hard. My students love to go to her classroom
because they know they are loved, appreciated, and included. Mrs. Silva is a light to
all students she meets. Shawn is a caring, loving, teacher. She always treats her
students with a smile, hug or hello. I teach across the hall from her and I see the
excitement as they arrive to her class. She works specifically with English Language
Learners and to see them progress has been amazing! I also have truly appreciated
her support as a newer staff member. She showed me the way by showing kindness
and support. She has also worked in the district for a very long time! Her former
students always come back to say, “hello!” “Do you remember me?” and, “I loved your
class so much!” She always remembers them too! Shawn translates for staff,
students and parents where there is a Spanish English barrier. She truly is one of our
backbones in our school and I’m not sure what our students would do without her!
2. Secondary certified recipient: Stephanie Seig. As a Falls City Academy Social Studies
Teacher, Stephanie has taught for 16 years with 2 years in Jerome. She was nominated by
a co-worker with these comments: Ms. Seig has demonstrated a true approach to teaching
and teamwork. She has taken on the challenge of filling in for principal when needed. As a
teacher she strives to ensure that every student is learning. She provides an environment
that students feel safe and comfortable in for learning. Ms. Seig always has a positive
attitude that is contagious with the staff and students. Not only does she challenge her
students to grow and learn, she does the same personally. She role models what being a
life long learner is for her students. She is also a fantastic peer for our newer teachers as
she helps provide guidance and help. Ms. Seig is truly deserving to receive the Excellence
in Education and she has been willing to teach classes that she has not taught before to
help our students receive credits not otherwise offered in our school such as speech. She
has many endorsements and is willing to try new classes to help broaden our students'
interests. In the fourth quarter she will teach psychology for the first time. She uses her
years of experience positive attitude to encourage students and her fellow teachers. She
has helped start up School Spirit Club for Falls City Academy.
3. Classified staff recipient: Patty Villavicencio. As one of two Migrant Family Liaisons for
Jerome School District, Patty has worked for the district for four years and was nominated
by district staff with this information: Patty is always working above and beyond to help not
only the migrant families, but often she gets calls from non-English speakers that can not
communicate with the secretaries at some schools. She supports an after-school tutoring
program at the school trying to keep the migrant high schoolers on task with assignments
or projects. As I mentioned before, in this group, often there are some students that are not
in the migrant program, and Patty without thinking twice, helps them with the assignment
they need help with. Also, families call her for help if they need to fill out documents, or
translations or just someone to listen to them, Patty is always there and happy to help.
Patty is always cheerful and happy to be at work, her sense of humor is contagious. Patty
has been a great asset to the Jerome School District Migrant program. She is very
professional in her work, pays great attention to detail, and has increased our identification
and recruitment which has increased our program. Patty takes time to learn about our
families, making connections and providing support as needed. She provides afterschool
tutoring at the high school and has supported many students in gaining the credits
necessary to graduate. Our program would not continue to grow and prosper without her!
Patty is on her 4th year with the district and has never received this recognition. It is time.
The Excellence in Education Award program began in 2016 and continues through the 2022-23 school year and has recognized the district’s outstanding teachers and classified staff each month, for a full list of award recipients contact the district office. The Jerome School District presents each recipient a plaque with a $50 gift card provided by Jiffy Lube/Burton Group at the monthly school board meetings.