Jerome School District and Jiffy Lube/Burton Group announce the Excellence in Education recipients for September 2024: Frontier Elementary Teacher Peggy Fehringer; Jerome Middle School Teacher Valerie Chappell; and Jerome High School Paraprofessional Kristi Eudey.
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 1classified 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;
The recognition is for those who go above and beyond in making difference in the life of an individual student or lives of a group of students.
The Excellence in Education Award recipients for September, 2024 are:
Elementary certified recipient: Peggy Fehringer. With school teaching experience over 15 years, Peggy was nominated by a district co-worker: “I would like to nominate Peggy Fehringer for Excellence in Education, as her dedication to the students and the Jerome School District as a whole is truly exceptional. Peggy consistently goes above and beyond in her commitment to student success, demonstrating an acute awareness of each student's individual needs. Whether it's offering additional support or advocating for resources, Peggy is deeply invested in ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Peggy's strength lies not only in her connection with students but also in her ability to collaborate seamlessly with her colleagues. She is a true team player, always ready to offer a helping hand or share her expertise. Her positive and happy disposition lifts the spirits of those around her, creating a warm and encouraging environment for both students and staff. What truly sets Peggy apart is her strong sense of integrity. She is not afraid to stand up for what is right, whether it concerns the best interests of her students, her coworkers, or the school as a whole. Her unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for the entire school community makes her a valuable asset.
Peggy’s positive impact is felt throughout the district. Her dedication, collaborative spirit, and strong moral compass make her an ideal candidate for Excellence in Education, and I believe she is truly deserving of this recognition.”
Secondary certified recipient: Valerie Chappell. With school teaching experience over 24 years, Valerie was nominated by a co-worker: “Valerie has been a great example of what a hardworking, caring and mindful teacher is. She strives to follow all expectations that we are given as teachers and she holds her students to the expectations that we give them. She cares for her students and will come in before contract hours to work with them. She truly wants them to succeed in her classroom. She reaches out to other teachers to find out what is going on with her students. She doesn't just skim the top of the story. She makes those connections and tries hard to help all students. She is mindful of all her students and coworkers. She is reliable in all that she does. I think she is a great candidate to receive an Excellence in Education award. She has been a teacher I look up to.”
Classified staff recipient: Kristi Eudey, a Paraprofessional at Jerome High School with 6 years of classroom experience, she was nominated by a district employee with this statement: “I had the pleasure of working with Kristi as a para in my extended SpEd classroom during the 23-24 school year. She made my first year teaching such a wonderful experience. She was always kind to me and the students, she was supportive when I was having a tough time, and incredibly helpful every single day. This lady works hard! Always. Even if she is having a tough day personally, she shows up. She impressed me every day with her ability to work successfully with our extended special education students and knew exactly how to help each student be their most successful. Kristi and I always had fun in class with our kids and enjoyed laughing with them every day. She was known to engage in an impromptu dance party in class from time to time! She loved to teach the students how to bake in the kitchen during our Life Skills class and the kids loved all the fun things she taught them. Kristi's hard work, dedication to our students, honesty, and kindness are unmatched. She has my respect and appreciation and the Jerome High School is so lucky to have her at their school this year. I consider Kristi a super-star employee and a true friend and I am honored to nominate her for the well-deserved award of Excellence In Education.”
The Excellence in Education Award program began in 2016 and continues through the 2024-2025 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.