Congratulations to all 2015 CESA 6 SMART Thinking Award winners!
Nominate your colleagues and partners any time of the year by filling out this form.
Debbie Chisnell |
Christine Klumpers |
Becky Neubauer |
Cindy Duffy |
Diane Kuehl |
Beth Oosterhous |
Dane Fuchs |
Jenny Larson |
Holly Rabe |
Cheryl Graffen |
Erin Lausten |
Jackie Schoening |
Nancy Jaeger |
Tere Masiarchin |
Penny Wegner |
John Kiefer |
Melanie Mursau |
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Presented to: Debbie Chisnell
Nominated by: Dr. Joan Wade
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Debbie inspired student learning
Last year, Debbie received an award from WCASS for her leadership in education. I would like to honor her with a Smart Thinking Award for her leadership as well! When receiving her award from the WCASS, she was told the following:
Debbie continues to be the Special Education Director in the Markesan school district and as an Executive Director she oversees multiple other special education directors and alternative school programs. Debbie is the driving force to bring a day treatment program to reality.
Debbie has been a consistent positive influence to those she oversees. She is the epitome of a leader. Debbie exhibits compassion and respect to all she encounters, especially students with special needs. She is a child first believer. Her conversations, and the drive she has, is to serve as many children as we can with special needs and to do it with respect and love.
Debbie continues to challenge us to think out of the box. Her visionary attitude drives all of us to think beyond the normal to bring about success for the students, parents and teachers we all serve. It is her vision that has driven CESA 6 to continue the drive to serve students with mental illness in a compassionate, respectful way.
The Day Treatment program has become a reality and is open for students!
Smart Thinking Debbie!
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Presented to: Cindy Duffy
Nominated by: Jonathan Schubert
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Cindy inspired student learning
As a Para-professional at Elmwood Alternative School, Cindy Duffy has been a dedicated CESA 6 employee for 10 years. Throughout her time at Elmwood School she has taken on many responsibilities. During this year she was called upon to be a team player and actively fill in multiple classrooms.
Cindy Duffy’s willingness to do what it takes to keep the alternative program moving forward in a positive direction as well as maintaining a high level of professional organization is admirable. I am proud to have the privilege to call Cindy Duffy a co- worker and friend!
Smart Thinking Cindy!
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Presented to: Dane Fuchs
Nominated by: Travis Liptow
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Dane identified a way to be more cost effective
Dane has been diligent in checking the network operations room daily to confirm that the network infrastructure is up and running. If there are any problems he has been quick to contact me to work on solutions.
Dane has allowed me to focus on helping districts with their technology while making sure that CESA 6's network infrastructure is up and running. When issues arise he has taken it upon himself to find cost effective solutions to keep CESA 6 running smoothly
Smart Thinking Dane!
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Presented to: Cheryl Graffen
Nominated by: Travis Liptow
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Cheryl created a dynamic solution
Cheryl modified the CESA6 Mileage reporting spreadsheet to be more streamlined and less time consuming. I had grown frustrated with the original sheet's setup and Cheryl listened to my frustration. Within minutes she had the spreadsheet automated much more effectively.
The outcome: entering monthly mileage is not only less time consuming but much easier to keep track of because of her modifications.
Cheryl is always quick to help out at all times. I typically have an answer to any question within seconds. While I was sad to see her leave the technology department, she definitely moved to the perfect department for her skills.
Smart Thinking Cheryl!
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Presented to: Nancy Jaeger
Nominated by: Cheryl Malaha
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Nancy created dynamic solutions to inspire student learning through innovative and cost-effective educational services
Nancy has worked tirelessly to redesign the RITE program to meet the significant changes in requirements for Wisconsin educators. She has partnered with both external post-secondary and internal agency experts to create expanded access to high quality, cost effective learning opportunities for candidates as they pursue the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their new areas of licensure.
Nancy's innovative recruitment of agency experts has expanded the depth of programming and professional support for RITE candidates in a design that promotes not only effectiveness, but cost efficiency.These partnerships have also served to increase overall awareness of the RITE program across all departments at CESA 6.The partnerships and relationships that Nancy has built with post-secondary and state level partners have also been an asset to program quality and the recognition of program rigor.
Smart Thinking Nancy!
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Presented to: John Kiefer
Nominated by: Cheryl Malaha
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: John created a dynamic solution
John has created a spreadsheet format that has considerably improved the agency budget meeting process.
The new spreadsheets allow for agency personnel to clearly understand and discuss project budgets - both from the perspective of current budget status as well as future budget design.
This new spreadsheet design has created the common platform for budget conversations and created the bridge between departmental and project-level personnel and the business office. This was a critical need and John stepped up and created this innovative solution!
Smart Thinking John!
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Presented to: Christine Klumpers
Nominated by: Debbie Chisnell
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Christine developed an innovative educational service
Christine was asked to be the project manager of SEEDS® (Special Education Electronic Database), and although she was a SEEDS® user and promoter she was tentative to take on such a big role. However, as a CESA 6 team player she committed to the new leadership role and continued the success of SEEDS.
In just one year Christine has completed ten SEEDS demos from one end of the state to the other, and has committed seven of those districts to SEEDS for the fall of 2015. She communicates with many Special Education Directors to promote SEEDS, and she will not stop until she has exhausted all avenues. Christine’s ambition to promote SEEDS and to support other districts with their paperwork compliance is commendable.
This type of commitment continues to create "Raving Fans" of SEEDS and CESA 6.
Smart Thinking Christine!
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Presented to: Diane Kuehl
Nominated by: Jonathan Schubert
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Diane inspired student learning
As a Para-professional at Elmwood Alternative School, Diane Kuehl has been a cornerstone of the alternative program for 29 years. Throughout her tenure she has had to fulfill many roles and responsibilities - during this year she was called upon to be a team player and actively fill in multiple classrooms at Elmwood School .
Diane Kuehl’s willingness to do what it takes and keep the alternative program moving forward in a positive direction and always remembering “The Golden Rule”, Do onto others as you would have them do to you. I am thankful to have the privilege to work with Diane Kuehl.
Smart Thinking Diane!
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Presented to: Jenny Larson
Nominated by: Jackie Schoening
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Jenny created a dynamic solution
A group of us had been looking at the issue of poverty for the past two years because of the increase in youth living in poverty within the CESA 6 region. We were looking to develop an opportunity for schools to address the issue, we teamed up to identify and collaborate on bringing Eric Jensen, a nationally known expert on Poverty and Brain research to CESA 6. The team continues to develop outreach extensions to the one day workshop, for districts to participate in identifying and addressing poverty through other workshops, network topics and on-line courses.
As a team we have been able to contract with Eric Jensen for one day in 2015 and 5 days in 2016. The interest has been phenomenal. We have districts asking to send whole staff to the event. It is definitely addressing a need that is often overlooked.
We often talk about teaming across the agency and this team included both members from both the special education and instructional services departments to accomplish the task. It is a pleasure to work with innovative, creative colleagues!
Smart Thinking Jenny!
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Presented to: Erin Lausten
Nominated by: Debbie Chisnell
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Erin created a dynamic solution
Erin creates dynamic solutions on a daily basis. These solutions are created by her selflessness. She is willing to step up or step down depending on the situation and what others ask of her. If Erin is contacted with a request she responds immediately. It doesn't matter if she already has plans, she creates a way to provide a solution for everyone! For example, she was emailed at 9:00 at night with a request to substitute teach in the a.m. She responded immediately, and with no thought of her previous plans solved the problem and filled the position.This is one example but if you know Erin, you have many examples of your own. She is willing to create dynamic solutions for everyone.
The outcome of Erin's selflessness and dynamic solutions creates Raving Fans for both the internal and external clients of CESA 6.
Smart Thinking Erin!
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Presented to: Tere Masiarchin
Nominated by: Jackie Schoening
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Tere created a dynamic solution and developed an innovative educational service
Tere is always willing to share her expertise and resources with others. She worked with me, as the director of Safe & Healthy Schools, to make resources available for staff throughout Wisconsin that work with the Safe & Healthy Schools network.
The outcome resulted in a robust Pinterest page which has a growing number of followers and re-pinners throughout the world! This resource was developed for local educators but has blossomed into a resource for a much broader audience.
Tere is an incredible resource of knowledge. She has helped many people provide a new look at how to communicate. We appreciate Tere's creativity!
Smart Thinking Tere!
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Presented to: Tere Masiarchin
Nominated by: Jackie Schoening
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Tere created a dynamic solution
A group of us had been looking at the issue of poverty for the past two years because of the increase in youth living in poverty within the CESA 6 region. We were looking to develop an opportunity for schools to address the issue, we teamed up to identify and collaborate on bringing Eric Jensen, a nationally known expert on Poverty and Brain research to CESA 6. The team continues to develop outreach extensions to the one day workshop, for districts to participate in identifying and addressing poverty through other workshops, network topics and on-line courses.
As a team we have been able to contract with Eric Jensen for one day in 2015 and 5 days in 2016. The interest has been phenomenal. We have districts asking to send whole staff to the event. It is definitely addressing a need that is often overlooked.
We often talk about teaming across the agency and this team included both members from both the special education and instructional services departments to accomplish the task. It is a pleasure to work with innovative, creative colleagues!
Smart Thinking Tere!
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Presented to: Melanie Mursau, Bonduel Elementary School
Nominated by: Lisa Smith
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Melanie created a dynamic solution and developed an innovative educational service
Melanie is a speech therapist with the Bonduel School District. She created an Excel spread sheet to record and graph progress for her students goals and objectives. Melanie's shared her spreadsheet with the Director of Special Education, Julie LaBerge, who shared Melanie's design and process of recording the progress monitoring with the SEEDS® team.
The SEEDS team, with Mark Gutknecht's help, hired a designer to lay out Melanie's idea in SEEDS. Kal Hadi, CESA 6's Senior Web Developer built the progress monitoring tool in the IEP in SEEDS. SEEDS users can add the date and the percent of progress of a student's goal or objective in their IEP and SEEDS will create a chart for staff and parents to see the progress of the student's goal or objective.
In August 2014, Melanie came and demonstrated how she uses the progress monitoring tool to SEEDS partners from across the state.We continue to receive requests for her contact information from that demonstration.
Melanie graciously helps SEEDS users who have questions about the progress monitoring tool. Thank you Melanie for sharing the progress monitoring idea and for helping to implement it in SEEDS.
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Presented to: Becky Neubauer
Nominated by: Debbie Chisnell
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Becky created a dynamic solution
Becky spends endless hours creating dynamic solutions for the entire agency. She is at the forefront of hiring for the CESA 6 Agency and puts in endless hours and patience. Due to her outstanding skills in human resources, the agency is able to hire highly qualified employees to enhance the agency’s cutting edge reputation. Becky takes every step of the hiring process seriously from posting the position to reviewing packets to orientation of the employee so they have all the information they need to be successful at CESA 6. Her endless phone calls, emails, and face to face conversations create dynamic solutions every single day.
CESA 6 continues to retain and hire experts in the field of education in order to create Raving Fans of the internal and external candidates of CESA 6.
Smart Thinking Becky!
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Presented to: Beth Oosterhous
Nominated by: Mary Lofy, Sheboygan Falls School District
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Beth created a dynamic solution
I really appreciate Beth's support when I have questions re: EP. She is quick to get back to me and always positive in her responses.The quick responsiveness to our customers is a great way to create “Raving Fans”.
Thank you for the dedication that you put forth to ensure that you are meeting the needs of both our internal and external clients on a daily basis.
Smart Thinking Beth!
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Presented to: Holly Rabe
Nominated by: Jackie Schoening
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Holly created a dynamic solution
A group of us had been looking at the issue of poverty for the past two years because of the increase in youth living in poverty within the CESA 6 region. We were looking to develop an opportunity for schools to address the issue, we teamed up to identify and collaborate on bringing Eric Jensen, a nationally known expert on Poverty and Brain research to CESA 6. The team continues to develop outreach extensions to the one day workshop, for districts to participate in identifying and addressing poverty through other workshops, network topics and on-line courses.
As a team we have been able to contract with Eric Jensen for one day in 2015 and 5 days in 2016. The interest has been phenomenal. We have districts asking to send whole staff to the event. It is definitely addressing a need that is often overlooked.
We often talk about teaming across the agency and this team included both members from both the special education and instructional services departments to accomplish the task. It is a pleasure to work with innovative, creative colleagues!
Smart Thinking Holly!
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Presented to: Jackie Schoening
Nominated by: Joan Wade
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Jackie created a dynamic solution
A group of us had been looking at the issue of poverty for the past two years because of the increase in youth living in poverty within the CESA 6 region. We were looking to develop an opportunity for schools to address the issue, we teamed up to identify and collaborate on bringing Eric Jensen, a nationally known expert on Poverty and Brain research to CESA 6. The team continues to develop outreach extensions to the one day workshop, for districts to participate in identifying and addressing poverty through other workshops, network topics and on-line courses.
As a team we have been able to contract with Eric Jensen for one day in 2015 and 5 days in 2016. The interest has been phenomenal. We have districts asking to send whole staff to the event. It is definitely addressing a need that is often overlooked.
We often talk about teaming across the agency and this team included both members from both the special education and instructional services departments to accomplish the task. It is a pleasure to work with innovative, creative colleagues!
Smart Thinking Jackie!
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Presented to: Penny Wegner
Nominated by: Jonathan Schubert
Advancing the CESA 6 Mission: Penny inspired student learning
As a Para-professional at Elmwood Alternative School, Penny Wegner has had to fulfill many roles and responsibilities. During this year she was called upon to be a team player and fulfill a staffing shortage at another alternative school location. Her willingness to give of herself and create a positive team-working environment is what sets Penny Wegner apart.
Penny Wegner is an excellent educator, who works with the most challenging students within CESA 6 dedicating herself for over 15 years. I am truly grateful to be able to say that I have the privilege to work with Mrs. Penny Wegner.
Smart Thinking Penny!
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