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Matthew Pesesky
Cardinal
Dedicated Compassionate Inclusive Collaborative Professional
Mr. Pesesky is a true APS All Star and he should wear a superhero cape every day. He is a truly dedicated professional who continually strives to meet the social emotional and academic needs of his students. Even in the face of difficult behavioral challenges, Mr. Pesesky is calm, kind and compassionate.
He meets all instructional objectives for his students with a smile and knows the individual needs of each of them. He is inclusive in his thinking and has built very strong relationships with the parents in his classroom. A team player in every sense, Mr. Pesesky brings strong pedagogy, great ideas, and quick wit to his first-grade collaborative learning team. For these and many other reasons, he is the ideal APS All Star.
Ana Granados
Campbell
Support/Non-Instructional Staff
Remarkable Flexibility Commitment Dedication Welcoming
I am nominating Ms. Granados to be an APS all-star because she has shown remarkable flexibility and patience during the renovation of the Campbell Elementary School kitchen. Despite the challenges posed by the construction She ensured that meals continued to be served seamlessly.
Ms. Granado’s friendly demeanor has fostered a positive work environment. She engages with staff and students alike, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Her contributions over the last 20 years to the Food Service Department are examples of her commitment and dedication to Arlington Public Schools.
Nicole Johnson
Williamsburg
supportive bold patient strong hardworking
Ms. Johnson has been a strong leader since joining Williamsburg and is very supportive of teachers and students. She goes above and beyond to ensure that teachers don’t feel dismissed or invalidated, especially with parents and students. I reached out to her for help with a student after exhausting all other tiers of intervention. She isn’t even in charge of 8th grade discipline but that didn’t stop her from stepping in when she saw I was in need of support. She didn’t ask me what I’d already done.
Ms. Johnson knew this wasn’t a “new challenge” and just swept in and handled a challenge that had made me feel so defeated and unseen. I feel like she genuinely values her position as a leader and recognizes that a major part of her role is to be a resource for teachers and students.
Asmeret Tesfai
Trades
Ms. Asmeret has been an invaluable member of the APS family for nearly 19 years. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently demonstrated an exceptional work ethic, unwavering dedication, and an extensive willingness to go above and beyond at every opportunity. Her journey with APS speaks volumes about her commitment and resilience, taking on various roles from transporting our General education students to transporting those APS students who require specialized transportation.
Every day, Ms. Asmeret arrives at work with a cheerful disposition and a fervor to serve our APS community. One of Ms. Asmeret’s core beliefs is that safety is non-negotiable. She has an impeccable understanding of her job responsibilities and consistently adheres to all established procedures and regulations. Ms. Asmeret’s dedication to her craft and her exemplary conduct across all categories make her an ideal model for her peers. Her contributions to APS Transportation are nothing short of remarkable.
Ms. Asmeret possesses an innate ability to sense when an employee needs support and is always the first to offer her assistance. Her honesty, caring nature, positivity, and loyalty are qualities that have earned her immense respect among colleagues. She treats everyone with equal respect, and her infectious smile has the power to brighten anyone’s day. Beyond her professional duties, Ms. Asmeret devotes a significant amount of time to giving back to the Transportation Community.
Whether it is planning retirement parties, Transportation Celebrations, or bringing employees together to assist when a member of our team is in need. Her peers and those she serves hold her in the highest regard, and she is deeply cherished by all. We wholeheartedly believe that recognizing Ms. Asmeret as an APS All-Star will not only spotlight her incredible contributions but also serve as a catalyst to inspire others. It is our collective hope that this honor reflects our profound gratitude for her generosity, kindness, and unwavering commitment to the APS community. Thank you for considering Ms. Asmeret for this well-deserved recognition.
Erin McCormack
Cardinal
Dedicated Compassionate Collaborative Communicative
Erin has worked tirelessly with her vision students to help improve their skills. She gets her students excited to be working on their Braille literacy skills. The TVIs put together an amazing video for Braille Literacy Month, and you can see how engaged these students are about Braille and all the amazing things they can do with these skills.
Ms. McCormack comes in early to work with my daughter and is always available for any questions I may have. I have seen such a tremendous difference in how my daughter tackles her visual disability, and this is due to Erin’s incredible dedication and her positive attitude.
Ms. McCormack has flawlessly integrated herself into the classroom with the gen ed teacher and supports the teachers as well with the new technology these kids will use in the classroom. We are so grateful for Erin and her tireless work in the low-vision community.
