Eight Shaler Area School District employees have been recognized for going above and beyond for students and contributing to the success of the school district.
The employees — administrators, teachers and paraprofessionals — are recipients of the Kim Baysek-Young Extra Mile Award.
The award was named for Baysek-Young, a third grade teacher at Reserve Primary School who received the Extra Mile Award in 2019 before dying in September 2020 at the age of 43
Baysek-Young had worked for the district for 22 years. A walking trail at Reserve Primary also is named for her.
This year’s awardees are:
• Lisa Bagwell, paraprofessional, Shaler Area High School
• Camille Barrett, teacher, Scott Primary School
• Anita DeStefano, administrative assistant, Marzolf Primary School
• Kelly Himes, teacher, Shaler Area Elementary School
• Meribeth King, paraprofessional, Shaler Area High School
• Ryan Kinzler, teacher, Shaler Area High School
• Susan Randall, teacher, Burchfield Primary School
• Betty Wesolek, administrative assistant, Shaler Area High School
Nominations were received from members of the community and reviewed by a panel of district stakeholders.
This marks the first time that these eight have received the award.
“Our staff and educators bring compassion and insight to empower students through every interaction,” Superintendent Bryan O’Black said. “Each of these individuals are luminaries who not only enrich the lives of our students and families, but inspire their colleagues to grow. We are deeply grateful for their work and thrilled to recognize them.”
Recipients received the award during a district in-service event Jan. 19.
