Making a Difference — May Nominees
That’s a wrap on our 2024-25 Making a Difference awards! To kick off summer, let’s celebrate our last group of nominees. These staff and students have been recognized for representing the Waukee CSD core values and going the extra mile to support each other. Watch as Superintendent Dr. Brad Buck and HR Manager Maggie Holton celebrated each staff member by making a surprise visit to read nominations out loud in the final days of the school year.
May 2025 Making a Difference Nominees
- Elladie Archibald – Student, Brookview Elementary
- Derek Barnhouse – Principal, Brookview Elementary
- Elliot Paris – Student, Brookview Elementary
- Zeke Roy – Student, Brookview Elementary
- Everly Ward – Student, Brookview Elementary
- Molly Halferty – Behavior Coach, District Office
- Amy Hayes – Behavior Coach, District Office
- Mandi Esser – Teacher, Eason Elementary
- Josh Schoon – Teacher, Eason Elementary
- Emily Veatch – Teacher, Eason Elementary
- Abby Eaton – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Kristel Linberg – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Hannah Martin – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Heather McGraw – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Meren Mena – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Melissa Mgana – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Edith Orellana – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Yari Ortiz – Associate, Grant Ragan Elementary
- Christine Burch – Associate, Maple Grove Elementary
- Lillian Gray – Student, Maple Grove Elementary
- Natalie Ingram – Teacher, Maple Grove Elementary
- Kjersten Koenigs – Teacher, Maple Grove Elementary
- Rose McCoy – Associate, Maple Grove Elementary
- Sladjana Pajic – Associate, Maple Grove Elementary
- Kim Thorson – Associate, Maple Grove Elementary
- Megan Vega – Associate, Maple Grove Elementary
- Jack Daubitz – Teacher, Northwest High School
- Kat Murray – Teacher, Northwest High School
- Allen Jones – Teacher, Northwest High School
- Kelly Thompson – Teacher, Northwest High School
- Nate Enfield – Driver, Operations
- Kayla Asbell – Teacher, Prairieview School
- Libby Solem – Teacher, Prairieview School
- Katie Correy – Teacher, Radiant Elementary
- Brittany O’Brien – Teacher, Radiant Elementary
- Andrea Patterson – Teacher, Radiant Elementary
- Sara Grigsby – Teacher, Shuler Elementary
- Amanda Newland – Teacher, Shuler Elementary
- Kristen Poland – Teacher, Shuler Elementary
- Jenni Stanek – Teacher, Shuler Elementary
- Sabrina Allen – Teacher, South Middle School
- Sammy Andersen – Teacher, South Middle School
- Brayden Mahan – Student, South Middle School
- Anthony Santana Austin – Student, South Middle School
- Allison Schultz – Teacher, South Middle School
- Dhayna Srikrishnan – Student, Sugar Creek Elementary
- Jess Bennett – Instructional Coach, Timberline School
- Melonie Gill-Carreon – Counselor, Timberline School
- Katie Teff – Teacher, Timberline School
- Kinley Bjorholm – Student, Trailridge School
- Jeff Long – Custodian, Trailridge School
- Grant Richtsmeier – Student, Trailridge School
- Liz Bloomburg – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Kami Clark – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Sara Emerick – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Joni Gilchrist – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Kari Mayo – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Janae Mohs – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Lizzie Sander – Teacher, Walnut Hills Elementary
- Gracilynn Currie – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Adalyn DeKock – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Ellie Harned – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Sarabella Larner – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Mia Lose – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Julie Mora-Gonzalez – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Bennett Taggart – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Elyse Winkel – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Benjamin Wortman – Student, Waterford Elementary
- Tiffany Briggs – Associate, Waukee Elementary
- Jasmine Oseguera – Teacher, Waukee Elementary
- Melissa Chia – Teacher, Waukee High School
- George Gokin – Student, Waukee High School
- Sarah Lheureux – Associate, Waukee Middle School
- Kayla Stewart – Associate, Waukee Middle School
We’ll return next year to highlight more staff members whose dedication helps make our District a truly special place.
