The Umatilla School District had the pleasure of celebrating this year’s Bridge Builder awardees at the Umatilla Citizens Award Banquet organized by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce on May 16th.
The Bridge Builder Award recognizes staff members who go beyond their day-to-day responsibilities to strengthen connections between the school district and the greater Umatilla community. This year’s exceptional recipients are Frank Monahan, Technology Specialist; Lizzy Burres, Communications Coordinator; and Teresa Russell, Paraprofessional Coach.
Frank Monahan, a proud Umatilla High School (UHS) alumnus, is recognized as a Bridge Builder due to his exceptional ability to connect the community and the school. His unwavering dedication to fostering positive relationships and creating a supportive environment transcends his role in IT, leaving a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike. When there is a need, Frank is there to help. His care for others is genuine and he is a model of service and commitment.Through his countless hours of volunteering and willingness to assist in various capacities, such as coaching baseball and robotics, Frank exemplifies the true spirit of bridging gaps and building connections within his community.
Lizzy Burres, also a UHS graduate, is recognized for her dedication to sharing the work of the district and building bridges between the schools and the community. Each day, she highlights the efforts of staff and celebrates the accomplishments of students through her communications work. Lizzy goes out of her way to make students feel special, seen, and honored for their achievements, helping ensure the Umatilla community stays informed and connected to the successes happening in our schools.
Teresa Russell is recognized for transforming a vision into reality by leading a paraprofessional training program that empowers staff and supports student success. As a paraprofessional coach, she helps others follow the path she once took, supporting them as they become educators and positively impacting both their lives and their students’. Through her leadership, she has built a strong paraprofessional workforce and a “grow your own” initiative that continues to develop skilled, dedicated teachers from within our community. Her vision and follow-through are a true example of bridge building in action.
The Umatilla School District congratulates this year’s Bridge Builder Award recipients and thanks them for their continued commitment to students, staff, and the wider Umatilla community. Superintendent Heidi Sipe also gave credit to the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce, “We appreciate the Chamber for including the district in their awards ceremony. This event is a special night to honor those who go above and beyond for the Umatilla community and it was wonderful to celebrate with them.”