The following employees were selected to receive the May Employee Excellence Awards and recognition at the May 2025 school board meeting.
Employees are recognized between October and June of each school year. Nominations are open to staff, students, parents and community members. Nominees are selected for recognition by a committee of their peers.
In addition to awardees chosen by the peer nomination and Excellence Awards committee voting process, the Board of Directors may recognize recipients who have been nominated by the Superintendent’s Cabinet for demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication to VPS students and their families.
Anne Bowling
4/5th Grade Teacher at Hough Elementary
Anne Bowling, teacher at Hough Elementary, instills a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom for all students she crosses paths with. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that every child in her class feels supported, challenged, and engaged in their learning. One of her nominators shared, “Her classroom is a hub of student-centered learning where students have a voice in shaping activities and experiences. She actively seeks student input to make lessons engaging, relevant, and meaningful. Every time I step into her room for an observation, I find myself drawn into the creative and dynamic activities she facilitates, which make learning come to life. … Beyond the walls of her own classroom, she is an easygoing and reliable team player who consistently steps up to support her colleagues, collaborate on schoolwide initiatives, and contribute to the positive culture at Hough. Her flexibility, dedication, and infectious enthusiasm make her an irreplaceable member of our staff, and we are incredibly lucky to have her.” Thank you, Anne.
Leslie Howard
Reading Specialist at Eisenhower Elementary
We’re excited to recognize Leslie Howard for her incredible work as a reading specialist at Eisenhower Elementary. Her nominator, an Eisenhower staff member, said the following in her nomination:
“Mrs. Howard is exceptional.
She is passionate about helping students learn to read, and does everything she can to prepare her paras for their groups. In addition to teaching effectively, sharing her effective strategies and research, she is also reliable. She always shows up. If she can’t make it she plans in advance and makes sure everyone is trained to handle groups in her absence or if she is called away to teach a classroom.
She is stern and loving at the same time. Leslie makes sure students know she has high expectations of their behavior but also gives them confidence through reassurance that they are capable.
It is a pleasure to work with her and an honor to receive a compliment from her because she has such high standards and means what she says. She is on top of everything and never forgets to follow up with student needs and progress.
Eisenhower students and staff are lucky to have her working on their behalf.”
Thank you, Leslie.
Sara Howe
Kindergarten Teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary
Congratulations to Sara Howe, Kindergarten Teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary! Her nominator said this of Sara:
“Sara is a brilliant Kindergarten teacher.
She has a vast knowledge of early childhood developmental skills and is a huge advocate for our youngest learners, and is constantly collaborating to get the support her students need to be successful in school. Sara understands the developmental stages of Kindergarteners, and uses this knowledge to help our team set meaningful goals for our students.
Sara has also helped our building pave the way for academic excellence in the early grades. Her work and input around the Science of Reading practices and math fluency has led to our students having a solid academic foundation as they prepare to move on to intermediate grades. She is a crucial part of our school, and an invaluable member of our team.”
Thank you, Sara.
Vince Lucero
DRO at McLoughlin Middle School
Congratulations to Vince Lucero, a District Resource Officer at McLoughlin Middle School. A fellow DRO nominated Vince, noting his strong embodiment of integrity, safety, leadership, and professionalism – all qualities of a excellent DRO. Vince takes the time to explain safety rules and drills to students, which helps them understand why these things are important and creates a shared understanding of school safety. You can always count on Vince to be on time and dedicated to his role, and he treats everyone he interacts with – students and staff alike – with genuine respect and care. His nominator shares, “You can see that students respect him and look up to him. He carries himself well which affects students’ behavior in the most positive way.”
Thank you, Vince.
Thayne Riddle
Building Operator at Anderson Elementary
Congratulations to Thayne Riddle, Building Operator at Anderson Elementary. Thayne was nominated by a school administrator, who shared the following in their nomination:
“I wanted to take a moment to share how much we love having Thayne at Anderson. He is truly an incredible asset to our school community.
Thayne is always cool, calm, and collected, no matter the situation. He is kind to everyone he interacts with and treats our students with dignity and respect. He never complains but instead looks for solutions, making our school a better place every day. He actively seeks feedback and continuously strives to be the best at his job. All while juggling the immense responsibility of keeping one of the largest elementary schools running smoothly.
His dedication, professionalism, and positive attitude make a real difference at Anderson, and we are incredibly grateful to have him on our team.”
Thank you, Thayne.
