RAVE Nominees 2018

Jennifer Hancock, Secretary - McKinley Elementary School

"Jennifer always goes above and beyond when helping staff, students and families. Words are inadequate to express our appreciation for all that she does each week: from taking care of the sick child to making sure teachers have supplies needed to function each day to her positive attitude that infects the rest of us and can make for joyful learning." - Nominated 12/2018

Samantha Wallace, Science Paraeducator - Starr King Elementary School

"Ms. Wallace came to Starr King as an Americorps participant with Education Outside. She immediately began to work through the garden to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of students. When her position was over, she agreed to continue on as a science paraeducator. In this position she maintains our science classroom and collaborates with teachers to implement the science curriculum. She is an integral member of our community." - Nominated 12/2018

Kay Hones, Librarian - Civic Center

"I am nominating Ms. Hones because of her tireless work with our students. Ms Hones has helped students write grants for projects that students are starting. Ms. Hones has helped students get funding for graphics printing (sweatshirts and printing mediums), a barber chair for braiding and cutting hair, couches for classrooms, etc." - Nominated 12/2018

Cohort 1 Leaders (Ana de Arce, Regina Piper) - LEAD 

"I am nominating Ana and Regina because for the very first time in my admin career, I feel extremely supportive. Meaning, I feel I have working partners who care what I am thinking/expressing. I feel that they both put much "SEL" (social emotional learning) in their communications with us administrators and it has made a HUGE positive difference in my professional life." - Nominated 12/2018

Dean Ignacio, Fingerprint Technician - Human Resources

"Dean is a shining star! He is an example of the very best in Customer Service and Support. Dean goes above and beyong with what is expected of him. He is always eager to learn and to take on more tasks as necessary. He assists our customers with detailed information and a pleasant smile. Dean is not shy to present improving modules when necessary. He is a true asset Human Resources." - Nominated 11/2018

Candy Selig, Office Manager/ Admin. Asst. - Claire Lilienthal - Scott Campus

"Candy demonstrates an exemplary work ethic with an equity mindset in all that she does. Candy manages the office and so much more. She supports students and parents throughout the day, while encouraging independence and responsibility in everyone. Candy is fair and reasonable, and she has a sense of humor. I believe that Claire Lilienthal would not be all that it is without Candy. And for that, she deserves to be recognized." - Nominated 11/2018

Ra Price, 4th Grade Teacher - Lafayette Elementary School

"Ra works tirelessly each day to educate her students. She has a keen sense of social justice and brings this lens to all of her instruction and class conversations. Ra finds opportunities for education in even the smallest of moments whether it is academic or social emotional. Ms. Price constantly strives to learn and then apply new, evidence based teaching practices. She has a creative classroom with flexible seating and her Readers and Writers Workshop practice is seemingly exemplary." - Nominated 11/2018

Tanya Sanchez-Manu, Paraprofessional - Tenderloin Community School

"Some of this employee's positive qualities that distinguish her work are the following: 1) her work ethic----she moves from room to room across grade levels which can be challenging. 2) Her initiative---She manages to keep her materials organized on her own time, and comes up with activities and daily charts for students that are beneficial to students and that also help to support the educational program that teachers and resource specialists provide to students. 3) Her attitude---she is positive, considerate and thoughtful toward students, staff and families." - Nominated 11/2018

Alisa Chriss-Price, Main Office Secretary - Dr. Charles R. Drew Early Education School

"She guides our parents through the process of providing their children with a preschool education with intelligence, fairness, and kindness. Her persistence and follow-through often result in improvements in the attendance and health of our students,and an increase in the well-being of their families. She takes responsibility for the organization of our school and provides leadership when needed to ensure the education and safety of our students and staff." - Nominated 10/2018

Maria Ruiz, Main Office Secretary - The Academy - San Francisco @ McAteer

"Maria is the matriarch of our school in a lot of ways. She is a comfort for everyone and safe space for our whole community. She provides all the intangibles that make an organization better, more inclusive, and healthy!" - Nominated 10/2018

Custodial Services Team (Yinghun Chen, Yau Man Chan, Huabin Wang, Can Quan Zhou) - 1515 Quintara Therapy Unit

"When I walked in the next day(s) I was so impressed. The floors look absolutely beautiful. They even got rid of grunge that has been there for years--I don't know how they did it. They went above and beyond and even moved small file cabinets and cleaned and waxed under them. I have worked here many years and teams have come in before to wax the floors. But this job that this team did this year was EXCEPTIONAL!!!" - Nominated 10/2018

Eddie Ngo, Director of Applications - Department of Technology

"Eddie is being nominated because he is a very responsive employee in the Department of Technology. He responds quickly to email inquiries and responds with helpful information and support. When I had a tech issue that I could not figure out over email, he suggested I call him and he was immediately available to answer my call! He went above and beyond to help resolve the issue and did it with grace and clarity. Thank you!" - Nominated 10/2018

Corrina McGraw, Special Education Supervisor - Special Education Services

"My gut tells me that she's part human, part octopus. She's got her 8 hands in almost every stakeholder pot to ensure that support is given to the site, the family, and the child. She's amazingly responsive, and the seamless way she addresses an issue make her job look way easier than it is. She's incredibly smart and someone I admire tremendously.." - Nominated 10/2018

David George, Director - Risk Management

"Dave was so helpful when my car was hit by a tree in the District parking lot. He got a claim number, helped tape my sideview mirror so that I could get home safely!" - Nominated 10/2018

Grey Todd, Classroom Teacher - Presidio Middle School

"Grey Todd consistently goes above and beyond to build school community for students and adults. He supports everyone in the building with their tech questions, he opens the building on the weekends so that teachers can come in and work, he takes candid photos of our students every day for our daily bulletin." - Nominated 10/2018

Erika Kniffel, PE Teacher - Roosevelt Middle School

"Erika is highly organized, reliable, thoughtful in her process, and always puts the students first. She is passionate about social justice and goes out of her way to create programs that include ALL students." - Nominated 09/2018

Marilyn Lee, Paraprofessional - Roosevelt Middle School

"Aside from the qualities we all like to see (prompt, organized, team player, staying positive), she goes out of her way to build relationships with ALL of our students. I have never seen someone so intentional and determined to connect with students on so many levels. The students view her as someone they can turn to for help or to talk with. That in itself says a TON about who she is." - Nominated 09/2018

Vivian Hong, Teacher - Junipero Serra Elementary School

"My son was in her first grade class several years ago. He had a very difficult school year in Kindergarten with his Kindergarten teacher and his classmates. He would come home crying and afraid to go to school almost everyday. However, when he went to 1st grade with Ms. Hong, she was able to create a loving and nurturing environment for my son. He was no longer fearful of school and actually looks forward to his school days in her class. She is truly wonderful and we are blessed that she was his teacher!" - (Nominated two times in 09/2018 and 12/2018)

Sarah Carp, Instructional Reform Facilitator - Buena Vista/Horace Mann K-8 School

"Sarah holds equity and student learning at the center of conversations, learning spaces, and problem solving. She is a life long learner who inspires those around her to continually learn and improve as professionals and as human beings. Her enthusiasm for learning in infectious. She is an artful, creative problem solver. She truly listens to people and is able to quickly assess what both adults and students want as well as what they need, even when they may be unaware of these things." - Nominated 09/2018

Geraldine Zanotti, Substitute Teacher - Argonne Elementary School and Other Sites

"Mrs. Zanotti has gone above and beyond what a substitute does. She has promoted the joy of learning in her students. She has challenged her students and advanced their learning. My kids didn't miss a beat when Dina would step in. She was in such high demand as a substitute at our school that we would often book her time a year in advance! She was well worth the wait, leaving your kids in excellent teaching hands." - Nominated 3 times 06/2018 and 07/2018

Amanda Vigil, Career Technical Education Instructor - Multiple Sites

"Amanda Vigil has long been one of the most intentional, emotionally-present educators I have ever had the honor of working with. She works to foster and sustain real connection between all participants. In her new role with SFUSD CTE, she supports educators in thinking about the vision for their work, holistic classroom experiences. She also pushes us to think about our whole selves, not as partitioned selves, simply as classroom educators." - Nominated 06/2018

Maureen McCarthy, Teen Clinic Staff - Balboa High School

"Maureen has long been an institution at our school. She is a loving, caring grandmother to us all - sharing her insights on teaching and pedagogy; helping students tackle serious problems and turn their lives around; showing novice teachers how to fill out CPS report; whatever it may be. She has made a difference in all of our lives. We would truly not be the same school community without her." - Nominated 06/2018

Jonathan Lee, Math Teacher & Girls' Basketball Coach - Balboa High School

"Jonny brings so much light into the lives of young people. He is also very intentional in how consistently he shows up for them - as a teacher, as a coach, as a disciplinarian who holds high standards for all students, and as an ally." - Nominated 06/2018

PreK Team (Ms. Keener, Ms. Marilyn, Ms. Natalie, Ms. Michelle, Ms. Jimmie, Mr. Hangsan, Ms. D, Ms. Sandra) - S.F. Public Montessori Elementary School

"They are extremely wonderful education professionals. They understand the whole child. They strive to help parents and students whenever they see the need. They are proactive and display positivism day in and day out. They are kind, helpful and open to suggestions. They take action when they see something." - Nominated 06/2018

Clarissa Maliga, Math & Special Education Teacher - Balboa High School

"Clarissa Maliga has been an incredible member of this staff. She has been insightful at professional development sessions and critical of the inner workings of racism amongst staff. She has been an outspoken advocate for our most policed and yet unseen and stereotyped students. She is a math teacher, a case manager for special education students, and also leads many site-based initiatives, such as our Polynesian Club, which within itself has done so much for school-family relationships, students' academic self-esteem, and beyond." - Nominated 06/2018

Seema Kalra, RSP Teacher - Alvarado Elementary School

"Seema is a dedicated, compassionate educator who cares deeply about her students and strives to help them overcome learning challenges to be the best they can be. Seema makes learning fun for her students. To help them memorize multiplication tables, she taught them catchy little songs. The students walk around singing them - and they now know their multiplication facts!" - Nominated 06/2018

Yunsi (Cecilia) Li, Family Liaison - Chinese Education Center

"CEC is a one-year school. Each year new families go into CEC. Compared to other schools, there is no continuity of the SSC or ELAC, as parents are all switched to new schools at the end of the year. Therefore, the family engagement every year is anew start. This challenge is different from other schools, but Cecilia takes on this challenge every year, and does a fabulous job engaging parents at the school and having them as partners." - Nominated 02/2018

Cynthia Vaughn, 1st Grade Teacher - Rooftop Community School

"Throughout all my schooling (including grad school), and my children's education both at Rooftop and local private schools, I have never seen a teacher who is so perfectly suited for what she is doing, and who is like a maestro with her students. Over the several times I have been in Ms. Vaughn's class, I was amazed not simply with her deep and sincere love for the children, which a lot of teachers have, but more so with how she conducted her class like a symphony. She had the right tone, the temperament and the right cadence. She split her teaching time brilliantly into equal doses of leaning, limits and laughter. The children all learned, laughed and loved her - and so did we." - Nominated 02/2018, 3/2018, and 11/2018)

Sue Mocklin, Middle School Teacher - Rooftop Community School

"She is a great teacher/person and I get a vibe that she really cares. [She is] great with parent student communication." - Nominated 02/2018

Julia Smith, 1st Grade Teacher - Rooftop Community School

"I have never seen a person so genuinely dedicated to the success of each one of her kids in her classrooms. She is constantly going above and beyond in so many ways. She connects with students in her classroom immensely, handing out hand written notes everyday to kids with a quick “pick me up” which one parent said 'goes right above their bed and stays there for them to see everyday.' Julia is an inspiration to me and all at Rooftop!" - Nominated 02/2018 and 12/2017

Multilingual Pathways Department - Curriculum & Instruction

"We have been impressed with this team for their responsive, caring attitude and willingness to go the extra mile. They are a very dedicated staff that does a lot with relatively few people." - Nominated 02/2018

Ryan Swick, Kindergarten Teacher - Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

"Our daughter has thrived in Mr. Swick's classroom. She is excited to be at school, she's excited to learn, and she brings home ideas, concepts, and vocabulary that I never would have expected from Kindergarten. Mr. Swick is approachable, fun, and exceptionally hard-working. We as parents, and as a school community, are fortunate to have him in our lives!" - Nominated 02/2018

Christina Huizar, TSA Literacy Coach/ Literacy Intervention Specialist - Tenderloin Community School

"Christina has a positive attitude, remains cool, calm and collected in the fact of challenges, and is passionate about sharing her love of literacy with others. She is student-focused, collaborative, and is incredibly kind and generous in sharing her time and talents with others. Christina's actions and words demonstrate her commitment to social justice and equity." - Nominated 01/2018

Shellie Wiener, Secretary - Alamo Elementary School

Shellie is "an over-achiever in all she does. [She] makes sure all decisions are only in the best interest of the school's parents and students. She multi-tasks and gets it all done!" - Nominated 01/2018