To celebrate the start of the school year, the Gladstone School District honored a total of six staff members who won Thank a Teacher or Making a Difference awards at our staff's Welcome Back event on Aug. 27. To recognize their outstanding contributions to our community, each of these staff members received $250 from a Gladstone Education Foundation endowment.
Making a Difference Award winner Heather Smith brings a remarkable blend of flexibility, unwavering care and compassion. Always ready to step in and support her colleagues and students, she embodies the spirit of dedication and resilience. Whether she's asked at a moment's notice to transition from her role as an instructional assistant to that of a classroom teacher, or stepping in to provide care for a struggling student, her gentle and confident response is always appreciated. Her ability to keep our Gladstone Center for Children & Families team moving forward, providing both support and a solid dose of humor, is truly invaluable.