The Greater Johnstown School District recognizes staff members throughout the school year with ABCD Awards — an acronym that stands for going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Employees are nominated by school community members, and members of the Board of Education make final selections. The District is pleased to present the next round of ABCD Award recipients, who were in attendance at this evening’s Board of Education meeting:
CATHERINE DARLING works as an aide in the special education department at Johnstown High School, helping students to navigate their day, and providing them with encouragement, understanding, and respect. She does her best to help with any situation, big or small, and when she isn’t helping her assigned students, she volunteers to lend a hand with other tasks, enthusiastically assisting with activities both during and after school. Students have referred to Ms. Darling as being good and kind, and say she helps them to have better days. Ms. Darling consistently goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in offering the utmost of care and assistance to Johnstown students.
JENNIFER SWEENEY is actively engaged with students as a social studies teacher at Johnstown High School, as the head coach for Nordic Skiing, and as a Success Mentor. Students say she teaches in a way that helps them learn new things without making it too challenging to understand. They say she also always puts a smile on their faces. In addition to teaching and coaching, Jen also serves as a Department Leader and is a member of both the Professional Learning Committee and the District-wide Shared Decision Making Committee. Ms. Sweeney’s efforts to help students, and the Johnstown School District to grow and succeed, rise Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.
MS. BECKY WAGER is an academic intervention services teacher and Success Mentor at Knox Middle School, as well as a 1:1 Mentor. Mentors spend additional time supporting others in achieving their goals, and colleagues say Ms. Wager absolutely goes out of her way to help both students and new teachers succeed, offering resources, support and time. Parents say she also goes out of her way to check up on students, pushing them to do their best and to be proud of their efforts. Above and Beyond the call of Duty definitely describes Ms. Wager’s dedication to Greater Johnstown School District students and staff.