Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara honors employees during the school year who go above and beyond for students and/or colleagues, surprising them with a Challenge Coin.
Dr. Jara encourages employees to nominate a colleague by submitting an email to communications@nv.ccsd.net. Provide the employee’s name and work location, and describe how he or she has exceeded expectations in making CCSD #1 for kids.
Employees receiving the Superintendent Challenge Coins are in select company: Dr. Jara awards only a handful of Challenge Coins to deserving Clark County School District employees each school year.
Those receiving Challenge Coins in the past school year have included:
- Linda Kalekas of CCSD Health Services was recognized for helping coordinate health care with multiple agencies in Southern Nevada during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Staff at Sunrise Mountain High School, Clark County School District (CCSD) Police Department officers, and a student who were involved in saving the life of a student;
- Douglas Diaz, an operational manager in the Facilities Division who did exceptional work on a program to enhance preventive maintenance at schools, improving response times and cutting costs; and
- Dr. Charles Cushinery and Eric Maine, high school orchestra directors nationally recognized for their work.
In addition, during Teacher Appreciation Week in May last school year, Dr. Jara held separate videoconferences with five CCSD teachers and their principals, surprising the following teachers by telling them they would receive Challenge Coins for going above and beyond in making CCSD #1 for kids: Brianna Cotter of Sierra Vista High School, Clint Williams of Rancho High School, Holli Zinna-Mikell of Edmundo “Eddie” Escobedo, Sr. Middle School, and Laura van Niekerk and Rachel Vinograd of William E. Snyder Elementary School.
Click here to watch Holli Zinna-Mikell getting the news and click here to see Clint Williams receiving the honor.
