Troy Schools Recognize Outstanding Staff with “Q Awards”

Ten outstanding Troy Community School District 30-C employees received “Q Awards” at a staff assembly in June.

The awards are annual recognitions that honor Troy staff who go above and beyond with their desire to make a difference for others in the district’s seven schools.

This year’s Q Awards were given to:

Sherri Blanchette, Assistant Principal of Troy Hofer Elementary School, has served as a school leader with compassion, love for her students and care for her staff. She listens with her whole heart and is especially dedicated to the ELL teachers, summer school and after-school programs.

Kyle Block, a Troy Middle School Instructional Coach, has gone “above and beyond” to help the school reach its students’ individual needs. He has also opened the door to technology-driven classrooms, created a sixth grade standards mastery framework and assisted staff with their Google classroom needs.

Melissa Coriell, Reading Specialist at Troy Hofer Elementary School, shares her passion and expertise for instruction in and out of the district. Teaming up with primary specialists, ELL teachers and other staff, she moves student instruction forward each year. Staff and students all benefit from her expertise.

Theresa Oberding, District-wide Technology Coach, connects with teachers throughout the entire district and embraces that opportunity with a smile and positive attitude. She guides the district professionally and with ease through changes in assessments and instruction.

Lizette Ortiz, Secretary at Troy Hofer Elementary School, is always there for students’ and staff’s moments of need. She often helps meet the individual needs of those at Hofer without being asked. Hofer would not be the same without her above-and-beyond commitments to students, families and staff.

Stephanie Oswald, Teacher at Troy Middle School, embodies the phrase that teaching is a work of the heart, building relationships with students that go beyond school hours and even beyond the years her students attend TMS.

Marc Solodky, Coordinator of Student and Family Services, is a trailblazer in the district, taking on this new position from scratch. With a genuinely caring and compassionate spirit, his duties this year have included serving homeless students, organizing clothing donations for students and families in need and connecting families to outside services. Whatever he can do to help a family, he does to the best of his ability.

Karen Speckman, a MERIT Teacher Associate at Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School, gets to know the whole child as she offers reading support and encouragement to Troy students. She builds strong bonds with the school staff, as well, going the extra mile and brightening the days of those around her.

Karen Storcz, an Educational Support Professional at Troy Cronin Elementary School and a Special Olympics volunteer, has worked at the district for 20 years, serving Troy’s special needs students. Not only does she enrich Troy’s students, she also helps her colleagues and is the first to volunteer for extra duties or help in other classrooms when needed.

Allison Wilson, a Teacher Associate at Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School, is the person Heritage Trail students and staff look for each day – the smiling face Troy families see each morning as she works the crosswalks keeping students safe. She also helps teachers in and out of the classroom, often bringing home assignments to grade at night.