Inspire Excellence Awards
The CCUSD Inspire Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given in CCUSD. The award recognizes teachers, administrators, support staff, and community members for their outstanding contributions to students. All honorees are selected through a nomination process and presented with their awards during the Inspire Excellence Celebration held at the end of the school year.
2024 Inspire Excellence
List of Honorees
Black Mountain Elementary School
Michelle Adair | Reading Specialist |
Ashlie Dvorak | Community Member/Volunteer |
Janet Kennedy | Administrative Assistant to Principal |
Desert Sun Academy
Amy Kessinger | Community Member/Volunteer |
Hector Lopez, Jr. | Plant Manager |
Synnove Petersen | 5th Grade Teacher |
Desert Willow Elementary School
Katie Boss | Community Member/Volunteer |
Jennifer McNulty | Health Clinic Assistant |
Noelle Wicevich | 4th Grade Teacher |
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Corrie Coleman | Community Member/Volunteer |
Amanda Schmidt | Community Member/Volunteer |
Katharine Schutza | 5th Grade Teacher |
Lone Mountain Elementary School
Kerry Barnauskas and Carmel | Community Member/Volunteer |
Deanna Pipitone | Sp.Ed. Teacher |
Margarita Steinseifer | Health Clinic Assistant |
Sonoran Trails Middle School
Terri Lundberg | Community Member/Volunteer |
Wendy McAtee | Kitchen Manager |
Alicia Valva | Language Arts Teacher |
Cactus Shadows High School
Gina Brown | Community Member/Volunteer |
Christy Pine | Attendance Clerk/Asst. to Asst. Principal |
Robert Reisener | Science Teacher |
Substitute Teachers
Robert Liebman | Substitute |
Lisa Roman | Substitute |
Administration
David Boggs | Assistant Principal, STMS |
Elaine Vallario | ECS Manager |
Child Nutrition
Donna Aldridge | Kitchen Manager, DSA |
Marilyn Altenbern | Admin. Asst. to Dir. of CN |
Education & Community Services
Kelly Hendrie | Head Preschool Teacher |
Melissa Lovewell | Enrichment Instructor |
Educational Student Services
Amy Killion | Program Assistant |
Nicole Kulesza | Psychologist |
Facilities
Randy Brown | Groundskeeper, DO |
Eric Muller | Plant Manager, HTES |
Transportation
Thomas Cama | Bus Driver |
Garrett Fleming | Bus Driver |
Community Sponsor of the Year
Kiwanis Club of Carefree
Rookies of the Year
Rachel Goldberg
Christiana Izumi
April Palmer
Retirees
Betsy Mayo | Office Assistant, Developmental Preschool |
Donna Aldridge | Kitchen Manager, DSA |
Janet Kennedy | Administrative Assistant to Principal, BMES |
Janice Fennig | Instructional Coach |
Julie Dine | Kindergarten Teacher, HTES |
Lori Dahne | Counselor, CSHS |
Russell Del Grosso | Teacher, CSHS |
Synnove Petersen | Teacher, DSA |
Kristine Riskas | 6th Grade Teacher, DWES |
35 Years of Service
Susan Spigarelli |
Teacher, BMES |
25 Years of Service
Jennifer Couturier | Admin. Asst. to Principal, STMS |
Lori Dahne | Guidance Counselor, CSHS |
Eric Niebch | Science Teacher, STMS |
Kristine Riskas | Teacher, DWES |
Roberta Vallillo | Bus Driver |
20 Years of Service
Carrie Barrett | Teacher, LMES |
Randee Huffer | Teacher Aide, HTES |
Scott Lavigne | Comm Arts Teacher, CSHS |
Julie Pineda | Paraprofessional, CSHS |
Photos of the Event
2023 Inspire Excellence
Retirement...only means it's time for a new adventure!
L-R: Nellie Vian (CSHS), Kathleen Lawson (CSHS), Debbie Dowd (CSHS), Kimberly Blackert (HTES), Lorraine Hart (CSHS). Not Pictured: Amy Dummet (LMES), Kristina Pancoast (DWES)
25 Years of Service
L-R: Erika Oliver (BMES), Antonella Nechtman (BMES), Chris Hazeltine (STMS)
20 Years of Service
L-R: Lane Elletson (BMES) & Donna Aldridge (DSA). Not Pictured: Melanie Wells (STMS), Charles Stahl (STMS), Douglas Langley (STMS), Marina Williams (BMES)
Rookie of the Year...Your adventure awaits!
Rookie of the Year Nicholas Baggenstoss (DSA) pictured with Dr. Patty Jensen (R) and Desert Foothills YMCA's Chris Hart (L).
CCUSD Sponsor of 2022-2023 Danny Piacquadio & Harold's Cave Creek Corral
Black Mountain Elementary School
Matt Owsley, Amanda Barnes, Dr. Jensen (Not Pictured: Jamie Smith, Joely Price)
Desert Sun Academy
L-R: Kelly Zwyczyk, Amy Cooper, Kristine Paul, April Guagenti & Dr. Jensen
Desert Willow Elementary School
Brandie Baca-Dunlap, Deirdre Robinson, Rebecca Toebben, Jennifer Dennison & Dr. Jensen
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School
Aaron Pettinato, Randee Huffer, Michael Colores & Dr. Jensem (Not Pictured: Jonathan Kragel)
Lone Mountain Elementary School
Emily Hill, Melanie Zeese, Tiffani Simmons, Jessica Morgan & Dr. Jensen
Sonoran Trails Middle School
Jill Sarraino, Sucheta Shah, Philip Zielske, Alicia Valva & Dr. Jensen
Cactus Shadows High School
Sarah Barela, Beth Udisky, Fred Auer, Mark O'Bryan & Dr. Jensen
Substitute Teachers
Kathleen Brewster & Dr. Jensen (Not Pictured: Kathleen Russ)
Administration
Marcie Rodriguez, Jill Sarraino, Mike Santina & Dr. Jensen
Child Nutrition
Shanon Quinn, Justin Fuss, Paula McMahon & Dr. Jensen
Education & Community Services
Jim Grosso, Donna Van Duzee, Brandi Aaronson & Dr. Jensen
Facilities
Mike Santina, Aleida Gomez & Dr. Jensen (Not Pictured: Dean Muller)
Exceptional Student Services
Michael Karpinski, Gigi Powers, Caitlin Leja & Dr. Jensen
Transportation Department
Danielle Danielak-Moehr, Dan Schalinske, Darcy Esemonu & Dr. Jensen
Thank you for all that you do!