TSD Surprises 2022 Support Staff Members of the Year

Today was a joyous day in the Troy School District as we recognized the TSD Support Staff of the year. The choice was so close with so many nominees that we selected TWO very deserving candidates, TRC secretary Lois Hurdle and bus driver Tina Matar.

The morning started out by surprising Lois at the beginning of a Central Office department meeting. Superintendent Dr. Rich Machesky kicked off the celebration by announcing Lois’ award as colleagues and her husband walked into the room to share the surprise. According to her NINE nominations, Lois is detail oriented, always completes projects correctly and on time, and never hesitates to share her time and expertise with colleagues. Her nominations contained words like conscientious, a team player, “big picture” problem solver, committed to standardization, adaptable, personable, and honest: “Lois is extremely detail oriented, organized, and personable. She is the face of the department and ensures the highest level of customer service not only to our department staff, but to all staff, students and parents in the district who interact with our department,” read one nomination. “Lois is the glue that holds this team together. She is thorough, organized, a great communicator, but also a kind and compassionate person. She takes the time to KNOW those she works with, and that makes this team stronger.” Another nomination said “Lois is natural leader, although I wonder if she even notices the impact she has in others. She is definitely worth recognizing not only once a year, but every day of every year.” Lois received flowers, goodies from Ridley’s Bakery, and a check from the Troy Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Then the “Prize Patrol” team headed over to Hamilton Elementary, where they waited to surprise bus driver Tina Matar. Her colleagues, students and families were so excited to greet the afternoon bus with cheers and hugs. Many of her nominations praised Tina’s fun, kind and silly personality, which makes students laugh and smile. Not only does she recognize her students’ birthdays, she contacts them before school starts in the Fall, to make the introduction and help make those first bus rides easy for her students. One parent said "Miss Tina (as she’s known) knows that fun is important, but she is also strict and has expectations. The kids know that safety is always #1, but also that bus #50 is always a fun place to be.” She decorates her bus for holidays like Halloween and according to one student nominator “She plays the coolest music!” She writes individualized notes thanking the older kids for helping with the younger kids or telling the kids how wonderful it is to have them on the bus every day. Her colleagues recognize her kindness and are grateful that kids come off her bus and into their classrooms relaxed and ready to learn. Miss Tina was honored with flowers, goodies from Ridley’s Bakery, and a check from the Troy Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Other support staff who were nominated are listed below (in order by first name):

Allie Cianciolo, Bemis Elementary

Anitha Vanaparthi, Barnard Elementary

Anthony Recchia, Transportation Department

Austin Petty, Boulan Park Middle

Bryan Baines, Athens High

Cathy Matthes, Barnard Elementary

Christopher James Kiely, Athens, Larson, Smith, Martell, and Leonard

Claire Reid,Hill Elementary

Colleen Nietzel, Hamilton Elementary

Colleen O'Brien, Morse Elementary

Courtney Borden, Bemis Elementary

Dain Dinezio, Hill Elementary

Denise Gray, Morse Elementary

Diana Baraiac, Troy Union Elementary

Donna Black, Wass Elementary School

Earl Robinson, Barnard Elementary Bus 21 driver

Eric Davis, TSD Transportation for special education students

Erika Kwok, Schroeder Elementary

Gerry Killius, Troy Union Elementary

Gezimtar “Jimmy” Nazarko, International Academy East

Gretchen Ohman, Schroeder Elementary

Hedy Xu, Morse Elementary

Jen Miller, Troy Union Elementary

Kathy Liskey, Baker Middle School

Kristina Creveling, Baker Middle School

Laurie DePanicis, Morse Elementary

Lindsey, Troy PreK Secretary

Lois Hurdle, Services Building in the Technology Resource Center

Lucky Mupala, Wass Elementary

Manori Mudalise, Troy Center for Transition

Mary Pepoy, Larson Middle

Nadia Seman, TSD Preschool

Nahla Asmar, Boulan Park Middle

Patricia Montasir, TSD Preschool

Racheal Strickland, Martell Elementary

Rebecca Murphy, Schroeder Elementary

Rebecca Murphy, Schroeder Elementary

Renee Haddad, Athens High School

Ruth Regnerus, Transportation Bus# 129

Sandra Ford, Troy High School

Sara Ritter, Boulan Park Middle

Sarah Boor, Wattles Elementary

Shari Dennis, Troy Union Elementary

Sharon Bowlby, Transportation

Sherry Kruzman, Baker Middle School

Sui Chui, Barnard Elementary

Tammy Andreoni, Martell Elementary

Tina Matar, bus #50, Hamilton Elementary & Boulan Park Middle School

All winners and nominees will be honored at a luncheon and a School Board meeting in May.

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Photos courtesy of the Troy School District