HEART Champions 3rd Quart 2025

Nominator: Karen Black, School Secretary

Location: John Marshall

Your Nominator Shared: "Mr. A has built out our school music program giving extra time at every turn. He has created a 200 plus member drum line, band and rock band group as well as a recording studio. He does all of these things are a one person department.

He is our band/drumline teacher that goes above and beyond for the school and the community. Our band is requested for a lot of events outside of school i.e.

Labor Day parade in New York, St. Patrick's Day parade, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Parade, we play for other schools during the playoffs. He sacrifices his time and love for the students. He makes music a safe haven for students. He will have the band play for our admin birthdays and have the drum line come into the hall way while teacher's have their students watch to play a few songs for them.

He welcomes in students from all levels to play and participate. Students in our LI unit are able to go and play maracas or any instrument they are comfortable with and he encourages them and welcomes them to the music family. He dedicates time after school to make sure students can practice and thrive in a safe space. Marshall is a better place because of his team work and spirit."

The HEART Committee Agrees – Mr. Alldredge, please know that your gestures towards your scholars and school community are a display of “HEART in ACTION.” Thank you for embracing and delivering on the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job – you continue to go the extra mile, and it does not go unnoticed.

Nominator: Patrick Chrestoff

Location: Talent Department

Your Nominator Shared: I have communicated with Ann Niklas for the past 10 years from various positions. I was a Union Building Chair representing dozens of members and frequently had questions and/or concerns regarding various aspects of pay and compensation. Each and every time Ann Niklas went above and beyond what could be expected to assist me in every way. Ann is a consumate professional and is always pleasant and efficient. Whenever I have a compensation question, she responds in an expeditious manner with the correct information and always displays heartfelt concern. If ever she is unsure of an answer, she is quick to let me know she will have an accurate solution and gives me a very specific timeline of when that answer might be expected. I have been a CMSD employee for 35 years and have encountered many different employees who have held many different positions within the district. I confidently say that Ann Niklas is the epitome of what a CMSD employee should be and she exemplifies the true meaning of H.E.A.R.T.

The HEART Committee agrees – Ann has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Thank you for being the “R” of the model and building rapport and relationship with your fellow colleague and CMSD community in this interaction to “hear, empathize, actively listen and assist!”

Nominator: Melissa Patterson, Intervention Specialist

Location: Garrett Morgan High School

Note on this Nomination: Ms. Weir, in a time of tragedy for the Garret Morgan HS family and the untimely loss of a fellow colleague/educator, you are being recognized for your empathy and compassion displayed to your fellow staff during that time. Please know that your gesture to comfort and check in on your school team was a display of “HEART in ACTION.” Thank you for embracing and delivering on the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job – you stepped out of your role to assist your team and it did not go unnoticed.

Your Nominator Shared: This week our school experienced the untimely and tragic death of a coworker. Ms. Weir went above and beyond to check on so many of us to make sure we were okay emotionally. Additionally, she offered and delivered tea or hot cocoa to the entire staff as an extra measure of comfort. Her kindness and compassion was exactly what we needed in our time of grief.

Nominator: Deborah Ganim, Primary Teacher

Your Nominator Shared: I am putting in today's date because on many occasions leading up to today, Mr. Hobbs has gone above and beyond for the school community. Not only does he keep up on everything in our building so that it is functioning appropriately for myself and my colleagues to be able to carry out our daily duties, but he also goes above and beyond for students. I am speaking personally on behalf of one of the families in my classroom. Mr. Hobbs has spent his own money to help this family. He has mentored the three boys in this family. He has supported this family in ways that go above and beyond any expectation from a member of our school community. I know that he is respected and appreciated, but honestly, he deserves to know that and more. He has supported this family with transportation, monetary necessities, cleaning supplies for their home, and much much more. When asked why he does it...Mr. Hobbs says, "When I needed help, I was helped, so I feel like it's just the right thing to do to help them if I can."

The HEART Committee agrees – Mr. Hobbs has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job. Thank you for being the “R” of this model and building rapport and relationship in your school community!

Nominator: Monique Martin, Teacher Development

Location: Marian C Seltzer

Your Nominator Shared: Ms Liz is one of those individuals that always goes above and beyond not only for Prek but for anyone in our Marion C Seltzer School Community. Ms Liz’s new journey for 2025 is to do a acts of kindness every month for a member of our staff yesterday she wrote a secret note to a staff member and told the that they were her first Victim 😊 She then did the teachers entire bulletin (which was not complete) but first she asked the teachers close coworker do you think she would mind. I think this is a very nice gesture that Liz is doing and I wish more staff members could be like her😊 this is why I feel that Ms Liz should be chosen for the HEART award!!! Sincerely Ms Martin.

The HEART Committee agrees – Ms. Matatics has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job. Thank you for being the “R” of this model and building rapport and relationship in your school community!

Nominator: Jason Tidmore, Executive Director

Location: 1111 Superior Avenue 19th floor

Although Eric was working within his capacity as a Humanware Partner to provide facilitation of Grief Support for one of our schools, his care concern and compassion should be recognized and awarded. After hearing of an unfortunate and tragic loss of one of our CMSD employees the eve of returning from holiday break, Eric was sent over to facilitate support to the principal and his staff. Eric stayed well beyond the time asked of him, even returning the next day to ensure the Grief Mitigation Plan was implemented and carried out with fidelity. Principal Davis remarked to me " Eric was Amazing". summing up the support he felt he received and how Eric supported the school on the journey of healing.

The HEART Committee Agrees – Mr. Cek, you are being recognized for your empathy and compassion displayed to your fellow staff and in going above and beyond to support and assist. Please know that your gestures to assist was a display of “HEART in ACTION.” Thank you for embracing and delivering on the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job – you went the extra mile to assist your fellow Educators and it did not go unnoticed.

Nominator: Nallini Swamidaso, Teacher

Location: Lincoln West Global Studies

Your Nominator Shared: Fanchon Salukomo has prevented a student who has recently given birth to a baby from dropping out from school. He went to the student's home and spoke with the scholar, convinced the adults that she is smart, intelligent, more than capable of taking care of the baby and her academics to be able to graduate high school on time. The student started coming to school regularly and works hard to complete her CR and regular classes and thriving towards graduation current year. This is least he has done to his African Community and education. I am more than willing to provide long list of examples that he is eligible to receive an award for communicating with H.E.A.R.T

The HEART Committee agrees – Mr. Salukombo has displayed HEART in Action, by showing the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job. Thank you for having the courage and the HEART to care, and for being the “R” of this model and building rapport and relationship in your school community!

Nominator: Rhonda Hurst, Teacher Intervention Specialist

Location: Clara Westropp

Your Nominator Shared: Mr. Moser, our custodian at Clara E. Westropp, is truly one of the best in the business. He ensures that our building is well maintained and always responds swiftly to any maintenance needs. Not only does he keep our building looking pristine, Mr. Moser recently took it upon himself to build a ramp in our school vivarium in order for one of our students, who is in a wheel chair, to have access to go into the vivarium with his classmates rather than just look through the window. Mr. Moser also took time out of his already busy daily schedule to decorate the vivarium with lights and set up a train in order to add some holiday cheer in there for the students to enjoy. In addition to this, Mr. Moser has taken the time to teach one of our scholars carpentry skills. She has shown an interest in learning carpentry, and Mr. Moser worked with her to build a shelf, and she assisted him in building the ramp in the vivarium as well. He has also been a mentor in teaching her how to measure, and use different tools. The joy that this student has displayed from receiving the guidance from Mr. Moser has been nothing less than amazing to see. Mr. Moser has gone above and beyond his daily job responsibilities in so many ways. His work often goes unnoticed, but it makes a world of difference to everyone who enters our school. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a hardworking and reliable person as a vital part of our school community.

The HEART Committee agrees – Mr. Moser has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Thank you for being the “R” of the model and building rapport and relationship with your scholars and school community in this interaction to “hear, empathize, actively listen and ASSIST!”

Nominator: Mary Anne Teitelbaum, Director

Location: Scranton School

Your Nominator Shared: Ms. Zupan routinely goes above and beyond to assist families and students. In the most recent event, Ms. Zupan recognized the family need for a bilingual psychologist. Although she could have allowed a translator to work with the school psychologist, she recognized that this family had experienced trauma and would benefit from her assistance. In an incident that occurred last summer, Ms. Zupan picked up the family in her car to come to the Preschool Assessment Clinic. They did not have transportation and did not have a place to stay, so Ms. Zupan assisted them in obtaining a hotel room. In the past, she has also worked with Metro Clinic Family Practice to assist families in obtaining medical care.

The HEART Committee agrees – Ms. Zupan has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Our roles as Educators are greater than the tasks associated with our job. Thank you for having the courage and the HEART to care, and for being the “R” of this model and building rapport and relationship in your school community!

Nominator: Kathryn Simmons, Parent

Your Nominator Shared: I have three children that attend Mary Bethune (pk, 1st and 2nd) My second son Riyo had a very hard time adjusting to school life in kindergarten. He gets very overstimulated, and it can all be a bit too much for him. Being the amazing teacher she is, Ms. Mellinger took the time to talk with me and find ways to help my son feel more comfortable at school. She went out of her way to ensure he got the necessary breaks and one-on-one attention he needed. Even with my two other children, on a regular basis she goes out of her way to speak to us all. My kids tell me all the time how they got to go to Ms. Mellinger's class, and their day was just so much better. She takes the time to get to know each and every one of her students. Plus, the ones that aren’t even in her class. It’s an honor to have a teacher like her for my babies.

The HEART Committee agrees – Ms. Mellinger has displayed HEART in Action by showing the key philosophy of heart: Thank you for being the “R” of the model and building rapport and relationship with your students, their caregivers and in your school community! You have shown START with HEART and Respond with HEART in this interaction to “hear, empathize, actively listen and assist!”