Gilbert Public Schools honors 65 employees for 25 years of service

The group includes staff members in a variety of roles, from teachers and principals to paraprofessionals and support staff.

The district hosted a breakfast Jan. 6 to mark the milestone, giving employees an opportunity to connect with colleagues and be recognized by district leaders.

The employees have contributed to student success and school communities for more than two decades. Their work spans classrooms, campuses and departments across the district.

The following employees were honored for 25 years of service:

• Dawn Valles, reading specialist, Ashland Ranch Elementary
• Jason Kravitz, teacher, Augusta Ranch Elementary
• Jennifer Peters, teacher, Augusta Ranch Elementary
• Linda Riggs, teacher, Augusta Ranch Elementary
• Dana Winfield, instructional assistant, Boulder Creek Elementary
• Kristin Taylor, teacher, Boulder Creek Elementary
• Shannon Olson, teacher, Boulder Creek Elementary
• Tamara Meneses, teacher, Boulder Creek Elementary
• Tammy Mitchell, teacher, Burk Elementary
• Jessica Steger, teacher, Campo Verde High
• Kathleen Zondlewski, teacher, Campo Verde High
• Karen Alvin, teacher, Canyon Rim Elementary
• Kimberly Schammel, social worker, Canyon Rim Elementary
• Carolyn Wilson, teacher, Carol Rae Ranch Elementary
• Chris Birgen, principal, Carol Rae Ranch Elementary
• Jason Poston, assistant buyer, Central Receiving Warehouse
• Irene Vucko, teacher, Desert Ridge High
• Jan Peterson, teacher, Desert Ridge High
• Rick Frost, teacher, Desert Ridge High
• Stefanie Fortney, teacher, Desert Ridge High
• Stephanie Campbell, band director, Desert Ridge High
• Morgenne Basye, teacher, Desert Ridge Junior High
• Sherry Brown, teacher, Finley Farms Elementary
• Tracy Smith, principal, Finley Farms Elementary
• Deborah Johnson, paraprofessional, Gilbert High
• Ellie Roach, paraprofessional, Gilbert High
• Mutsumi Hazen, teacher, Gilbert High
• Jason Martin, assistant superintendent, GPS Admin Services
• Tina Wenning Lafreniere, coordinator, GPS Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
• Dana Stevenson, speech language pathologist, Greenfield Elementary
• Crystal Bray, teacher, Greenfield Junior High
• Jami Hagen, teacher, Greenfield Junior High
• Lisa Szepe, paraprofessional, Greenfield Junior High
• Sara Duce, orchestra director, Greenfield Junior High
• Deborah Battraw, nutrition service, Harris Elementary
• Marla Sloan, teacher, Harris Elementary
• Mary Brightman, teacher, Highland High
• Tanya Kohlenberg, teacher, Highland High
• Crystal Francom, teacher, Highland Junior High
• Darla Knight, teacher, Highland Junior High
• Shannon Deaton, teacher, Highland Junior High
• Toni Chilton, teacher, Highland Junior High
• Meredith Ambrose Sillman, teacher, Highland Park Elementary
• Traci Trillo, teacher, Highland Park Elementary
• Chris Stroud, principal, Meridian Elementary
• Ryan Starks, teacher, Meridian Elementary
• Wendy Norburg, principal, Mesquite Elementary
• Brigitte Means, teacher, Mesquite High
• Jeffrey Ekiss, teacher, Mesquite High
• Sandra Hughes-Roy, teacher, Neely Traditional Academy
• Caryl Brainard, teacher, Patterson Elementary
• Christy Hubele, librarian, Patterson Elementary
• Maria Rivera, nutrition service, Playa del Rey Elementary
• Heather Benedetti, teacher, Settler’s Point Elementary
• Teresa Billingsley, paraprofessional, Sonoma Ranch Elementary
• Christine Shea, teacher, South Valley Junior High
• Leslee Mizen-Stroud, teacher, South Valley Junior High
• Lisa Breitwieser-Cutshall, teacher, South Valley Junior High
• Frances Grossenbacher, compliance officer and leadership coach, Special Education
• Matthew Moix, coordinator, Special Education
• Brad Hyatt, teacher, Spectrum Elementary
• Toby Reif, instructional assistant, Spectrum Elementary
• Pat Kelly, speech language pathologist, Towne Meadows Elementary
• Shannon Gowens, teacher, Towne Meadows Elementary
• Martha Huggans, teacher, Val Vista Lakes Elementary