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Photos and story courtesy of SUSAN ENLOE, KCKPS

Diana Jones (pictured left), librarian at New Stanley Elementary School was honored by members of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education as January 2009 Employee of the Month.  

Ms. Jones was nominated by New Stanley principal Sharyn Conner and
teacher Pamela Del Castillo.

In her nomination letter, Connor said about Jones, “Diana Jones is truly a teaching librarian who instills in her students and colleagues a ‘love for reading’.”  Her high expectations for all students is the reason that Del Castillo nominated Jones.  “She encourages (students) to read difficult texts and participate in the William Allen White Book Club.  She works tirelessly with the Summer Reading program and organizing the reading logs and reading awards, “ wrote Del Castillo.  

Dr. Kelli Mather, Executive Director of Operations and Quality Control, nominated the entire team of mechanics at the district’s transportation department. Her nomination letter reads, “The arrival of snow seems to bring on a different reaction from different people.

All the adults are watching weather forecasts and street conditions as they anticipate their drive into work.  Parents are doing this, as well as watching the scroll of school closings to actually confirm if their children need to get ready for school and, of course, all of the children are anxiously awaiting the announcement - is school open or closed?

All of this is happening in the homes around town by 5:00-6:00 a.m., however, the transportation department and specifically mechanics are up much earlier than this working in preparation to transport students of Kansas City, Kansas safely.  

The mechanics for transportation are up and at the bus barn by 2-2:30 a.m. starting and warming every single bus.

Sometimes they have to jump start busses or even replace batteries, but they get them ready to go for the routes so that students can be picked up in a timely manner.

Sometimes we forget to thank those that work so diligently behind the scenes to make sure that things are running smoothly.  Without these gentlemen doing just that, we would not be able to transport the thousands of students that we do and for that the parents and the district recognizes their efforts and thanks them.”

Pictured are:  Back row - Rick Baker, John King, Gary Blair, Mike
Robinson, Ed Bohr, Claire Jobe

Front row - Ron Utter-Head Mechanic, Quinton Zenon, Barry Goodwin-Night
Lead

Not Pictured-Tony Ray