Article Contributed on: 4/24/2009 11:30:18 AM
Jefferson County Public Schools honored 663 employees for demonstrating the district values of integrity, teamwork, exemplary performance and valuing people at a reception held at the Arvada Center on April 22.
The program is funded through grants from the Jefferson Foundation, the Salazar Family Foundation and the three employee associations - the Classified School Employees Association, the Jefferson County Administrators Association and the Jefferson County Education Association.
The awards celebration included remarks by Superintendent
Cindy Stevenson and School Board Secretary
Sue Marinelli.
Jeff Lamontagne, president of the Jefferson Foundation, served as emcee. Entertainment was provided by the Pomona Women's Ensemble, directed by
Beth Etter-Olsen.
Each year an outstanding Jeffco graduate is invited to address the honorees. This year the speaker was
Cynthia Hessin, a graduate of Arvada West High School, who is executive producer at Rocky Mountain PBS and previously served as a news reporter and anchor at KCNC News 4 and KMGH Denver's 7.
This marks the eighth year of the Values Awards program in Jeffco Schools. Each school and department may nominate up to four individuals who demonstrate the district values. Honorees include administrators, teachers and support staff. The Values Awards program is not a competition; all those who are nominated by their schools or departments are honored. The purpose of the Values Awards is to promote the four district values - integrity, teamwork, exemplary performance and valuing people - by recognizing individuals who exemplify these values by their words and actions.