"Mr. Aaron Kugel has been such an amazing and down-to-earth teacher who not afraid to show that he cares about his students. I would like to thank you Mr. Kugel for being there for me and for being the best teacher you possibly be. I miss you." 

- OCHS Student

"Ms. Venancio_ She is always sending me encouraging words that help me feel positive about my work. I find the way she teaches makes me want to learn and work harder. She is my favorite teacher!"

- OCHS Student

"Mr. Petre. I love Math and his teaching approach makes me love it more!"

- OCHS Student

"Mr. Fidler makes learning fun for the kids.  Jackson loves going to social studies and Mr. Fidler knows how to reach the 6th graders.  He cares about his students and it’s a privilege to have him at East!  All the teachers at East do a phenomenal job!" 

- EMS Parent

"I would like to give a district shout out to our amazing Cedar Hills instructional aides, (Don Markiewicz, Nahed Abdelhafez, Anna Torres, Jodi Santiago, Jackie Yurk, Becky Wiedower, & Lisa Lisowski) who helped take down our entire school art show! They sorted and organized each of the artworks by student in order to pack them for student pick up at the end of the year! Every inch of our school was covered in artwork for our art show that took place on March 6th, the week just before school closed! Our amazing instructional aides spent countless hours taking such great care of over 1200 artworks for our Cedar Hills students!  They even packaged over 150 3D artworks as well! Our incredible instructional aides are exceptional throughout the entire school year and came through, once again, to help our school community! They are such valuable members of our school and we are all so grateful for their continued help and support during our time at home." 

- Cedar Hills Staff

"Ms. Yerges is such a great teacher and communicates so well with my son and, even me, when necessary during the day! Especially now, with the virtual learning we are having to do, she is doing everything possible to help out any way she can! You can tell she really loves the children she teaches! Thank you, Ms. Yerges, for everything you do! You are so awesome :)"

- Carollton Parent

"All- thank you all for your hard work during these trying times. I feel Oak Creek staff has gone above and beyond with virtual learning. I feel as parent, my child is still getting what she needs to ensure a great education. Oak Creek was on top of all communications to families from the start of this and I appreciate that. Thank you."

- OCHS 9th Grade Center Parent

"Mrs. Barczak is a fantastic music teacher!  Our daughter loves music class and has brought music class into our home.  That is a testament to Mrs. Barczak's engaging class.  Mrs. Barczak is also always friendly, volunteering her time, and creating memorable moments through music concerts, such as the Veteran's Day assembly.  Thank you, Mrs. Barczak!" 

- Edgewood Parent

"I would like to recognize Mr.Fassbender because last year I had to move schools and it was stressful and Mr. Fassbender made it a lot easier to adjust, he is always nice to me and he is a really great person!! I wish every teacher was Mr. Fassbender!! You’re the best!!😁😁"

- WMS Student

"We are so happy our daughter has Mrs. Sowinski for a teacher!  Mrs. Sowinski has a warm and inviting classroom, and because of that, our daughter looks forward to coming to school each day.  Thank you, Mrs. Sowinski, for your dedication to your students and for making learning fun!  We appreciate you." 

- Edgewood Parent

"Mr. Petre has been wonderful in helping my daughter in her Algebra 2/Trig class. He is always there to help her understand assignments or new topics. I appreciate how he tries to make it fun for the kids, adding fun facts or telling jokes. If virtual learning has taught ME anything, it's that I know it's not easy to reach kids at this age, but his attempts show his willingness to make learning a bit more fun."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mrs. Thill has spent a lot of time in preparation for virtual school! All of the teachers have put in an extreme amount of effort and support in the school and at home. We appreciate them! Thank you! You are the best! Keep up the great work." 

- Edgewood Parent

"Mr. Hluchnik has immediately cleared/answered all of my questions that I had, and he has been very helpful with helping adjust to the new virtual learning experience!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"I had a hard time freshman year Mr. Loomis helped me, then Mr. Rinehart and he was my biggest advocate. He introduced me to so many wonderful people. Now finishing my senior year with Ms. Moncada who always pushes me to do my very best. All of the case managers are amazing I've interacted with them all and I can't think of any negative things not even with this year's newest Mr. Arens even though I give him a hard time, he is a great person and tries to make the best of everything. Thank you all so so much! I'll miss you all!" 

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Ms. Pacetti and Mr. Dubbs have been really kind to students, and helped spread a lot of positivity during these times through different ways, like “Kudos Friyay” and “Virtual positivity board”! They really help cheer students up!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mrs. Gensler has been amazing with our little Man. He has his own personal struggles and she has helped him become more independent and words can't Express how much he loves her and Misses her." 

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Piper is honestly one of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure to know. Every time I walk into her class I'm greeted so nicely and feel welcomed. She treats all the students like we're her co-workers. Not students. She has played a big role in my high school experience because she's been here with me through it all. Honestly, I see her more as a friend and someone I can talk to than a teacher. She makes everyone feel good about themselves and always has a good learning environment and teaching style. I'm thankful to have had her for Biology and wish her luck with her future students. "

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Ms. Brooks is caring and super understanding." 

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Shout out for Mr. Weiss. For being there for us. In this hard time."

- Oak Creek High School Student

"I want to give a shout out to Mr. Lozer for being a fabulous 5th grade teacher. He's been a kind and patient role model, and I believe he's made a big difference to my daughter. Even though we didn't physically finish the year in school, he's been consistent and has made good on a promise to get my daughter ready for middle school. Thank you Mr. Lozer!" 

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Ms. V (Ms. Venancio) is always so helpful with whatever we may need. She is a good listener, very patient, and an overall great person."

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Thank you, Mrs. Bellaire!! You were doing a great job in the classroom and you’ve done an awesome job adjusting to virtual learning! You’re still keeping the fun in learning for the kids and I definitely appreciate that!! I’m sure all your students miss you as much as my son does!!" 

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Ms. Schmidt is an outstanding teacher! She goes out of her way to help students that are struggling without making them feel different or less than. She balances this with also giving praise to those students that do good work. She is a well-balanced, outstanding teacher! One of the great ones!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mrs. Posda is such an amazing person. She has gone completely above and beyond to keep my son on track this year. He has made such incredible progress academically this school year and she has been doing her best to keep him on that path since going to virtual learning. Thank you so much for everything you do!" 

- Carollton Parent

"Thank you, Mrs. Hennessy, for your patience and guidance with my monster this year. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher for him. He may not say it but I know he misses you very much. Thank you for being you and always seeing the best in him."

- Carollton Parent

"Ms. Palatino, I'm not even sure where to begin. We would be lost without you. Thank you for always knowing what to do with my monsters. You have helped my boys grow so much over the years, I honestly don't know how we would have gotten through some of these times without you. Even in this crazy period, you continue to provide exceptional love and support to my kiddos and I can't thank you enough for loving them almost as much as I do. We are so blessed to have you in our lives." 

- Carollton Parent

"Shout out to the entire Cedar Hills Staff for helping my child in getting to a point where he is today. Special Shoutout to his past teachers, Ms. Shadd, Ms. Reese, and his present teacher Ms. Weisbrod. Big Thanks to the IEP staff who spent numerous hours in scaling my child up to where he should be. Last but not the least, shout out to Mr. Ruffolo for being the nicest and the most approachable Principal. Keep it up Cedar Hills, you truly deserve the Blue Ribbon recognition!"

- Cedar Hills Parent

"A shout out to Mr. Nachtigal for helping his student athletes keep sharp during this Pandemic. Coach Nach cares about his student athletes and it shows. Oak Creek is fortunate to have him as a teacher and as a coach."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Ms. Duchateau is so, so organized between all 3 of her social studies classes. She takes time out of her day to help us improve our scores, even if by a few points. She always checks in on her students and cares deeply about us, even if it is not school related. She sends out several reminders on Google Classroom so that it's impossible to forget about assignments and when they're due. She has been a really great teacher with amazing feedback and support during the closure of schools and understands how hard it is on everyone. She makes learning government a lot easier for me. She definitely will not be a teacher I forget!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mrs. Linares is one of the most dedicated teachers I've ever had! You can really tell how much she loves her job and how much she wants you to succeed. She's always going above and beyond to help her students, and make class fun!" 

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mr. Petre is an awesome teacher! My 8th grader has him for Algebra 2/Trig and she is doing very well thanks to his encouragement. Going to the NGC as an 8th grader can be intimidating, but Mr. Petre made this transition comfortable and gives his students confidence to be successful. He takes the time to inform parents of what students are learning and you can tell he loves what he does! Thank you, Mr. Petre, for all you do for your students!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mr. Dubbs and Ms. Pacetti have been doing the absolute most to stay positive for all choir students during this situation by continuing the morning meetings to stay connected to each other, and by finding new ways to keep us singing together, even if we can't physically." 

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Ms. Liegler wished me a happy birthday and she's making the lessons really understandable and easy to complete."

- East Middle School Student

"Ms. White has been one of the most supportive people I have ever met. I appreciate everything she has done for us."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Ms. Ferg is always such a positive person in the classroom. She is not just a teacher but also a great friend! My APLANG class and the time I had in journalism club are some of my favorite high school memories! Thanks for the great times Ms. Ferg!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"I miss Ms. Retzlaff and I miss talking to her every day. she would always make me laugh and brighten up my day, miss you Ms. R!" 

- Oak Creek High School Student

"I was so happy to find out Ms. E would be my daughter's kindergarten teacher! The first year Ms. E taught at Carollton, my oldest daughter was in her class so it's only fitting that my last child passing through Carollton would have her as well. My daughter is a happy, outgoing, and a very friendly child so I was surprised and concerned that she wasn't adjusting well to school. Ms. E went above and beyond to find different ways to help my daughter. Ms. E has helped calm her anxiety and find new ways to deal with her feelings and how to work through them.
Ms. E genuinely cares about her students so much. I wish they could finish out the school year together. I cannot thank Ms. E enough for the happiness and positivity she's brought to my girls!

Everyone remembers their kindergarten teacher "

- Carollton Parent

"Mrs. Lueneburg is a compassionate and spectacular teacher. She goes above and beyond for her students. We are so grateful our son had you as his teacher. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"I think you guys are doing an amazing job with keeping parents informed during this pandemic crisis. It cannot be easy to juggle the logistical and emotional nightmares you must be going through right now. Please know it is not going unnoticed and we're eternally grateful for your work."

- Deerfield Parent

"I’ve been in classes, plays, and a musical with Ms. Retzlaff and it’s been absolutely amazing! She has a way of teaching that is extremely fun! She cares about every student she has and it shows with everything she does! She’s a perfectionist, but everything she does turns out perfect. She’s an amazing teacher and director and I’m so happy I have one more year to work with her!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Ms. Pacetti and Mr. Dubbs are the most caring teachers I’ve ever had! During this virtual learning period, they are always checking in on us, and trying to find amazing ways we can make music together! They are the most dedicated teachers and if you work with them, even for one day, you know that they care about every single student they have and will help you through anything! They are fantastic!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Ms. Kubicek is one of the best teachers I have ever had! I’m not the greatest at math and whenever I have a question on a math problem (even if it’s a little bit dumb) she will help me and try to figure out my thought process. During this virtual learning thing, I didn’t understand how she got an answer to a math problem. We scheduled a google meet and we figured it out together. She is kind, smart, caring for others, and extremely helpful!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"During these trying times for everyone, Mrs. Huber's and Coach Majors have reached out to my son to make sure everything is ok and if there is any way they can help.  It's wonderful to see teachers that care enough to go above and beyond for their students. A student's high school experience is a lot about friendships, but also about the connections they make with teachers and coaches.  Keep up the great work, we appreciate you all."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"This is a shout out to all the staff at DO, building administrators, and B&G employees. We are working in an unprecedented situation right now and the response from administration and all of the support staff has been nothing short of phenomenal. They are putting in extra hours sending and responding to emails with concerns from staff and families alike. They have never stopped thinking about the students and their families. I could not be more lucky to work for and have a child enrolled in our district. Thank you everyone working so hard to maintain as much normalcy as possible!"

- OCFSD Parent

"Ms. Flanagan not only listens to parents, but she hears what they are saying. The support that she provides to not only her students, but their parents as well is invaluable and greatly appreciated. We are so thankful to have someone working with our son who is just as excited as we are when he is successful and tackles obstacles and barriers head on as they present themselves. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mrs. Timm has been a truly dedicated teacher to our son. He has his moments where he can be quite difficult, but she doesn't judge or get frustrated. He has learned a great deal in her class this year! I want to say thank you for her taking the extra time to always help him, contact us, and be a wonderful asset to Carollton Elementary!! Thank You!!"

- Carollton Parent

"She may not always be available but Ms. Leannais always tries to make time to listen to what's going on. While she goes from meeting to meeting she'll check in with students and she talks to those who may need some reminders on how to behave. Adolescents aren't the easiest but with her helping, it does help I'm glad to have her in my corner at school, otherwise I'm not sure how far my education may have been. Thank you, Ms. Leannais:)"

- High School Student

"Mrs. Henneberry has been so awesome with my 3 year old currently in her speech therapy program. She diagnosed him with Apraxia of Speech and in just a short 5 months, he has improved tremendously!!! She is the nicest most genuine teacher I have dealt with for him."

- Edgewood Parent

"I just want to say thanks to all my wonderful colleagues at Edgewood. They are a great group of caring, thoughtful and hard working staff. I am proud and grateful to be working with my friends."

- Edgewood Staff Member

"Ms. E has a heart of gold. She loves each of her students as her own and will go above and beyond to see each of them succeed. In the beginning of the year she made sure to meet with Parents and wanted to know about my Son (what an amazing teacher- I don't know any teacher that does that!) She has a very inviting classroom for a fun place to learn. My son has already had the chance to participate in 2 in-class activities that he still talks about today. Lifelong memories that he will have forever! Ms. E has also been receptive and takes the time out of her busy schedule for any parental concerns I have. Thank you Ms. E for always making time for communication! She knows my son and how he ticks. Thank you Ms. E for being an amazing teacher to my child and his friends/classmates and making learning FUN! I am forever grateful and so is my husband!"

- Carollton Parent

"Shout out to all of the amazing school psychologists who I have the privilege to work with! You are some of the most dedicated, caring, and passionate people that give your everything to better the district, our schools, and most importantly our students! Happy School Psychology Awareness Week and thank you for all you do!"

- Oak Creek-Franklin Staff Member

"I was invited to a Fall Choral Music Concert by my granddaughter on October 24th. The music chosen for the concert was beautiful and I enjoyed the gift of their voices by so many talented students.  Many thanks to the Conductors and the Accompanist who shared their love of music for all whose lives they touched!"

- Oak Creek High School Grandparent

"Ms. Pacetti and Mr. Dubbs are the most dedicated teachers I have ever had. You can tell how much they love their job and how much time and effort they put into working with us. They work so hard on making us advanced singers and making the choir room a safe place."

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mr. T-Bob does an awesome job engaging the kids. My daughter came home from school telling me about the VR glasses they used to learn about cells. She thought it was really cool! I love that he does things to make biology interesting to young kids."

- Oak Creek High School Parent 

"Mr. Pontus always puts his students first! He's an exceptional leader who shows boundless energy and passion for what he does. He makes sure students feel cared for, safe, and nurtured in order to get them on the right track to begin to learn."

- Forest Ridge Staff Member

"Well Happy Principals Month!! Mrs. Rezner always has a smile on her face, gives pleasant responses to questions and was even present at Friday's Halloween Bash, checking out all the cool costumes and chatting with people. She really seems to care about the students and families."

- Meadowview Parent

"Debbie went above and beyond at the close of last year and over the summer assisting with a number of modifications to the Infinite Campus portal. It made the changes in our family structure more bearable! She was diligent in following up to ensure all changes were made correctly & prior to the start of the new school year in Sept."

- Oak Creek-Franklin Parent

"Josh Dewsenberry is always polite and helpful in our discussions and emails. He has a positive attitude and never makes you feel like you are imposing on his time! Thanks Josh."

- Oak Creek-Franklin Staff Member 

"StaceyMcKendry keeps her cool when working with difficult parents. She seeks resolution to problems without alienating relationships that have been built."

- Oak Creek High School Staff Member

"Kim Leannis is a positive asset in our building. She is great at building relationships with staff, students and parents. She is always looking for ways to improve our school."

- Oak Creek High School Staff Member

"Happy Principals month, Ted Lambrukos! Thank you for all your efforts with our most needy students."

- Oak Creek High School Staff Member

"Happy Principals month! Thank you for always being available. You do a great job."

- Oak Creek High School Staff Member

"I just want to give a HUGE shout out to Ms. Labonte, Ms. Curry, and Ms. Gorzek. They have helped me so much with everything and continue to help me. They have made such a difference in my life and the way I think and react to situations. They are always patient and caring and make time for people even if their day is already full. They try and do ANYTHING they can to help people and do whatever they can to make it better or find a solution. I just cannot believe how amazing, caring, strong, and just overall kind people they are. Thank you so much!!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"I cannot express how grateful I am to Mrs. Hart for genuinely caring about my daughter who was a previous 2018/2019 student in her classroom.  Mrs. Hart has a very nurturing personality and is an amazing 4K teacher!"

- Salvation Army 4K Parent 

"I just wanted to take a moment to reach out and let you know just what an amazing teacher Mr. Bradley is at Forest Ridge.  My daughter's 5th grade year started with high anxiety with not having a teacher assigned to her class at  open house.  Walking into a classroom that was empty was extremely overwhelming for a 10 year old.  

First day of school came, and when she got off the bus, all I heard about was Mr. Bradley. She may be quiet in the classroom but certainly not at home.  As the weeks went on, I was dying to meet this Mr. Bradley.  He teaches way more than just math and reading; he teaches life skills, the importance of using your resources to help others, and most important that he believes in you.

Mr. Bradley has taken the time out of his personal schedule to come to events of his students.  My daughter had a soccer game in Germantown, Mr. Bradley had come to surprise her and cheer her on, with having 4 children we have had a lot of teachers and this warmed my heart.  He is invested in their future and truly cares about their passions.  

Lastly, I wanted to close on his knitting club, volunteering his recess time to teach children how to knit, a life lesson they can carry with them.  Not only did he teach them to knit, but he taught them the importance of giving to others.  All their scarves, hats, headbands were donated to help those in need.  In our opinion, this is the most valuable lesson that can be taught.   

Mr. B, you truly have impacted our daughter so much this school year.  The quiet girl that does not say much and is a little too shy, you have pushed her out of her comfort zone.  We are beyond grateful for everything you have taught and given to our daughter this year.  I only wish you could physically continue on with her, but I know a piece of you will carry with her far more than her education path."

- Forest Ridge Parent 

"Mrs. Allen has been the best teacher I could ever ask for. I have progressed so much academically and socially. She has always been there for me and I'm am grateful for that. She is so kind and makes it a point for everybody in our class to be happy. She makes me want to be in class everyday. I hope her students next year enjoy having a great teacher like I did. Thank you Mrs. Allen for everything."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Ms. Murray is my fifth grade teacher, she is the best teacher ever. She is amazing to everyone. She makes learning super fun. We are always doing fun activities, we are always having fun. We have kids that are so funny and Ms. Murray plays along. Ms. Murray you are the best. You are my favorite teacher. I LOVE you. your student."

- Forest Ridge Student 

"I would like to send a huge shout out to Mrs. S! My son is a junior and one of her students. He has stated that not only is she extremely knowledgeable on the content that she is teaching, but she explains it in a way that the students understand and makes it easy for them to follow along each class. He also says that she is really nice and talks to the students like they are people and not just kids. She really connects with them. Her style and approach makes the students feel confident in who they are. I believe there is so much more our kids need than just good grades and I, as a parent, appreciate that Mrs. S. recognizes this as well. She is not only a great teacher but a great supporter of who the children are and who they want to be. Now, more than ever, our children need to know they have someone other than their parents that they can lean on and confide in. The students and parents of Oak Creek High School are VERY lucky to have her. Thank you Mrs. S.!!!!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Huge thank you to Mr Kenwood for being at the bus within minutes of it breaking down and to bus driver Ms Shawna for keeping all the kids on the bus safe and getting them home once a relief bus came! The school quickly messaged homes. Thanks for doing all you can to get them back and forth to school on time and safely and to Mr Kenwood for being there to help transfer them to the next bus! Teamwork is so appreciated when most needed for our kids!!!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mr. Petrie has been the best teacher in the entire district when it comes to communication. Every week he emails parents to let them know what they should expect of their child for the following week in his Algebra 2 with Trig class. He has also been amazing at sending information that the students are given during Advisory. I could not ask to be kept in the loop any more than he has provided."

- Oak Creek High School Parent 

"Ms. Franecki put on the most amazing music concert ever! She put in so much creativity and fun into the whole event. Every kid looked so happy to be singing, including my own son, who finally now has a love for music! Thanks for all you do Ms. Franecki!"

- Forest Ridge Parent 

"My daughter says that Ms. Gensler is the most amazing teacher ever, and she is very kind. As a parent, she goes above and beyond to make sure your child is learning to the best of their ability by giving extra time and resources. She does an incredible job of setting the goals for the kids, communicating with the parents, and giving encouragement. We had a wonderful year with Ms. Gensler, and grateful she was our teacher!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Soika is an amazing Special Education Teacher!! Her positive attitude, patience, sense of humor, her passion and love for her students is so evident!! Silly stories are mentioned in our home and at the dinner table, daily!! We appreciate hearing about our son's progress, his challenges, quirks, and just random check-ins on any given day. We are blessed that she is in our son's life and we will be forever grateful for all that she has done for our family."

- Carollton Parent

"We cannot say thank you enough to Ms. Pearson! She is such a kind, caring and dedicated teacher. Both of my daughters were lucky enough to have her as their teacher! Her love for her work and her students shines through in everything that she does! Thank you!!"

- Forest Ridge Parent 

"Mr. D, at Edgewood is AMAZING. He is nothing but positive with ALL of the kids and always finds new ways to pump them up. My child, who is now in 7th grade, still talks about Mr. D and how she really liked him. He is great with kids of all ages and has been a staple of Edgewood for quite a while. Thank you, Mr, D, for all you do!"

- Edgewood Parent 

"Mrs. Schmidt makes sure every one of her students understands the material and succeeds in her class. She tries many different methods to make sure students understand the material."

- OCHS Student

"Thank you to Mrs. E and Mrs. Hampson for making my daughter's first year with the Oak Creek School district a great one! Shout out to them and the wonderful teachers who teach my boys at Carollton as well! You guys are the best!"

- Carollton Parent 

"Thank you, Mrs. Hart, for guiding my daughter in her first year of school in your fun, caring, empowering, understanding manner. She has learned so much from you and will miss you."

- Salvation Army 4K Parent

"Mrs. McGinty is an amazing teacher. She encourages and challenges her students to do their best. She makes the classroom an engaging and fun place by providing different teaching activities during the day instead of just having the kids sit in one spot for hours. I like that she does baking activities like making banana bread etc. She truly cares about her students and their success. I like that she makes time during the class to help kids that are struggling with a topic and make sure they actually understand stand it. This is my child's last year at Carollton and I feel like they saved the best teacher for last. Thank you, Mrs. McGinty! My son has definitely learned so much this year and I'm so proud of him as well."

- Carollton Parent

"The special education teachers are AWESOME! They work so hard to provide safe and appropriate learning environments for students who have diverse abilities. They are the most patient and caring people and some days I don't know where they get their strength from."

- EMS Parent 

"A giant thank you to all of the teachers of house 7-2 at East Middle School! My daughter has had wonderful experiences in all of her classes this year! Thank you for making learning challenging AND fun!! You are all truly appreciated for all you do!"

- EMS Parent 

"If you look up the definition of a great teacher, you will see Mrs. Schmidt's picture there! She cares so much about her students, she goes above and beyond to make her Biology class a fun learning environment! Creative labs, biology March Madness bracket, numerous extra credit projects, she is the Best Teacher! She also sends detailed emails every week to the parents so we know what our students are learning about and gives us a heads-up on what is to come the following week!"

- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. Sorrell is very helpful with communication and involving the parents in our kids' educations. As a mom with 3 kids 5 and under, her extra steps really help me keep things organized. My daughter comes home energized about new activities and very engaged with her growth. It is amazing to see my 5 year old so ready and excited for her full time school experience. Thank You!!!!"

- Deerfield 4K Parent

"Ms. Ferg is my favorite class of the day; she brings a new and interesting energy to the classroom that comes from her previous work in a different professional career. By working in the field that utilizes the subject she teaches she is able to better instruct the class on how to write and analyze non-fiction writing. She also knows how to connect with her students on a personal level, so much so that when have open debates in class they are some of the most interesting conversations I have had in a classroom. She brings a feeling of safety and openness to share our opinions without fear of judgement. Thank you Ms. Ferg for an amazing school year!"

- OCHS Student 

"Our family absolutely adores Mrs. Mikkelsen! We have been blessed to have had her as our 5K teacher for the past 2 years! We are going to miss not having her as a teacher next year. The kids love her, as do we!  Thank you, Mrs. M, for all you do for our lil kiddo’s. It takes a special kinda of person to do what you do, and you rock it!!!"

- Shepard Hills Parent 

"Ms. Fischer is nothing short of amazing! In a very short time we were thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of her first class! The kids adore her, as do the parents. We hope to have her as our teacher again when the next child enters 1st grade.Thank you Ms. Fischer - you are amazing!!!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Thank you Cheryl Ollmann for your thoughtfulness and support this year. You are awesome!"

- EMS Staff Member

"A huge THANK YOU to Mr. Pio and Ms. Perry in the inaugural year of Empower Academy. My student has learned so much by being able to take advantage of the setup of this unique new school. We appreciate all of the time and energy that both of you have contributed to making this school successful!"

- Empower Academy Parent 

"I want to give a shout out to ALL the staff at Carollton. From the moment you walk in the door you are greeted with welcoming smiles, helpful staff & people who are passionate in their chosen occupations. I've never had a negative experience w/anyone in going on 9 years!! We so appreciate each and Everyone of you. Thank you for always putting the kiddos first & working so hard to provide a safe, nurturing learning environment.Carollton is the best!!"

- Carollton Parent 

"Mrs. Magana makes Carollton a much better place for our students! She makes art class fun and fosters a love of being creative. She is also super involved with so many other activities school like the Girls on the Run & Art Docents and is always at school events outside of the school day so all the kids feel that she supports and cares about them. Thank you Mrs. Magana!!"

- Carollton Parent

"I graduated this past year and while it was readily apparent during my many years with her, now that I've left I've never appreciated Ms. Kubicek more. I had many teachers during my four years at Oak Creek High School but I'd have to say that none had an impact on me quite like Kubs did. She puts in more work and effort into helping her students succeed than any other teacher I've ever known. She goes to great lengths not only to support her students' academic lives but also personal. She's inspired me to be the very best version of myself that I can be and to never doubt myself or my worth. Though many fail to recognize and appreciate all that she's done for her students, I will always cherish the great impact she's made on me."

- Former OCHS Student 

"Mrs. Murphy, Ms. Barlow, Ms. Ann, Ms. Darla, Mrs. Stapel, Ms. Allison, Mrs. Thiry... My family cannot thank this team enough for all of their hard work and dedication to my daughter and all of the children that they work with. My daughter has many additional needs so as you can imagine, I worry a lot about her day to day in the classroom. The teachers, aides and therapists that are all part of her team this year are absolutely amazing. I don't worry for a second when she is at school. I know she is with people that care about her just as much as we do! Thank you all so much!"

- Forest Ridge Parent 

"I just want to thank first grade teacher Ms. Fischer for being so communicative and letting me know how my son's doing throughout the year and giving me positive notes when they're least expected. It's been a good year for my son and he really enjoyed having her as a teacher. Thank you."

- Shepard Hills Parent 

"We love Mrs. E and Mrs. Hart, and the Aides, Miss Tammy, and Mrs. Hampson. Our boys' love for their teachers has made the first year of school so enjoyable for our family."

- Salvation Army 4K Parent

"A HUGE shout out for all the wonderful teachers Mrs.Peck for special education, Mrs.Beth for speech and Mrs.Gottfried for occupational therapy. I am so proud that my son is learning under these teachers who are giving their love and unconditional support.Mr.Ruffalo is a wonderful principal who knows each and every student and listens to them. I am so lucky to have this district and this school for my kid. Thank you all!"

- Cedar Hills Parent 

"Mr. Hein is one of my son's favorite teachers. He engages students with his fun teaching style and offers different types of learning methods, (ie. independent study and the new map program) to keep kids interested. He teaches in a way so the students enjoy learning. He has control of his classroom but allows students to still enjoy being in school."

- East Middle School Parent 

"Thank you Mr. A!! My daughter was so nervous beginning the school year and became easily frustrated trying to learn new things. She has made great strides, allowed her kind, caring, and silly personality to sparkle, and has made great strides in her learning! I'm amazed at how well she has done in her first year. She always talks about you being "the best teacher ever," so thank you!!"

- Shepard Hills Parent 

"I think Mrs. Poweleit (Mrs. P) is noteworthy because she is very artistic. She makes great artwork, her ideas inspire me. She is special in her own way, her laugh is different than anyone's and she cares about everyone. She is a very good listener. She focuses on the person she is talking to. She knows what you're talking about so she gives a good response. That is why Mrs. P is noteworthy."

- Shepard Hills Student

"I'd like to thank Mr. Piotrowski and Ms. Perry for all of their hard work and dedication they put into Empower Academy this year. This is a new school and a new structure for the students, teachers, and parents. I believe that both teachers had to coach the parents, just as much as they had to teach the students. They had to make some adjustments as the year progressed and they adapted well. As parents, we expected a lot from them, from day one. It wasn't an easy job, but they did an amazing job. Our family appreciates both of them!"

- Empower Academy Parent 

"Thank you, Mrs. Ellifson, for making our daughter's first year of school a success. She has been comfortable with you and we love that you use music to teach. She seems to learn through music. We enjoy listening to her sing all the learning songs you have taught her. Thank you for being such an inspiration to her!!"

- Salvation Army 4K Parent 

"Thank you for just being you!! You have made this school year the best year we have had with our son since he started school. Your caring touch and making modifications to the classroom to include his needs as whole vs making him stand out has been a blessing. It is teachers like you that really make an impact on learning. Thank you sooo much for everything. I could not have asked for a better teacher for our son!!!!"

- Meadowview Elementary Parent 

"Mrs. Harding is a first year 4K teacher at Shepard Hills and she really shines like a star! You would never guess this is her first year teaching based on how confident, organized and amazing she is in the classroom. My son has really grown and learned so much during his first year of school thanks to her and I truly appreciate all the communication coming home letting me know what you are up to in class. I also want to recognize Mrs. P for being a very warm and caring aide and for everything she does to support the 4K classroom. Thank you both so much!"

- Shepard Hills 4K Parent

"Mrs. Janetski is a Kindergarten teacher at Shepard Hills and she does an excellent job teaching students to read. My daughter has really gained a lot of confidence this school year thanks to your guidance and support and she really enjoys coming to school every day because you make learning fun."

- Shepard Hills Parent 

"Thank you to Mrs. Biermann, Ms. Sarina, Mr. Jim and Mr. Brian with ASPIRE at Shepard Hills for making after school care FUN for my kids. They have the best time with you and we truly appreciate your help with homework and all the time and effort you put into planning extra special activities for the kids."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mr. Vance always makes sure students are following the rules of the High School when many other teachers don't. He is one of the only teachers who keeps their classroom under control."

- OCHS Student

"Both of our children have been blessed to have Mrs. Timm as their teacher. She is a perfect balance of kindness, motivation, structure, accountability, compassion, and laughter all rolled into one. Her passion for her occupation is felt the moment you step into her room."

- Carollton Parent

"As a fellow art teacher sub teacher I want to salute Sarah Magana for her great teaching and encouraging students in and out of the classroom. She goes above and beyond to help her students. She always is cheerful and loves teaching art to kids!"

- Staff Member 

"Mrs. Janz is such a kind and caring teacher. She really knows how to make each child feel special and I love all the pictures she puts on Class Dojo so the parents can see what the class has been up to."

- Deerfield Parent

"So happy for the way our daughter has flourished under Ms. Yerges. She is more confident and so excited about school each and every day. I love the way that Ms. Yerges challenges her to exceed expectations. She incorporates her love for nature in her lessons and my daughter is so excited to learn about the world around her. Thank you for everything you do as a teacher."

- Carollton Parent

"Thank you to the Art, Music, Gym, and German teachers at Carollton. My children look forward to your classes every week. Thanks for everything you do to enrich their education."

- Carollton Parent

"Thank you, Mrs. Haney, for working with my son this year. He really enjoyed being in your small group reading class and has become a more confident reader. Your kindness and encouragement have really made a difference in his attitude towards reading. Thank you!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mr. Asala has gone above and beyond to instill in my son a growth mindset and make sure he learns the importance of grit and perseverance. Mr. Asala cares deeply about his students academic and social/emotional needs. He has helped my son increase his reading abilities so much that my son who was a reluctant reader now loves to read. Thanks to Mr. Asala for all his work to make sure students love learning."

- Edgewood Parent

"Mr. Vance has taught both my girls throughout the last couple of years at the high school. His discipline combined with kindness towards the kids is the perfect combination to guide the kids to success. He truly cares for his students and always goes above and beyond to help them with whatever they need."

- OCHS Parent

"Ms. Michelle Wagner, our School secretary, is so helpful and always with a smile."

- Carollton Parent

"Ms. E is an amazing teacher! We are so thankful that both of our children have been in her kindergarten class. She made the transition to kindergarten easy and each of their kindergarten years fun & memorable. She goes the extra mile for her students every single day, teaching them the important things beyond academics, like how to be a good friend. She truly cares for her students and they feel special & important. I can not say enough good things about her!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mr. Rush will be a teacher that I remember. He is patient, kind, caring, and inspiring. His classroom is an inclusive environment where students can socialize and get work done effectively. Thank you, Mr. Rush for making school more enjoyable every day."

- OCHS Student

"Mr. Bradley teaches his class not only reading, math, etc., but also how to be thoughtful, kind and interesting people. He leads by example -- he treats his students with respect and kindness and they give it back to him. 5th grade is a transitional time for kids, and Mr. Bradley gives them the tools and the room to start making decisions for themselves and to be leaders and to explore. He's been absolutely what my 5th grader needed, right when she needed it."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mrs. Draeger has helped my son improve so much this year. She has high expectations and her students rise to her standards. She has been a great fit for him and has given him confidence and reassured him that he can do it when things get difficult. Thank you, Mrs. Draeger."

- Carollton Parent

"Thank you Mrs. Sandleback for making first grade another amazing year for my son.  He LOVES going to school everyday.  You make learning fun and your enthusiasm is contagious.  Thank you!"

- Carollton Parent

"Ms. Hanney is such a wonderful teacher. She does amazing things to help children who struggle with reading. My son and I are so thankful for all that she has done to help him."

- Carollton Parent

"Mrs. Castro is an amazing teacher! My daughter has had her for 2 years now because she came over to Edgewood from the Salvation Army where she taught 4K. Mrs. Castro does a great job of making sure she communicates with parents through notes home and Class Dojo. I truly believe that she cares so much about each and every one of her students. She is an amazing role model for my daughter and I'm so glad we have her as a teacher!"

- Edgewood Parent

"My daughter has been at EMS for three years and is getting ready to be promoted to high school. Throughout her time, I don't think she has had a teacher that she didn't like. I thank all the teachers and staff of East Middle School for making her time there memorable. A few of the best are Mrs. Schlais (Ms. Spangler when she was in 6th grade), Mr. Gross in seventh for math and advisory as well as Mrs. Stein in seventh grade. This year one of her biggest supporters was Ms. Bomner. The freedom she has felt in GSA to open up has been amazing. This is only a few, there are many more. Thank you East Middle School."

- EMS Parent

"Mrs. DiVilio was such a great influence for my son Jayden this year. He speaks so highly of her and all that he has learned in her class. She is so caring and understanding of every child in her classroom. I know Jayden is going to miss her after this year!!"

- Deerfield 4K Parent

"Mrs. Graham has been such a solid, positive leader in my son's life this year. 7th grade REALLY threw him for a loop. Increased responsibility and expectations led to a very rocky, frustrating 1st & 2nd quarter for him. With firm yet compassionate guidance, Mrs. Graham has helped to bring back his confidence & zest for learning. We are very grateful for her & her ability to always see his potential."

- EMS Parent

"Ms. Wroblewski goes above and beyond to make her students feel cared for and happy at school. She and her colleagues have spent time beyond the school day planning activities like the Fairy Tale Ball, and making gingerbread houses that increase student engagement in school. She has made our daughter's kindergarten year memorable! She rocks!"

- Edgewood Parent

"Thank you Mrs.Zelten for going the extra mile and helping my son get better at reading !! My son is always excited to go to school to learn new things. Thank you for making it really exciting!!"

- Meadowview Parent

"I want to send a huge THANK YOU to Mrs.Danko. Not only has my daughter become more engaged with school also she talks about how awesome her teacher is daily! Thank you for always making sure the kids are engaged in their learning, and for being an awesome teacher to the class!"

- Meadowview Parent

"Ashlee is the most kind, patient woman I have ever met. She goes above and beyond daily to make her students feel comfortable in their first year of school. She is an all together rockstar!"

- Shepard Hills Staff Member

"I graduated in June of 2017. Ms. Appel was my English teacher junior year, and I was lucky enough to work under her in the ARC Writing Lab she established and maintained. She was always available for both academic and emotional support and this made a huge difference in my life. I owe SO MUCH to her! No other courses prepared me for college courses except for hers. She's an incredibly talented writer and she works tirelessly so that her students can reach their potential. She is one of the main reasons I decided to become a teacher. If I have half the impact on my future students that she's had on me, I will be happy."

- Former OCHS Student

"A huge shout out to Mrs. Alvarez and Mrs. Nelson the school secretaries. They are the most organized and really the hub of the school. Forest Ridge is lucky to have them!!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mrs. Sorrell & Mrs. V have been nothing short of amazing this year! They have taught my daughter & helped her grow so much. They are so sweet, encouraging and kind. I appreciate everything they do for her on a daily basis."

- Deerfield 4K Parent

"Ms. Pacetti & Mr. Dubbs... These choir teachers are some of the most dedicated teachers I've ever seen. They treat their students with respect & share their passion for music every single day. And in return, these students give it their all and their love for music grows even stronger. Genius! If only every teacher could model them! It's been amazing to watch!! Keep up the great work! I know these teachers are going to leave lasting impressions with their students!"

- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. Daily has been amazing with my son this year. She is so patient and kind. Her communication is wonderful and she is so inviting. I've seen big changes in my son's writing too. Thank you for a great year."

- Deerfield Parent

"Mr. Flasch is a teacher that can be both serious, fun, and easy to talk to at the same time. I'm happy to know that there's a teacher here that can make me feel excited to be in their classroom and is willing to make AP Physics enjoyable."

- OCHS Student

"Thank you, Mrs Hart, for taking care of my son, enlightening him with knowledge and guiding him right. Thank you to all Salvation Army teachers and staffs, you guys are awesome."

- Salvation Army 4K

"Mrs. Kirch, Ms. Quillin, Mrs. Schlict... These wonderful Teachers go above and beyond every day making sure that the students are not only learning but growing as young adults. They are always accessible,caring and are the definition of an outstanding teacher!!"

- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. Duerkop has made our kiddos 1st grade year absolutely wonderful!! He enjoys school and is learning so much. I have seen his writing and storytelling improve a lot this year. Seeing his growth makes us parents proud and we have all to thank his teacher! Also shout-out to the Aspire before and after school care for watching our son and being great role models."

- Carollton Parent

"Even during her rough days or her busiest days Mrs. Farnsworth always makes time for students. She's a great listener and a positive influence."

- OCHS Student

"I would like to give a sincere and grateful appreciation and THANK YOU to the staff and Cedar Hills Elementary. I drove by the school yesterday and saw that you still have the dinosaur plaque in place for Joey's garden. This totally melted my heart and I began to cry with gratitude and appreciation. Thank you so much for remembering my little boy. It has been 19 years and I could not believe that you still had it up! Just thought I would let you know that it is noticed and very much appreciated!"

- Joey's Mom

"Ms. Edminster is such an amazing, fun, supportive teacher!  My son can be somewhat of a challenge at times but with hard work, dedication, and such an upbeat attitude, we are making amazing strides with him.  I love that I'm always able to get in contact with her when needed and she’s always so quick to respond via Class Dojo as well!  She makes learning super fun and is very helpful to both students and parents.  I love how she knows just the right tips and tricks to get my son back on track and participate when needed.  Thank you so much for your love, dedication, patience and guidance with my boy!  My son is doing so well this year and it’s all because of you!  Thank you for everything, Ms. E!  Keep up the great work and continue making your students and their families feel so much like one big family!"

- Carollton Parent

"Ms. Olson has done a great job all year making sure that I am informed regarding my son's needs. I really appreciate being kept in the loop so I can support my son's success. Thank you!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"I would like to appreciate all Mrs. Mlinar does for my son. He truly looks up to her with admiration. 
A couple weeks ago, she realized that he was having a hard day, and decided to talk to him. He had told me that morning that he did not want to go to school because he felt another kid was not being nice to him. After talking to his teacher (Mrs. Mlinar) and creating a 'plan of action', we have not had any issues since. And the bonus is, he knows he can talk to his teacher and get guidance. Thank you for all you do Mrs. Mlinar."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"I want to recognize my language arts teacher (my favorite teacher), Mrs. Skibinski, for being... Kind, Intelligent, Having a good attitude and just being an all-around amazing teacher."

- WMS Student

"Our son Cole is an eighth-grader who attends Mr. Petre's advanced math course at the High School during first hour. Our son inadvertently left his forensics board at the high school today while being transferred back to West Middle School. Don went out of his way today to deliver our son's forensics board to the middle school, alleviating the challenge both of his parents would have had in accomplishing that goal today due to work commitments. Simply a true example of a teacher going above and beyond. Additionally, our son has expressed his appreciation for Mr. Petre's teaching style and approach to student inquiries. This is a big deal, really it is, as he struggles at times to see the big picture as to why teachers approach their craft in a certain manner. Having such a relationship with his initial High School teacher will hopefully pave the way for greater opportunities. Please pass along our sincere gratitude to Don for being such a positive influence in our son's life."

- WMS Parent

"Josh Dewsenberry is an asset to District Office! He has gone above and beyond to help me understand different employment changes that I need to make, walked me through the processes of certain paperwork, outlined different examples of how my maternity leave would affect my payroll.... As a new wife and soon to be mother, this has been completely unknown territory for me. Josh has helped me to feel comfortable and confident as I move forward. Thank you so much, Josh!"

- OCFSD Employee

"It's just a weekend. A Sunday. Somehow, I'm wondering about school. Then wondering about what a great teacher I have. She is kind to everyone. She wants us to have fun, so she makes education fun. She likes to make jokes with everyone, and they love it. Especially me. I love my teacher because you can always count on her. She will always have your back. She is a great listener. She is a problem solver. She understands a person. How they feel. The situation they are in. How upset a person feels. She is an awesome person. She is the greatest winking machine ever invented (LOL). She can always make a person smile whether they are upset or not. She will always make your day like the sun. She's like a second sun. I hope others can meet her. Their days will be made. I am lucky to be in her classroom. That's the kind of teacher everyone wants, and they would not trade her for anything. Nobody will forget her, and she will not forget anybody. Everyone loves how she calls people nice names. Like "Sweetie" or "Babyshis" or "little birdies". I love my teacher and I will not trade her for anything. Nobody will. That is Mrs. Biedenbender. 

Thank you for everything you do, Mrs.Biedenbender. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Ms. Pacetti takes the time to provide support and encouragement to my daughter, while also challenging her. She has had a direct, positive impact on my daughter’s self-confidence and personal growth. As a mother of a teenage girl in her freshman year of high school, I feel immensely great full to Ms. Pacetti."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mr. Petre is my son's A2T (algebra 2/trig) teacher. I love receiving his weekly email updates. I can tell he's excited about math and teaching our kids! My son loves his math class! As a parent, I can't thank him enough for sharing what goes on in the classroom. As you know, teenage boys don't say much about their school day when asked! So I appreciate that he not only notifies us about what's happening in math class, but he includes other important details about what's going on in the school as well. Thank you Mr. Petre!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mr. Bradley has been an unexpected blessing! When we found out we didn't have a teacher a few days before the school year started, we were admittedly, a bit nervous about what might happen. From the moment we met Mr. Bradley, we knew our daughter was going to have a great year! He has helped my daughter understand concepts she has had trouble with in the past, makes learning fun, supports his students outside of school events, and really goes the extra mile to give his students different experiences. His class is so well behaved and respectful. And, our daughter absolutely adores him. Keep up the great work Mr. Bradley, you definitely score an A+ with us!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"I’m so happy to have Ms. Stieber for my daughter's teacher this year. She has helped my daughter with her reading and writing so much this year. I just want to thank her for doing such an amazing job with her students and my daughter!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Voss sees and interacts with so many students, some not so happy at times, but she never losses it which I give her a hand it's not easy dealing with adolescents. Thank you for always allowing me into your room no matter what's going on at the time."
 

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Every time I walk into Pupil Services I'm welcomed by Mrs. Brandt or Mrs. Paine, sometimes both. If one of the people I'm looking to talk to isn't there, they always try to help me find someone. I am very thankful for them!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mrs. Stewart is always bright and encouraging. She always checks to make sure that students understand what they're working on and if not she helps them one on one. One of many great teachers!"

- Oak Creek High School Student

"Mr. L (as my son calls him) goes out of his way on a daily basis to help my son. He is patient and relatable and he encourages my son to make better choices. While my son considered him "cool" he also has a tremendous amount of respect for him. This is a hard balance when working with teenagers who are transitioning to high school. Thanks for never giving up on my son Mr. L!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mrs. Jacobson has been the most pivotal educator in my son's school career. She has always made the extra effort to ensure my son feels supported. Prior to having Mrs. Jacobson, my son did not enjoy school, struggled academically and refused to ask for any assistance from school staff. Since Mrs. Jacobson, he will seek out the academic assistance, in any subject, needed. My son was in her class during the 2017-18 school year, but she continues to be remarkably supportive and accessible for him, yet upholds high standards. My husband and I do not have the words to communicate our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude. Without her, my son would experience a high level of frustration and endure many obstacles in order to reach his potential."

- West Middle School Parent

"From the office staff to the wonderful teachers, to the dedicated support teams, and the principal -- Cedar Hills is top notch! We've had such a positive experience in this school. The teachers work tirelessly to make sure students' needs are met. There's always a smile ready to be given at this school. What a pleasure it's been to be part of this incredible community!"

- Cedar Hills Parent

"Ms. Betsy, Ms. Ann, and Mr. Manowski are the best aides!!!!!!! Ms. Betsy is a great person to talk to. Ms. Ann always helps me with problems, and so does Ms. Betsy. Mr. Manowski is awesome!!!! I really truly miss him."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Ms. Olson has reached out with information about my son's progress, keeping me informed about his successes and when he needs help."

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mrs. Rushing has been super with my son this year. He can be a challenge, but with hard work and her upbeat attitude, we are making great strides with him. I'm always able to get in contact with her when needed. She makes learning fun and is very helpful to both students and parents. Thank you very much for your patience and guidance with my family! My son is doing super because of you!"

- Carollton Parent

"Miss Soika is one of the best special education teachers I have had the privilege to interact with. My son can be very difficult at times and she never acts burdened or frustrated. She is key to his learning and socializing. Thank you very much!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mr. Krenek is an amazing principal and human being. When he was new to our school, he came down to the kids level to introduce himself and talk to them and making them feel important. I always see him happy and exuding positive energy. I've also seen him engaged with the community and advocate for better resources for his Elementary school. I can't say enough great things about Mr. Krenek but I'm happy Edgewood is in his care!"

- Edgewood Parent

"Mrs. Biedenbender, Ms. Franeki, Mrs. Schlief, Ms. Murray, Ms. Milinar, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Munson, and Ms. Santilli and Mr. O' Mahar and more are the best teachers in Forest Ridge Elementary School. They care, listen, teach, and be nice to us. They do a lot for us. I appreciate their and other teachers and aides' hard work. I am giving the loudest shout out to you teachers from Forest Ridge. You guys are AMAZING!!!!!"

- Forest Ridge Student

"There are no strong words to describe Mrs. Biedenbender and Mrs. Schleif.  Mrs. Biedenbender is my 5th grade teacher and Mrs. Schleif is my past 4th grade teacher. They both are awesome, nice, and great teachers. I wish they were my teachers forever and ever. I will never forget my awesome teachers and my 2 classroom communities. BTE: Best Teachers Ever <3"

- Forest Ridge Student

"Ms. Biedenbender is the best 5 grade teacher.  We love her like our mom. I feel like I can count on her like my friend. She is the best and we love her so much that we can't wait to see her every day."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Thank you to Ms. Barlow for teaching my baby girl everyday. My daughter loves how kind and caring you are and enjoys the fun activities that you do to make learning fun."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"I want to do a shout out for Forest Ridge Elementary School's newest 5th Grade teacher, Mr. Bradley. He is my daughters first male teacher and in the last month since school started, I have seen her wake up actually excited to go to school! She says that Mr. Bradley explains things in a way that helps her to understand and makes learning FUN! I am very appreciative of this change in my daughter's perspective. Keep up the good work Mr. Bradley!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"My son has been attending Shepard Hills since Kindergarten and I could not ask for a better elementary school. The teachers, the staff, the communications, the willingness, the programs...Mrs. Booth does an AMAZING and WONDERFUL job with her school. The students are not just kids attending school to her, she genuinely cares for each & every student. She is firm but gentle which are just a few characteristics of a great Principal. I have been so pleased with how well the school manages their curriculum, programs, and events! My son attending Shepard Hills and having the help of their Leaders has been a wonderful parenting experience for me and I know that they are part of my village in raising my child. Thank you Mrs. Booth for being who you are!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Linda, thank you very much for all the extra help and support you have given my daughter so that she can feel welcome and safe at school. I know how busy you are, so I really appreciated the time you take to be sure she is alright. Your bright, cheery personality and your sincere care means the world. You are the kind of person that makes the Oak Creek High School a great school!"

- OCHS Parent

"Being a traveling staff member is not always easy, but when you have such kind and supportive administrators who welcome you and have important items ready, like a key to your room, voicemail, and a key card that works from day one to get into the building, it is very easy to feel supported on a daily basis!  Thank you to the administrators at EMS, OCHS (the main campus and the NGC), District Office and FR for making my days run smoothly, all because they took the time to make sure a traveling staff member had all of the essential tools they needed to do their job!  I am very thankful to work for such kind and caring people here in Oak Creek!"

- OCFSD Staff Member

"Sue has been the rock of the IC program, without her we would not be able to do our jobs. THANK YOU SUE!"

- OCFSD Staff Member

"Jill at District Office thoughtfully explained the open enrollment process to me in a way that was clear and thorough. I really appreciated my interaction with her over the phone."

- Parent

"Ms. Prelesnik did a great job this summer with the getting ready for Middles School Class. Thank you for taking time to show the incoming 6th graders that middle school wont' be that scary."

- (Future) EMS Parent

"Lindsey is incredibly helpful, supportive, and responsive. Early this summer I asked if Lindsey could provide some professional development to help our team create a student services website so that we could better connect with our parent stakeholder group. Lindsey was more than happy to help and was amazingly informative as she walked us through the process and even provided supporting documents to give our team a hand. At my request, she also provided disaggregated student engagement survey data which will be used as part of our parent/student engagement planning AND she also found a way for us to track readership of our special education "Weekly" newsletter to help our team monitor who and how often teachers and admin. are using the newsletter as a resource. Combined, her support is going to help our team to be more targeted with our work and more efficient in our processes. In addition to being helpful and responsive, Lindsey always provides her support with a smile and never makes me (us) feel as though we are interrupting her or making more work for her."

- District Office Staff Member

"Thank you to Mrs. Mikkelsen for all the hard work that you do! You helped our daughter PERSEVERE through so much that she has grown exponentially this year. Thank you for making school something she looked forward to and something that she counted down until she could go back. Thank you for making kindergarten a memorable year for her and for being that teacher that she will forever continue to rave about to others!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"I wanted to thank Mrs. Lidwin for being so enthusiastic with our children. I believe she's funny, supportive and empathetic. My son loves having her as a teacher and she will be missed next year."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mr. Petre's weekly communication emails were greatly appreciated by my wife and I. We always knew what had occurred in Math during the week and what was to be expected for the next week. The emails allowed us to ask questions of our student and be involved in his Math curriculum. Our son often made positive comments to us about Mr. Petre and how he found him to be a good communicator of class expectations. That's huge, when a teenager recognizes something and calls it out! Thank you to Mr. Petre. My wife and I are pleased that our son had him as a teacher."

- OCHS Parent

"Dr. Culver it was so nice meeting with you and our Aides Crew at Shepard Hills  and refreshing to hear your input on a few questions asked.   As a community mom it was good to hear some of the logic of why we do what we do. I really appreciated your time and openness!  We loved your goodie bag it absolutely made our day!  Thanks for all you do and again, your time and talk was appreciated.  

Here is a picture I just had to take while out on the playground!  Hope you enjoyed some kickball time!" 

- Shepard Hills Employee & OCF Parent

"I want to express my gratitude towards my principal Paul Kenwood, though he would hardly accept it I am sure. This past weekend we held a Color Run at school, and though I bet we could have managed, Paul came at 6:30 a.m. (bells on) to help assist our Carollton Color Run. He stayed the duration of the race and through the end to clean up—A Saturday and he lives in Mequon.

Tonight, our school hosted its annual Art Night and Paul asked throughout the weeks leading up for any assistance I’d need as well as the hours before (he even offered to run to Deerfield—my other school to get something)!! During the night he even worked the cash/check station as well as going above and beyond for clean up. I truly hope you know how hard he works and how much I could not do the job I do without him. I honestly voluntarily work summer school because he’s there and I know everything will run smoothly because of it. 

Thanks for having outstanding staff to work with and another incredible year in Oak Creek! "

- Carollton Teacher

"Ms. Feuling is an amazing teacher. She gives attention to each one of us and finds out the best way we learn. She always motivates me to keep moving higher and never stop. She works day and night planning projects for us to do. One of the things she plans is mindfulness and it helps me focus so much better in class then I used to. I am so happy I am in your class. Thank you so so much for everything, Ms. Feuling."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Mr. Abromaitis has gone above and beyond for Logan. He has always made sure Logan has had everything he needs for school even when I forget including a green shirt on his field trip day which Logan was ecstatic about. Logan looks up to Mr. Abromaitis and trusts him. Mr. A always keeps me updated on Logan and his progress. Last year Logan struggled with school and behavior. This year because of Mr. A's methods and teaching I believe Logan is doing much better. When Logan had a rough day Mr. A took him on a walk to calm him down and helped him through the day. He is great at what he does. Keep up the good work Mr. Abromaitis."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"I am very happy to say that my student currently has Mrs. Casper as his/her math teacher.  From day one, I have been impressed with her consistent communication.  She sends an email every Friday that details what will be happening the following week, and she always responds to my personal emails/calls very quickly.  Most importantly, Mrs. Casper does whatever it takes to help her students.  My student has benefited tremendously from Mrs. Casper's efforts and in talking with other parents of her students, I know he/she is not alone.  Thanks for all you do, Mrs. Casper!"

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Mr. Lozer has been an inspiration to my son.  Max looks up to Mr. Lozer and listens to everything he says and trusts him.  He has worked harder than ever this past year and I believe it is because of Mr. Lozer's guidance.  We are very grateful for his hard work and dedication."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mrs. Barker has gone above and beyond to work with my daughter this year on reading.  Alex has always struggled with reading and with Mrs. Barker's guidance I think she is making great progress.  She is always thinking of different ways to work with Alex which I think are really helping.  Alex loves going to school and has a great love for learning and I know Mrs. Barker is a huge part of that."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"My son has Ms. Koloske and she is wonderful. Her kindness and sweet interaction with the students is great! My son loves her and loves how encouraging she is. She is always positive and happy and truly loves her students. Mr. Aalderks is amazing and his patience and attitude are outstanding! He I am an amazing teacher and is very dedicated to his students. My daughter loves having him for her last year in elementary school! All I can say is that she’s had an amazing experience in her 5th-grade class! 

We have had great experiences with so many teachers throughout the past years including Mrs. Neddef, Mr. A, Mrs. L, Mrs. Manderle, Mr. Lozer, Mrs. Ludwig, Mrs. Brown! Thanks to all the staff for your dedication! 

Mrs. Booth is an amazing principal! She is wonderful with the students, parents, and staff! It’s evident in the atmosphere that the staff loves to teach! I believe it begins with leadership. Mrs. Booth is very involved in getting to know the families and students personally and we appreciate her so much! We love Shepard Hills and the amazing staff!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mrs. DiVilio is an extremely caring and great teacher. My son was nervous about going to 4K and she made the transition as easy as could be. He loves learning thanks to her!!"

- Deerfield 4K Parent

"I would like to thank Mrs. Schmidt, a biology teacher at the high school, for consistently taking the extra steps to keep parents informed. She sends a weekly email to the parents detailing what the students have done and will be doing. This has helped tremendously as a parent. Now when I ask my son "what did you today?" or "Do you have homework?" he can't answer with the usual "nothing". Mrs Schmidt also sends out personal emails when a student falls behind and I appreciate her honesty and willingness to help solve whatever the problem may be. Thank you, Mrs. Schmidt, for making the parent/teacher relationship strong and unified and for really caring about our kids and their education! "

- Oak Creek High School Parent

"Ms. Stieber has been such an involved and caring teacher from day one. She gives us snapshots of our kids days through Instagram. She incorporates coping strategies to address our children's emotional well being. I find her approach to learning innovative and fun for the kids. I volunteer regularly and see how each and every child has blossomed in reading, math, social skills, creative story telling. These children have truly learned how to express themselves under her guidance. Our children have been blessed to have her in their lives."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"I wanted to send a shout out to the 6-2 house teachers at EMS. My daughter really enjoys middle school. It feels weird saying that, but it's true! I was so worried about her transition to middle school because she can be on the shy side before she's comfortable, but I shouldn't have worried! She's thriving and happy and I have the wonderful teachers in 6-2 to thank for that. My daughter said they are all fabulous! Mr. Schiffer makes science fun. Ms. Snifka gives her confidence and encourages her in her creative writing. Mrs. Westra makes her want to create the most detailed projects and Ms. Grim makes complicated math easy to understand. Those are quotes from a 12 year old. I just wanted to say thank you to all of the teachers and staff at EMS for making the transition from elementary school easy and positive. You are very much appreciated!"

- EMS Parent

"Mr. Schiffer is so awesome! My daughter absolutely loves her science class. She comes home each day with a new fun fact she learned in his class. He has a great sense of humor and makes learning so much fun! Thanks, Mr. Schiffer!!" 
- EMS Parent

"My daughter was in Mr. Asala's class last year. My daughter is forever changed, you have made a huge impact in her life. Thank you for all you do! We talk about you quite often while eating dinner, my oldest son and daughter share stories about when they had Mr. Asala. You will always have a special place in our hearts and lives!"

- Edgewood Parent

"Mrs. Timm has done an amazing job helping my daughter transition from 2nd to 3rd grade. The change in expectations and responsibility was a bit hard on her the first quarter but Mrs. Timm was there to guide her and reach out to me as well with suggestions on how to help her at home. Recently she started noticing a change in my daughter, which we were already aware of and working on, and she kept a closer eye on her and reached out with her concerns. To know that the person my child spends the most time with during the school day is watching out for her well-being as much as I would is incredibly comforting. Somehow in a busy 3rd grade day, she manages to get to know each and every one of her students and their personalities and notices when they might be having an 'off' day. I truly feel that she genuinely cares about each and every kid she teaches as though they were one of her own. We will definitely miss her when moving on to fourth grade but I[?]m sure we will love our next teacher too!" 
- Carollton Parent

"Ms. Calvert has been an absolutely phenomenal counselor for my daughter. She is always there when she needs her and is quick to respond every time I reach out to her to check on my daughter. This year she has been having some issues outside of what we would expect and Ms. Calvert has gone above and beyond to assist her and myself through them. I seriously could never thank her enough for all that she does for our kids!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mr. Aalderks' dedication to the 5th graders in the classroom and beyond is remarkable as he puts in a lot of time and effort to prepare for and chaperone the safety cadet D.C. trip every year. I'm so grateful that 'Queen' had the opportunity to go this year. Thank you!" 
- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mrs. Shannon Rutter is such a fabulous teacher. She truly cares about her kids and challenges each of them in the different ways that they need it, while being incredibly nurturing at the same time. She is also a wonderful person. Our family has gone through a lot this year with some unexpected health issues and she has genuinely and repeatedly offered her assistance in any way we needed it. In fact, I have to throw a shout out to the whole Meadowview staff. They have all been incredibly supportive to us during a very rough year. It truly feels like being part of a family. We love Meadowview! 💕"

- Meadowview Parent

"Mrs Borchert has been an incredible influence in our son's life. We were transitioned from Forest Ridge to Edgewood and are amazed at how much she cares about the students. There were several times I had to stop in her classroom in the morning before school in which she was always willing to help with any questions/concerns I had. She always had a solution. My son would be very laxed when it came to him needing to show responsibility with his morning routines. She was able to motivate him to be more responsible by making him checklists and through the use of dojos. She knows what makes each child grow and progress toward the next grade. Thank you so much for everything Mrs Borchert!" 
- Edgewood Parent

"Hello everyone! I graduated from OCHS in 2014 and am about to graduate from UW-Whitewater. I just got a job at South Milwaukee High School and none of this would have been possible without so many of you. I cannot put into words the gratitude I have for the experience I had at Oak Creek. I hope I can inspire my students as you did for me."

- OCHS Alumni

"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the teachers in House 6-1 at EMS. Throughout the year these teachers have shown me many times how much they really care not only about the academic success of their students but their emotional well being too. Being in middle school can be just plain hard & these teachers have truly been there to guide & help my son. Thank you so much!" 

- EMS Parent

"Shepard Hills staff is a group of wonderful people starting from when you walk into school and get greeted by Kelly and Audrey, to Mrs. Booth to the amazing teachers. I have 2 daughters who have been attending school there for 4 years now. Mrs. L is a devoted, understanding, knowledgeable, caring individual that does so much for her students to learn what's right from wrong, to speak their minds, and to use what they learn in school to help change their lives and the lives of others. My daughter LOVES going to school every morning knowing that she's going to see Mrs. L. Mrs. Barriere is my daughter's teacher and I have nothing but great words for her beautiful soul. She always goes above and beyond for us. She is intelligent, inspireing, motivated, and encourages her students to think outside the box. She is so attached to Mrs. Barriere and has started to get emotional knowing that this school year is almost over. She isn't just a teacher for my daughter, she's like a parent to her. Mrs. Booth is also an amazing principal that every school wish to have. She is very nice to all her students and does such a wonderful job keeping in touch with the parents. She always tries to resolve any situation that occurs to the best of her abilities. (We just moved to Franklin and I hope and pray that my girls will still be able to attend this school again next year). Thank you for giving our kids the advice that they need to make good decisions, for teaching the younger generation how they can shape the future, for showing the lost kids that there's a bright future ahead of them, for making daily sacrifices for the good of the kids, for being committed to such a selfless profession, for helping parents like me breathe easier, and for being the best teacher any student could ever have. Thank you ever so much!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Let me say for her only being here one year she's quite popular. I don't know if its her quirky and outgoing attitude or ability to connect with students. Shes always keeping her eye on you even if shes busy. She has over 2,000 students I don't know how she does it. Anyway thanks for being there for me even if you're busy 24/7 :) Stay positive Ms. Curry." 
- OCHS Student

"Not many people thank those who help you when it goes and gets tough, but one of the people who has helped me with school is Mrs. Labonte. She is a wonderful person everytime I go by her she helps me even if its just distracting me or even just letting me sit with her. The aura from her is strong she could look and me and I'll instantly smile. Thank you for being there for me!"

- OCHS Student

"Mrs. Moncada is a strong, persistent, caring person. Shes always trying to encourage me to get to class on time and if theres a problem she helps problem solve. Shes a straight to the point kind of person but thats because shes right. Mrs. Moncada thank you!" 
- OCHS Student

"Mrs Asala is an awesome 5th grade teacher. I didn't have a kid in her class this year but my son who had her previously still talks about how she is one of his favorite teachers."

- Deerfield Parent

"Mrs Benz is such an awesome kindergarten teacher! She is so caring and compassionate with all the children's needs and knows how to teach them in a fun and interesting way." 
- Deerfield Parent

"As a whole, Forest Ridge is phenomenal. I cannot say enough about Miss Pearson and the special education teachers here. They have helped our daughter so much that we can't express our gratitude for all they have done. The world would be a better place with more of these incredible educators teaching our kids. Keep up the amazing work!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Yerges is such an amazing teacher. She cares so much about her students, works extremely hard and her love for teaching shows daily in her classroom! My daughter was so lucky to have her for K5 and she made such a difference in her education. So much so, that my daughter doesn't want to leave her!! I can't tell you how much I appreciate her!!!!!" 
- Carollton Elementary

"My three children have all had Mrs. Henricks, and not only do my kids love her, but I do too. She has a constant smile on her face, and it's genuine. Even when she's disciplining kiddos, she's smiling. If they fall asleep during rest, she gently rubs their back to wake them up. When the kids give her a run for her money, she smiles and says, "Ah, my labor of love." My kids are no longer in kindergarten, but bring her name up often. So glad my kids got to start off their education with a teacher with such a big heart and positive attitude. Thank You Mrs. Henricks! We love you."

- Meadowview Parent

"I would like to thank Mrs. Flagge for helping to make our daughter's first school experience so positive. Our daughter loves going to school, and just adores Mrs. Flagge and Mrs. B. We have been so pleased with all the social and academic growth our daughter has made. Thank you!" 
- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mrs. Ceaglske is amazing! My daughter had a very difficult time in kindergarten; she suffered from extreme anxiety and stress. It was a battle to even get her to school in the morning. Switch to first grade: she can't wait to go to school each day and even talks about it on the weekends! I believe this change occurred because of Mrs. Ceaglske and her great teaching style. My daughter is thriving and learning so much this year. Thank you, Mrs. Ceaglske for what you do each and every day for all your students. You improve lives each and every day!"

- Carollton Parent

"Fuchs and Gregg's band program is a class act. In addition to an inspiring music program, an inclusive environment and priceless travel opportunities, their straight forward and persistent demands for respectful behavior, accountability, good citizenship and academic priority produce decent and productive humans. These two teachers contribute so much good to the world I just can't say enough. Thank you." 
- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. E is the best! She is such a wonderful teacher and always goes above and beyond in her classroom. Both of my children had her as a teacher and it is astounding how much they learned with her in such a short time. I love the creativity that she puts into setting up her classroom. She has the best centers/stations set up and the kids absolutely love them! Her and Mrs. Hampson make a great team and I am so grateful to have had them for my son's teachers."

- Salvation Army Parent

"Ms. Haslbeck is the sweetest person and such an amazing teacher! I have had the opportunity to be in her classroom helping out and to see how she interacts with the students and what a wonderful teacher she is. She is always so positive and is always expressing how proud she is of her students. My daughter will be very sad to leave her classroom this year." 
- Meadowview Parent

"My daughter had Mr. Vance first semester and still talks about him. She says he really cares about each student and is just a nice person."

- OCHS Parent

"Sarah Schlicht, Nina Quillan, Heather Kirch... I would like to recognize these wonderful teachers as well as the entire Special Needs staff and aides. As a parent of a Special Needs child that has gone through the school district and now into the Strides Program these individuals go above and beyond their duties as a teacher. These incredible individuals keep us informed, share special moments when they happen and are always accessible. The mental load they take off of us as parents worrying about our children and their well being cannot be quantified. I just want them to know how much they all mean to us and our children. Thank you so much for all you do!!" 
- OCHS Parent

"Miss Brehm is an amazing teacher. She is so patient and kind with each child. I love getting her updates on Class Dojo! The kids have so much fun in her class it makes it easy for them to learn. I can not say enough good things about her. She was made to be a teacher!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"We would like to give a shout out to Mrs.E , thank you for putting 100% in to your classroom daily. My daughter can't get enough of school and always comes home with a smile on her face. Thank you for everything that you do!" 
- Salvation Army Parent

"As this 5th grade school year is coming to an end I just want to say how amazing all of you truly are. Every employeeat Edgewood is helpful, caring, and dedicated. Thank you for all you do for every child in that school."

- Edgewood Parent

"Mrs. Ruffolo you are an amazingly gifted teacher who without question loves her students!! Your positive, encouraging, supportive nature to help students work to their full potential is so evident in all that you do. What a special gift for a mom to receive emails pointing out special achievements that my child has made. You share in all the special times with our children and never disappoint in instilling in them a true love of learning!! We are grateful to have had you this year! Truly humbled!" 
- Forest Ridge Parent

"I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Ruffolo. She is an amazing Kindergarten teacher and has taught my daughter so much this year! She eased my mind in the beginning of the school year when I anticipated transition problems and anxiety from my daughter starting a new routine. Mrs. Ruffolo helped my daughter be confident and excel! And that learning is fun!! I will be forever grateful."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"I want to give a huge shout out to Anda Oxman AND Renee Carlson. Both have provided support for my child for years and we would be lost without them. They ALWAYS go above and beyond the call of duty - my kid is SUPER active!" 
- OCHS Parent

"I cannot say enough about my daughters teacher, Mrs. Phillips. She goes above and beyond to make sure my daughter succeeds. To hear my daughter say on a daily basis, that she had an amazing day is so refreshing. Mrs. Phillips makes sure she stays engaged and even personalizes her daily learning to fit her needs. She's come up with great ideas in areas she struggles in, to avoid frustration and keep her loving school. Thank you Mrs. Phillips for being an outstanding teacher! You have made this school year so enjoyable :)"

- Carollton Parent

"I would like to thank Ms. Steibs and her wonderful FBLA students for a great State Conference. The FBLA Students were very welcoming, intelligent and the behavior was outstanding...it was the best chaperone experience I have had. Good luck at Nationals and Thank you for restoring my faith in young people....Kudos to all!!!" 
- OCHS Parent

"Ohhh...where do I even begin? My child was new to Carollton school this year (not new to the district). I was nervous about the potential struggles that he may have when dealing with this big of a change. From the first day I met Mrs. Rushing, (I showed up on an in-service day to introduce myself), I knew my son was going to have a great school year. She has the most positive, upbeat attitude no matter how challenging a circumstance may be. While she is fantastic at meeting the children's needs educationally, even more importantly (to me), she teaches her students kindness, respect and compassion as she works to build the classroom community. In addition, she keeps parents well-informed of the things happening in the classroom by sending out newsletters and posting pictures almost daily on Class Dojo. It makes me feel like I am more involved in my child's education by simply seeing what they are doing in class. I am able to ask my son about the various science activities, reader's theater presentations and much more. Finally, I genuinely appreciate how she goes the extra mile by challenging the students who are already proficient in a topic. My son loves to tell me all about "Genius Hour", and the amazing things he has learned during that time. I could not ask for a better teacher to foster my spunky spitfire's energy by engaging him in activities that are both challenging and fun!"

- Carollton Parent

"Mrs. Schmidt has not only been one of the most effective teachers I have had the privilege of working with, she is also one of the most dedicated teachers that my daughter has had. The weekly email updates have been very helpful, allowing parents the opportunity to discuss the weeks' lessons with their student at home. In addition, Mrs. Schmidt takes the time to connect with her students beyond simply teaching the classroom material. She shows compassion as she demonstrates her understanding that each student is unique and may require a different approach than other students in the classroom. As a result, students not only respect her, but feel a special connection with her as well." 
- OCHS Parent

"Ms. Biedenbender is the best teacher in the world. I never want to leave this class."

- Forest Ridge Student

"Thank you for taking the band to Boston. Both of you went over and above for your students. This is some they will always remember." 
- OCHS Parent

"I would like to thank Mr. Arata for his help in an ongoing situation with my child and two friends. When Mr. Arata learned that the three had been having trouble getting along he immediately took time to reach out and inform me as to what was going on. He also immediately met with all three students to help find a positive solution. I am very impressed to learn that Mr. Arata went a step further and has continued to meet with the students weekly to check in and continue to encourage positive and kind interactions. Thank you Mr. Arata for being a great role model and for truly caring!"

- Deerfield Parent

"As a Junior in High School, my son has had the pleasure of working with dozens of teachers throughout the district. One teacher in particular has made a huge impact on him and I just wanted to share. Mr Comiskey is an excellent role model for our students and one that I know my son looks up to a great deal. He only had him first semester but it was a semester he will never forget. I have attached the photo my son posted on social media the last day of class so I wanted to share. Thank you Mr Comiskey for putting your heart and soul into every day and finding the best inside every student you teach." 
- OCHS Parent

"Once again, I am completely overjoyed with the way that Ms. Thompson and Mr. Pontus handled a situation at East Middle School involving my 6th grader last week Friday.  Ms. Thompson and Mr. Pontus saw me immediately and the situation was handled almost instantaneously. I understand that there is so much going on in our schools...things that I have no clue about for that matter, but they both made me know that they respected my feelings and were bothered by the situation almost as much as my son and I were. So, once again, kudos. I couldn't be more proud to have these two be the administrators of my children's' school."

- EMS Parent

"I want to say thanks for everything the high school and district has done on making coming back to school easier I would have never thought in a million years I would ever be back in a classroom. The transitioning has been tough but with the help of the staff and great teachers its been alot easier. Thanks to all of you!" 
- OCHS Student

"Mr. Lozer is truly one of a kind. I am so grateful that he has been a part of both of my kids journey in life. He has made such a positive impact to both of them and we will be forever thankful. Thank you for all you do! We sure will miss you next year."

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Shout out to Ms. Yerges for all your patience and communication, all the stories you have told, all the joy you bring to each and every one of your students. We couldn't have asked for a better teacher for our sons first year in school. He has grown and developed so much since school started. Thank you for all you do. You are truly amazing." 
- Carollton Parent

"Huge shout out to an awesome teacher, Mrs Ruffolo at Forest Ridge Elementary. She is an awesome teacher every day! She has taught our daughter so much this year. She reaches out to her students and connects with them in all ways and every day. She is consistent and available for them, and always shows how much she cares. When my daughter has some rough days she will always be there to solve with compassion. My daughter loves her days with Mrs Ruffolo and comes home all smiles. She even wants to grow up and be a teacher like her! Thank you for all you do with these little ones, so glad we got to have you in my daughter's school world!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Franson has done an amazing job leading the new program for the 4th and 5th grade personalized learning classes. She has been a tremendous leader for both classes, and has done so much work for the Challenge of the Books. I look forward to the weekly kids blog that the kids post online. It is such a creative way for the kids to practice writing. Thank you to Ms. Franson for all her work!" 
- Forest Ridge Parent

"Ms. Brehm brings so much creativeness and fun to the classroom and learning. She does such incredible job communicating updates for the classroom and the school. I love seeing all the great pictures and updates via Dojo on what the kids are doing in the classroom. She really goes above and beyond and we are lucky to have her for a teacher!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mrs. Timm's enthusiasm teaching is instilling a love for learning in my son. He loves to talk about history and geography every day when he gets home and wants to continue research on his own. Thank you for your inspiration and patience Mrs. Timm!" 
- Carollton Parent

"Ms. Edminster is a caring teacher who truly connects with all her students and parents. She knows them as a learner as well as what they enjoy outside of the classroom. And best of all she keeps learning FUN for her students."

- Carollton Parent

"I want to recognize Sarah Magana for her efforts towards furthering art education in the elementary area.  I have been an art sub for her and she continues to inspire young students to create quality art!!"
- Community Member

"Mrs. Borchert has made our transition to K-5 a remarkable success. I have had the joy of volunteering in her class and I appreciate the way she interacts with students. She is patient, kind, and firm (when she needs to be). She is a joy to be around, both for students and parents. My son loves telling me all of her catch phrases" like "great balls of fire." She left class one day early and my son stated that was the saddest part of his day.  I appreciate how quick she replies to messages and how much she obviously loves her job.""

- Edgewood Parent

"Nancy is absolutely amazing caring for my daughter who has Type 1 Diabetes. Since her diagnosis the weekend before school started in September 2016, Nancy has been completely positive with every aspect of Kaylee's school experience, from making sure she has a T1D educated staff member on each field trip (including the art docent program) to being an understanding ear for both my daughter and I. Nancy has come up with ways to not only make my daughter comfortable every day but I'm comfortable and confident having Nancy's care. I cannot thank Nancy, Carrollton, and the school district enough for making this a normal school experience for my daughter."
- Carollton Parent

"Thank you Mrs Barriere for challenging our son in subjects he loves. He has really been enjoying  this year! Thanks for all you do!"

- Shepard Hills Parent

"Mr. Weiss called me to tell me that my daughter won a community service award. He wanted to make the ceremony a surprise for my daughter. After picking out a time that worked for all of us, he planned the event, emailed invites and brought treats. All I had to do was bring my daughter. Thank you for making this a special event for her. She was surprised."
- OCHS Parent

"My daughter won a community service award. Mr. Petre helped me pull off the surprise event for my daughter. He helped me with a "story" to get my daughter back to school. He then let us in to the building at a different entrance so that my daughter would not see anyone or any cars that she knows. He then escorted us to the ceremony. My daughter was surprised. I could not of gotten her back to the school without his help. Thank you."

- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Beidenbender are great! My son has grown academically and maturity wise with Mrs. Simmons. She has great communication. My son loves her class so much! My daughter could not be happier this year with Mrs. Beidenbender. What a great way to end her elementary experience! Both children have a new excitement for learning and excelling in their academics."
- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mrs. Wallin is always so positive with her biology classes and is always eager to review multiple times, answer any questions we have, or learning in new and creative ways. Her positivity throughout the day is something I will never forget about her. She's kind and comes around one by one making sure we understand what we're learning which is something that no other teacher I have does. Thank you for everything you do, Mrs. Wallin!"

- OCHS Student

"Ms Shadd has been an incredible teacher for my daughter this year.   From the moment you meet her you can instantly tell how much she cares for her students.   She sends home notes, utilizes Class Dojo and effectively communicates with parents and students.   She has gone above and beyond by attending my daughters dance competition (on a non school day) to support her.  Several students also participated in the OCHS Poms Kiddie Clinic and she came to support them on a cold, rainy Friday night in the Fall.  Daily my daughter says something great about her and how much fun she has in class.   OCFSD has amazing teachers and Ms Shadd is definitely one of them."
- Cedar Hills Parent

"I have a daughter in 5th grade and son in 3rd. I volunteer there every week, and can say that this school's staff are absolutely amazing. Mr. Mittag is wonderful as well as the school secretary's. My children's teachers, as well as the other teachers I've encountered are nothing but supportive and caring. The encouragement they give to the students is outstanding! And most importantly, safety and organization is top notch. Keep up the great work Forest Ridge Staff!!!"

- Forest Ridge Parent

"Mr. Petre communicates frequently via email, which helps me, as a parent, stay on top of what's coming up in assignments, assessments, etc...It helps me stay informed.  He's the only teacher who does this and I appreciate it.  I recently emailed him to let him know that."
- OCHS Parent

"My daughter is in Mrs. Daily's classroom, and she just absolutely loves her (and Mrs. Weins too.) I am impressed with the way that Mrs. Daily sets expectations for the students both academically and socially.  She also provides strategies for the students to help reach the expectations.  My husband and I are amazed at how much our daughter is learning this year.  Mrs. Daily also does an amazing job of communicating with the parents.  She sends home weekly newsletters and pictures that I look forward to reading each week.  It helps me talk to my daughter about her school week.  Mrs. Daily also responds quickly to any parent contact.  I had a concern about an incident that happened when Mrs. Daily was absent.  She not only took my concern seriously, but followed through with me right away the next day. My daughter is so lucky to have Mrs. Daily as her teacher.  I am so grateful for all that she does to help her students love learning.  It means the world to us that our daughter is having such an amazing start to her school career."

- 4K Parent

"Ms. Fuchs, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to my son."
- OCHS Parent

"Linda is always very friendly and helpful no matter if I call in to the Office or stop by."

- OCHS Parent

"Mr. Mike is always there to help and the other day went beyond the call of duty. While waiting to pick my daughter up from school I didn't realize I left my headlights on and was charging my phone and my car was not running. Well after grabbing my 5th grader and returning to the car it wouldn't start. Mr. Mike graciously drove his Jeep around and gave my car a jump so I didn't have to wait an hour for AAA to show up. Thanks for always being there to help!!!"
- Edgewood Parent

"Mr. Petre sends a weekly email to parents stating what students worked on in class and what assignments and/or expectations are coming up the next week. I love the weekly emails. I know exactly what to ask my son about concerning Math class. The emails allow me to tailor my questions and have more beneficial conversations with my son. Plus, I can gauge my son's progress because know due dates, etc. ahead of time. Mr. Petre is the only teacher who communicates with weekly emails and I appreciate the effort so much."

- OCHS Parent

"Mrs. Cronk is a really nice teacher and she brings gifts."
- EMS Student

"It was wonderful to have Mrs. Goedel in the 4k classrooms this fall. I loved her approach with the children.  It was refreshing to see an educator have expectations of the students and actually hold the children accountable."

- 4K Parent

"I wanted to express my appreciation to one of our fine teachers at the high school Ms. Danielle Stiebs.  Ms. Stiebs teaches my son in Personal Finance.  From the beginning she has tweaked his financial interest while teaching this class.  The information is so relevant to what he is experiencing both now and in the near future.  My wife and I love how we can have deeper conversations about life/finances through this class.Second I took a Google Classroom class from Ms. Stiebs this summer during the Summer Academy.  I learned some great tools that I have used in my google experiences.  I have used Google Sheets to come up with a grade book for my students at Deerfield.  I had many questions as I was working on this project during the summer and this fall.  Ms. Stiebs was always willing to help.  These two separate experiences with Ms. Stiebs have helped me as a parent and a professional.  Because of her teaching she is making Oak Creek a better place."
- OCHS Parent & OCFSD Employee

"I just wanted to quickly recognize Ms. Bridget Ashenhurst and Ms. Mary Pratt.  They both have my son in their respective classes.  My son was giving us all a run for our money to start this school year.  They have each called me after hours and sent me emails showing  my husband, my son and I just how much they really care about our son's success.With all the darkness going on lately I just wanted to show a bit of sunlight and let them be recognized for their dedication.  We couldn't be more happier with them.Our son has started to make improvements and it truly seems that they care just as much as we do. "

- EMS Parent

"Huge kudos to Oak Creek Franklin School district for conducting school safety and crisis management procedures with the Peaceful Warrior Training program. I read about in The Blueprint and was very impressed. It is a tough issue to acknowledge, but it is also a realistic issue that needs to be addressed for everyone's safety. I feel safer knowing my kids are surrounded by staff who have training on this. Thank you for going above and beyond for student and staff safety!"
- OCFSD Parent

"Mr. Engebretson often encouraged his students to join our highschool's German Exchange program. During my senior year, I took the opportunity to house an exchange student for two weeks, then I also ceased the opportunity to go live with my exchange student and attend school with her and travel to a few countries. This was one of the best experiences that was ever offered to me; I have memories that will last forever. I've also made a life long friend, and have reconnected with my exchange student outside of the program."

- OCHS Student

"Ms. Biedenbender the best teacher in the whole entire world and she does a lot of fun stuff. "
- Forest Ridge Student

"I am currently a student who is in 7th grade. Last year I had the privilege of working with an amazing educator Mrs. Murphy. She was a specialist teacher that was frequently in the language arts classroom, and was always there ready to help. Mrs. Murphy, and Mrs. Vance helped grow and expand my love and knowledge in reading and writing more in a year than most others could probably achieve in 3. She would often go out of her way to help students with essays and assignments so we could utilize our potential to the fullest. I appreciate Mrs. Murphy more than imaginable.There are nice teachers, good teachers, and then there are great ones."

- EMS Student

"This was a tough year for our daughter.  When we asked Shannon to help out and boost her confidence Shannon did just that.  Working with our daughter in 2nd grade Shannon knew her strengths and passions.  She would often check in with her during the day, or around lunch, give her hugs and positive words of encouragement.  We will forever be grateful for the extra attention she offered to our daughter to help her through this difficult time.  We hope that we can pay it forward just as you have.  THANK YOU!"
- Forest Ridge Parent

"This was a tough year for our daughter.  When we asked Liz to provide support to our daughter she did not hesitate.  She knew our daughter loved to read and was great at working with younger children.  She offered her a special job of being an end of the day reader.  Our daughter loved this job and found a passion for reading to the children in Liz's class.  Thank you Liz for seeing her strength and giving her voice again. We will forever be grateful for the belief you breathed into her last year."

- Forest Ridge Parent

"This was a tough year for our daughter.  When we asked Sabrina to help out and boost her confidence she did just that.  Sabrina hosted lunch with our daughter and provided her a safe and fun place to be. We appreciate that when called upon you did not hesitate and jumped right in to help and support our daughter.  We will be forever grateful for all you did and continue to do!"
- Forest Ridge Parent

"This was a tough year for our daughter.  When we asked Katie to help out and boost her confidence Katie did more than that.  She would stop our daughter in the hallway just to say Hi, invite her to help out in her class, encourage her to believe in herself and supported her in ways she may never understand.  When we ask our daughter who her safe people are at school, Mrs. Franecki is always a name she gives us.  Thank you Katie from the bottom of our hearts for all you do each day and for helping our daughter out.  Our hope is only that we will some day be able to repay you for your kindness."

- Forest Ridge Parent