2025 Impact Award Winners

As the school year comes to a close, ESS is proud to announce the winners of our 11th Annual Impact Awards! Established in 2014, the Impact Award recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional work frequency, receive positive feedback from our partner school districts, and consistently exceed the expectations of their roles.

This year, we are excited to share that ESS has significantly increased the prize amounts, highlighting our commitment to honoring these remarkable individuals. Each of the 2025 honorees will receive a generous $5,000 cash prize, along with an additional $2,000 to donate to a school of their choice, and a crystal apple trophy. This enhancement reflects the immense gratitude we have for the dedication and impact these individuals make in their schools every day.

Without further adieu, here are this year’s winners (in no particular order):

Megan Murcko
Trumball Public Schools, CT

Megan has been a substitute with ESS since 2023. Since joining ESS, she has filled nearly 300 absences. She primarily serves at Frenchtown Elementary School, part of  Trumbull Public Schools, as a substitute paraprofessional. She decided to honor the school by selecting them to receive the $2,000 donation check.

Stephanie Miklos, a teacher at Frenchtown Elementary School, said: “Megan is not your average substitute, and does not work with your average student, as most substitutes might. She has been a long-term substitute in my special education classroom all year and works as a 1:1 paraprofessional for one of my most challenging students. I have seven students who all have 1:1 paraprofessionals, and she stands out as a leader and role model in our classroom, that the other paraprofessionals look up to, and follow. Her bubbly personality makes it easy for her to get along with everyone she meets throughout the school day. No one would EVER know that Megan is a substitute. She comes in every morning, excited to start the day and eager to encourage her student to be the best that she can be at all times, every day. She does this in a variety of ways. She has learned how to use and can easily navigate her student’s communication device. She is passionate about getting her student to communicate, and this desire has transferred to her student. Megan’s modeling of how to use this device, has taught her student how to request, comment, label, and protest spontaneously!

Another way that Megan maintains high expectations for her student is by following through with her behavior intervention plan. Her student engages in severe noncompliant behavior, that includes aggression to herself and others, and elopement. Most instructors would give in, in response to these severe behaviors, but Megan never does. She consistently follows through, despite the aggression she endures.
Academically, Megan pushes her student to succeed without fail. Learning is very hard for her student, but Megan has taught her student to enjoy learning, taking what her student likes and embedding it into her learning.

I have been looking for a way to honor and recognize Megan for all that she does for students everyday, so I am so glad this nomination form was brought to my attention. Although she is amazing with all children, it is very difficult to find a person who can work equally as well with children who have such complex learning needs. She is an asset to my program, and I am happy to finally be able to celebrate how fortunate I am to have her on our team.”

Kelly Dodgen
Powhatan County Public Schools, VA

Kelly has been a substitute with ESS since 2024. Since joining ESS, she has filled over 100 absences. She primarily serves at Pocahontas Elementary School, part of Powhatan County Public Schools. She decided to honor the school by selecting them to receive the $2,000 donation check.

Charlotte Muscat, Instructional Assistant at Pocahontas Elementary School, said “Our building site substitute, Kelly Dodgen, is so deserving of this Impact Award! Kelly’s dedication is not just to a job, but she has dedication to every aspect of our school. Mrs.Dodgen shows up every single day! She understands how our school runs on a day-to-day basis. Kelly cares for each child and that child’s needs. She understands the emotional needs of our students. Our kids embrace her care and love. She comes in each morning and ties up any loose ends from the day before–not her loose ends, but she just knows what little details that will make each day run smoother. Mrs.Dodgen willingly trains our new ESS subs that come in–she is a great mentor for each of our subs. She is requested by our teachers over and over–we need more Mrs.Dodgens in our school. She is so deserving of this Impact Award! She makes a BIG impact daily on our school.”

 

Pictured: Back row: ESS Account Manager Melody Gengler, ESS Account Manager Stephanie Jimmo, Powhatan School Board Member Vicki Hurt, Powhatan School Board Member Jeanne Wade, Powhatan School Board Member Dr. James Taylor, Powhatan County Public Schools Superintendent Beth Teigen, Powhatan School Board Member Michele Ward; Front row: Susan Smith, Impact Award Winner Kelly Dodgen, Pocohontas Elelemtary School Principal Dr. Samantha Martin, ESS Seniorior Regional Managet Jacquette Barnes

Gary Bishop
Littleton Public Schools, CO

Gary has been a substitute with ESS since 2023. Since then, he has filled over 300 absences in several schools throughout Littleton Public Schools. He decided to give the $2,000 donation check to Options Secondary Program.

Brian Trautman, PE and Business teacher at Options Secondary Program, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Gary Bishop for the ESS Impact Award. Gary is a retired educator who has dedicated the past few years to substituting at our Alternative School, where his impact on students and staff has been truly remarkable.

Gary’s presence in our school is invaluable. He steps in without hesitation, taking on any role needed to support our students and staff. His ability to connect with students, build relationships, and foster a positive learning environment makes a lasting difference in our school community. Many of our students face challenges in and outside of school, and Gary has a special way of reaching them—offering guidance, encouragement, and stability when they need it most.

On a personal level, I have had the privilege of knowing Gary for the past 30 years. He was my own football coach and teacher, making it even more meaningful to see him continue his dedication to education by serving at Options. His unwavering support, willingness to go above and beyond, and deep commitment to student success exemplify the very best qualities of an educator.

Gary Bishop is more than just a substitute teacher—he is a mentor, a role model, and a cornerstone of our school community. His contributions are immeasurable, and he is truly deserving of the ESS Impact Award.”

 

Keith Asaeli
Belton School District, MO

Keith has been a substitute with ESS since 2023. Since joining ESS, he has filled over 200 absences. He primarily serves Mills Creek Upper Elementary School, part of Belton School District. He decided to honor the school by selecting them to receive the $2,000 donation check.

Melissa Braymen, Special Education Teacher for Belton Public Schools, said: “As a veteran Special Education teacher navigating a new school district this year 2024-25, I have had the great privilege to work with Mr. Keith Asaeli as our building substitute. He is kind, caring and very easy going. He has helped me on multiple occasions whether I needed information about the building, help with students or substituting for me when I had to be away from my classroom.

He has worked in this building for multiple years and knows both the teachers and students well. He is extremely patient with students but also firm in a way that is gentle and fair. He has no difficulty working in any classroom in the building whether Special Education classes or general education classes. He is extremely flexible and can teach Band, Music, PE and Art if specials classes need to be covered. He is always in demand and we all breathe a sigh of relief when we know he is covering our classes. He always leaves our rooms neat and tidy for our return. Students and teachers alike respect and admire Mr. Asaeli very much and he is very deserving of this award.”

 

Cale Beissner
Denton Independent School District, TX

Cale has been with ESS since 2021. Since joining ESS, he has filled over 100 absences. He primarily serves Savannah Elementary School, part of Delton Indepedent School Distict, as a substitute councelor. He decided to honor the school by selecting them to receive the $2,000 donation check.

Rebekad dePeo-Christner,Coordinator of Social and Emotional Learning at Denton Independent School District, said: “Cale Beissner has been an invaluable member of ESS since 2021, starting as a substitute teacher while pursuing both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. This unique experience provided him with profound insights into the daily operations of educators, significantly enhancing his ability to support them when he transitioned into a school counseling role. During his internship with Denton ISD from summer 2023 to spring 2024, Cale consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to assisting any campus that needed help. He played a pivotal role in the summer Jump Start program, provided counseling through the Denton ISD Family Centers, and became a tremendous asset at both Guyer High School and Bell Elementary.

After earning his master’s degree in counseling, Cale stepped into a long-term substitute position at Ryan High School, ensuring that the campus continued to receive vital mental health support while their IMPACT Counselor was on maternity leave. On his very first day as a counseling substitute, the school faced the heartbreaking loss of a staff member to suicide. In the midst of this tragedy, Cale immediately rallied to support both staff and students with compassion and strength. Later that fall, after being involved in a serious car accident, he impressively returned to campus without missing a beat. Currently, he is serving as a long-term substitute at Savannah Elementary following the retirement of the school counselor in December 2024. Cale’s unwavering dedication to ensuring Denton ISD has the counseling and mental health support it needs is not only admirable but also a testament to his remarkable passion for the counseling field. He truly exemplifies the spirit of resilience and compassion that makes a lasting impact in the lives of those he serves.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Cale in the counseling field, serving Denton ISD and ESS.”

Congratulations to all of our 2025 Impact Award Honorees
Keep up the great work!