At ESS, our strength lies in our phenomenal team, and we’re proud to recognize those who lead by example. Each month, our partner school districts submit glowing reviews of our employees, from which we select four employees of the month. We believe in celebrating the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our team members who go above and beyond in their roles. We are thrilled to recognize our April Employees of the Month!
Vivian Phillips
Cleveland County School District, AR
Vivian Phillips was nominated three times this month by colleagues from Rison High School, who praised her for her classroom management and rapport with the students.
Paula Sadler, secretary, who wrote: “Mrs. Phillips is very punctual and dependable. She has developed a great rapport with the students and requires them to follow the classroom rules. She is very courteous to other staff members and is always willing to help in all areas needed.”
Lesley Hipp, teacher, who wrote: “She is always here and always has a smile on her face. Mrs. Phillips’ classroom management is top-notch!”
Josey Sorrells Webb, Agricultural teacher, who wrote: “As an Agricultural teacher, I am often out of class for school events, and Ms. Vivian is usually the one to take my classes. She always does a great job! She handles my classes of students well and makes sure that they complete their work and behave. I know my class is left in good hands when she is my substitute!”
Amanda Stephens
Cumberland County Schools, NC
Amanda Stephens was nominated thirteen times this month by colleagues from Cumberland County Schools, who had wonderful things to say about her dedication when taking on the long-term music position this school year.
Irasema Roberts, teacher’s assistant, who wrote: “Mrs Stephens is a fantastic, dynamic teacher, who is caring and compassionate with her students. She is always ready to lend a hand when needed, and she goes above and beyond in all she does.”
Sara Coursey, fifth-grade teacher, who wrote: “Ms. Stephens did an amazing job stepping in this year as our full-time music substitute! She orchestrated a phenomenal Veterans Day program for the school. My students always love going to her class!”
Monica Carter, principal, who wrote: “Mrs. Stephens has been our long-term music substitute. She organized a spectacular Veterans Day tribute and performance. She arrives promptly every day with a smile on her face. She stands in the hall and greets every student during morning intake. The students truly enjoy going to music class this year. Mrs. Stephens positively handles student behavior so as not to embarrass the students. She attends school events and meetings to support our whole school program. Mrs. Stephens professionally carries herself and is supportive of the resource team.”
Ahyana Cox, P.E. teacher, who wrote: “Mrs. Stephens is an extremely positive and patient teacher. She has been phenomenally exemplary in leadership, classroom management, and communication. She handles numerous tasks with organization and a kind heart. She rises to the occasion with honor when asked to present, provide, or resolve issues. I truly feel that Mrs. Stephens has fairly earned this accolade.”
Stacy Bloyd, second-grade teacher, who wrote: “She is an amazing person who always goes above and beyond for students and staff!!”
Rhonda Gwyn, first-grade teacher, who wrote: “She is an inspiration to the kids. The content she delivers is just what the kids need. She is happy to be at work and working with the kids each and every time she is at our school.”
Elizabeth Phillips, teacher, who wrote: “Amanda has willingly taken over our music department and done a fantastic job!”
Andrene Daley, teacher, who wrote: “She’s excellent with the kids! She goes above and beyond when working with them. Very reliable and courteous.”
Cherish King, teacher, who wrote: “She always tries to help everyone in the school.”
Toni Riddick, teacher, who wrote: “She’s been a wonderful asset to our school. She has been subbing for music class, and the students have done phenomenally with her. She is an asset to your school. She has stepped in and done music most of the year. The students and staff respect and adore her.”
Marianne Lawson, instructional assistant, who wrote: “Amanda shows up with a positive attitude every day. She puts a lot of thought and effort into her class time with students and is always a great role model. She exhibits great patience and goes above and beyond her duties.”
Cortney Garcia, registered nurse, who wrote: “I am honored to nominate Amanda Stephens for recognition as an outstanding elementary music teacher. She consistently brings energy, creativity, and passion to every music class, making a lasting impact on students’ lives both musically and personally. Mrs. Stephens creates a welcoming environment where every child feels encouraged to express themselves through music. Whether it’s teaching basic rhythms, introducing students to new instruments, or preparing them for school performances, she approaches each lesson with patience, enthusiasm, and genuine care. Beyond the classroom, Mrs Stephens fosters a love of music that students carry with them throughout their education. She organizes inspiring concerts, allowing children to showcase their talents and build their confidence. Her dedication to creating a positive, joyful, and educational experience makes a profound difference in the school community. Mrs. Stephens exemplifies what it means to be an exceptional educator, and I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition.”
Erin Domotor, first-grade teacher, who wrote: “Mrs. Stephens is a ray of sunshine. She comes in each day with such positivity and joy. She has high expectations for our students, and she uses many positive affirmations with them to help them succeed. We’re blessed to have her as a teammate.”
Ana Marques
Carlisle Area School District, PA
Ana Marques was nominated four times this month by colleagues from Carlisle Area School District, who praised her as an asset in the special education department.
Lisa Slover, Director of Student Services, who wrote: “I am nominating Ana Marques for Employee of the Month because of her unwavering diligence and reliability. Ana consistently goes above and beyond in her role, fulfilling her primary duties with excellence and taking on additional responsibilities with enthusiasm and efficiency. She has been an incredible asset to the Student Services Team, helping out in various roles and always doing so with a pleasant attitude. A quick learner and a true team player, Ana is always willing to help wherever needed, making her an essential part of our team and a standout example of dedication and consistency.”
Heather Morris, Executive Secretary to the Director of Student Services, who wrote: “I am writing to nominate Ana Marques for ESS Employee of the Month. Ana started with us at a very hectic back-to-school time. She even agreed to start a little early to cover the vacated position of our district receptionist to allow the rest of the office to continue to prepare for the students and staff to return. There was no easing her into working at CASD, and she jumped in willingly.
The Special Education department is difficult to learn when you aren’t from a school background. There are many timelines and laws that a secretary needs to know, follow, and track for student paperwork. Ana has caught on quickly to that process and does it well.
After clearing a backlog of our storage files, she has begun working with the high school counseling team to move their records to digital storage for the first time. She welcomed that challenge and was part of the brainstorming to get that program started. It’s not easy to work with decades-old files and paperwork to get them scanned, and she has risen to the occasion.
Ana has also helped other ESS employees in our district by making PowerPoint presentations for our director to present at a training series this year. Her PowerPoints are well done and creative, and the aides have appreciated having those to refer to as they support students in our classrooms.
Ana deserves this honor, and I hope you will consider her for ESS Employee of the Month.”
Kimberly Day, secretary who wrote: “I want to nominate Ana Marques as an ESS Employee of the Month. Ana has gone above and beyond since she started working three days a week in the Student Services Department at Carlisle Area School District as a Secretary.
Ana came into the position with stacks and stacks of files to scan into the online long-term file storage system, a two-year backlog!! She has not only completed all that scanning and got us caught up with that, but has also been asked, and graciously accepted, to work an additional day each week scanning other school records.
Ana does a great job keeping track of all our special education documents, ensuring they have all the required signatures and that all the documents are received and filed. She is also very tech-savvy and always willing to help anyone with a computer issue. Ana has created beautiful, color-coded Excel spreadsheets for different department members. She has prepared PowerPoint presentations for the Director of Student Services and done an outstanding job! She has taken the information the Director of Student Services provided, read it, digested it, and prepared beautiful PowerPoint presentations.
Ana is a wonderful co-worker! She works her scheduled days, has a great attitude, and is a very pleasant and kind person to work with. As you can see, I believe that Ana deserves the ESS Employee of the Month award!”
Stephanie Douglas, Director of Digital Learning, who wrote: “I would like to nominate Ana Marques for Employee of the Month for her consistent excellence and professionalism. Ana is attentive and focused, consistently delivering efficient work while maintaining a calm presence. With an ability to simplify tasks and leverage strong technology skills, she enhances her productivity and supports others with patience and clarity. Her steady demeanor and willingness to help make her an asset to our workplace.”
Cambry Johnson
Alpine School District, UT
Cambry Johnson was nominated by Amy Hansen, Administrative Secretary at Greenwood Elementary, who wrote: “Cambry has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, resourcefulness, and dedication as a substitute teacher. I had the pleasure of working with Cambry when she stepped into a challenging long-term substitute teaching position at our school.
At the time, the students had experienced some instability and, as a result, were unsettled and struggling with classroom management. However, Cambry stepped in and brought a much-needed sense of calm and structure to the classroom. Despite the initial challenges, Cambry approached the situation with unwavering patience and a solution-oriented mindset. She worked diligently to re-establish a positive and productive learning environment, and within a short time, she had the students back on track, engaged, and eager to learn.
Cambry’s ability to adapt to varying situations and her profound understanding of how a classroom should function make her an exceptional educator. She is kind, approachable, and deeply committed to her students’ success. Cambry knows how to create a supportive atmosphere that encourages academic growth and personal development. Her classroom management skills are top-notch, and she uses a variety of creative and effective strategies to ensure all students feel respected and motivated.
Since that time, Cambry has returned to our school several times as a substitute teacher, and each time, she has exceeded expectations. She is our lifesaver, consistently providing our students with a reliable, high-quality experience. Cambry has earned the trust and respect of both students and staff, and we are grateful to have her as part of our substitute teaching team.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend Cambry highly enough. She is an outstanding educator who brings a combination of skill, kindness, and dedication to everything she does.”