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 August 2025 Employees of the Month!
Brooke Kirchner
Alachua County Public Schools, FL
Brooke Kirchner was nominated by Sherry Haney, Executive Assistant at Kanapaha Middle School, who wrote: “She was working with our special needs students and was given some wrong information about a student’s transportation home. She came to the front office to verify that information before trying to put the student on the wrong bus. We are very grateful she checked with us because the information given to her was completely incorrect. We greatly appreciate her due diligence in checking and making sure the student was in the proper place. Her actions greatly saved a lot of confusion for the school, the student, and the parents. We love to have her here!”
Brenda Rodriguez
Belen Consolidated Schools, NM
Brenda Rodriguez was nominated by Karen Skinner, Secretary at La Promesa Elementary, who wrote: “Brenda has substituted for us in the past, and she has always been wonderful and professional. On 8.19.25, she was in our Pre-K class, and the Educational Assistant in the classroom was very impressed with the way she interacted with our students and how professional she was. We truly appreciate Brenda and her efforts to make sure our students continue to get a solid education.”
Timothy Phillips
East Central ISD, TX
Timothy Phillips was nominated by Veronica Luna, Administrative Assistant at Highland Forest Elementary, who wrote: “Mr. Phillips really helped us out! He picked up a last-minute job for a kindergarten class that can be a bit wild. He came in on time, did an excellent job with class, worked hard throughout the day, and was polite and respectful to everyone he encountered. My school principal, Brittany Ervin, was very impressed by him and asked that we have him back as often as possible.”
Tena Fritz
Staunton City Schools, VA
Tena Fritz was nominated by Shawna Armstrong, Bookkeeper at Bessie Weller Elementary, who wrote: “Ms. Fritz is very dependable and exceptional at what she does. She is a familiar face to staff and students alike and is supportive of all. She is willing to go beyond her regular substitute duties and help when a need arises when she is in the building. She has been subbing here at Bessie for several years, and we are thankful that she is with us again this year!”