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The people who go “above and beyond” at Pleasanton schools will be honored this June at the 20th annual Excellence in Education Awards.

Ten teachers, two principals and two counselors were named by the Pleasanton PTA Council, which sifted through the all the nominations.

“Students write nominations, parents, sometimes, coworkers. What they should be exhibiting is above and beyond,” said PTA member Joan Laursen. “To some people it’s about someone who touches the lives of someone in trouble. Maybe it’s someone involved with the AP teacher, who works with them after school to make sure they’re ready for their AP exams.”

Laursen said usually 40 to 50 people are nominated, and making the decisions can be difficult.

“It’s moving to hear what makes people go out of their way to write about someone,” she said.

The ten teachers chosen from the nominees are:

Manette Barlow, Adult Education/ESL;

Linda Boveda, Lydiksen;

Christie Carnahan, Valley View;

Jeremy Detamore, Foothill;

Shay Galletti, Foothill/Amador Valley ROP;

Kim Lounsbury, Hearst;

Maria Primeau, Foothill;

Tami Raaker, Foothill ROP;

Kathleen Murray Rief, Hart;

Lori Sjodahl, Mohr.

The four named in the at large category are:

Career counselor Jacque Barker, Foothill H.S.;

Counselor Abby Johnson, who works at both Lydiksen and Valley View;

Fairlands Principal Kim Michels;

Donlon Principal Marc Schweitzer.

The honorees will receive their awards June 2nd at the 20th Annual Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony at Trinity Lutheran Church. The awards ceremony will be held from at 4 p.m.

The PTA council has invited friends and families of the honorees to attend the ceremony.

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9 Comments

  1. Congrats to all the teachers, counselors and principals!!! They make a very huge difference in the students’ and their parents’ life by their dedication and hard work.

    Mrs.Sjodahl was my daughter’s KG teacher last year and guided us through the whole year. She is a very loving and caring person with a wonderful attitude. Thanks Mrs.Sjodahl!!!

  2. Was hoping to see a Vintage Hills teacher on the list…

    “Shack” as we call her (Jennifer Shackelford) has been a blessing to SO many children and families!

    Thank you for all that you do!

  6. I wonder who voted for these teachers? Maria Primeau really, can’t wait until those kids move on to the next level of Spanish and find that they have learned nothing in her class. The kids that have her love her and then they realize that they have learned nothing in her class. This must be a popularity contest

  7. How about we don’t bash the teachers that earned this. Someone had to nominate them and the criteria was reviewed by the district. Many teachers were nominated, but somehow these teachers were selected as going above and beyond and demonstrating excellence. Let’s try not to write hurtful things up here. You never know how your words can really hurt and affect people and sometimes people on this blog just throw it up there anonomously because they can hide behind that anonimity. Just allow these teachers to enjoy their moment of recognition and be happy for them.

    Well done teachers of Pleasanton. Keep up the good work!

  8. Marie, I’m sorry your son/daughter didn’t get a good grade in Maria Primeau’s class.

    Maybe if your kid had actually done the assigned work and studied for tests…no, no, no, that’s crazy talk. It must be the teacher’s fault…HAS to be.

  9. Thomas, Actually my child did very well in her class, then the next year we found out how far behind everyone in Mrs P class was. So no it was not my child this time it was the teacher. Ask any parent who had her…

  10. Yes Thomas, don’t you know that learning is the responsibility of everyone BUT the child.

    And we wonder what is going wrong?!

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