Congratulations to the 2022 Outstanding Educator & Golden Acorn Award Winners!
Each year, Shorecrest PTSA honors and recognizes a teacher or staff member who has gone above and beyond in serving Shorecrest students, along with a volunteer who has stepped up in an extraordinary way. This year, Shorecrest PTSA is pleased to announce two winners in each category!
2022 Outstanding Educators: Kelli Haines & Ian Powell
Over 170 nominations were received from Shorecrest students. It was wonderful to see such an outpouring of love for so many staff and teachers! Two rose to the top, however, and we were thrilled to honor Ms. Haines and Mr. Powell at a ceremony with their colleagues and Principal Gonzalez.
Congratulations to English and Avid teacher Kelli Haines on winning Outstanding Educator of the Year for 2022!
A few words from her students:
“She treats us like we have thoughts and she’s interested in hearing from us – chatting about an interesting podcast or discussing parts of our units. She makes me feel more confident and I feel like her class is a place I can express myself. The time is never slow, the lessons are never boring, and I always feel motivated to work. One of the big things I’ve noticed is the way she communicates. When she’s feeling down or tired, she doesn’t just snap at us and move on- she expresses what’s going on, apologizes, and tries to move forward. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it happen. She spoke at the beginning of the year about how she wants education to be accessible to everyone and support everyone, and has advocated for the students to make it happen. She gives thorough explanations when we need them, *and takes our feedback on it*, as well as working to get alternative options for the presentation methods.”
“Mrs. Haines has brought joy and celebration into her classroom. She has made it a safe space for all students. Her class makes my day so much better every time I walk through the door. Mrs. Haines has found a way to teach that is engaging, fun, and educational. Her classroom is a great working environment, and it feels like more of a home than a school classroom. I couldn’t think of a better teacher to receive this honor than Kelli Haines.”
“She is inspiring, empathetic, and kind. She pushes her students to be their best selves and supports them in their endeavors. Mrs. Haines has helped me gain confidence in my voice to try new opportunities and take leadership roles in my community. I have met many graduates, current students, and staff whose lives have been changed by her. She has helped so many struggling students graduate and find their passions. She makes every school day one I look forward to :)”
“Ms. Haines always makes a personal connection to all of her students. She always makes sure everyone is understanding the content, and has many different strategies for each unique student. She pushes each student to grow as not only students, but people.”
Congratulations to Ian Powell, who is also an English and Avid teacher at Shorecrest and is clearly a fan favorite. Here are a few words from his students:
“Mr. Powell is an outstanding educator because he strives to help us learn new things everyday while still giving reasonable breaks, allowing us to discuss with others, and have occasional fun activities related to the curriculum. He is also very considerate when it comes to difficulties with getting assignments turned in and does his best to help students to genuinely understand the content and relate it to real life situations.”
“Mr. Powell is an empathetic and fun teacher. I am always excited for his class and he always makes it fun and engaging.”
“I’ve noticed throughout the year Mr. Powell’s active efforts to understand and engage with his students to not only help learning and growth but check in with students’ well being, mental health, and future. In this past year when I faced rough patches, he was the only class I felt comfortable and happy to attend. He’s helped me embrace and grow in a subject that in the past teachers have told me I lacked in skill. I love that he embraces everyone’s learning and challenges them to grow with a supportive and understanding attitude. He makes accommodations so that every one of his students has the opportunity to succeed even when set back due to personal life. He has put an emphasis on preparing us for our future and I’ve noticed he individually checks in with students that seem to be facing an issue affecting them or their performance. And when he does do check-ins, it is in private and a safe place to talk. He’s by far one of the best teachers and one of the best classes I’ve ever been in.”
“He supports us everyday, he’s the goat!”
2022 Golden Acorn Winners: Deci Evans & Deb Harrick
Deci Evans was the Booster Club President and one of two very deserving winners of this year’s Golden Acorn Award.
Deci is an amazing and inspiring leader and volunteer whose energy knows no bounds. We are so lucky to have her in our community, and Shorecrest will feel her loss next year when her Senior graduates at the end of this school year.
A few quotes about Deci:
“She continually goes above and beyond the scope of volunteerism! A true gem inside and out!”
“She is an excellent communicator and organizer and has given so much of her time, talent, and resources to make Shorecrest a better place.”
Deb Harrick serves as Staff Appreciation Co-Chair for the PTSA. She is a dynamo, full of energy and vision, and truly loves to shower our fabulous Shorecrest staff with love and appreciation. Her enthusiasm always shines through.
A few quotes about Deb:
“Deb has brought such enthusiasm and positivity to the work she does to show appreciation to our teachers! Deb has gone above and beyond to make sure the teachers have felt the love this year. She has dedicated her time and creativity and she is just lovely to work with.”
“Deb’s enthusiasm, creativity, initiative and positive energy have been a joy to witness this year. She has brought joy and gratitude to the PTSA, her role as Staff Appreciation Co-Chair, and to the school community generally.”
Congratulations Deb and Deci!
You are both so deserving of this award, and we appreciate you!