Teacher of the Year, retirees honored

The Hot Springs County school district honored the 2015-16 Teacher of the Year and five retirees on Wednesday at the annual Teacher of the Year/Retiree banquet held at the Thermopolis Middle School.

Sixth grade mathematics teacher Catelyn Deromedi was recognized as the 2015-16 Teacher of the Year.

"Thank you so much for choosing me for this award," Deromedi said. "I'd like to thank the administrators who have guided me and given me all of the opportunities that you have and for letting me grow as a teacher and letting me become what I've always wanted to be - a math teacher. It has been an absolutely amazing journey. Thank you all for supporting me and I hope to represent you well."

Superintendent Dustin Hunt said the Teacher of Year will receive a monetary award and a chance to compete for the Wyoming Teacher of the Year. He also said he was proud of all of the teachers nominated for the award. Other teachers nominated were Emma Christoffersen, Mary McGillivray, Shannon Hill, Tom Koehler, Kay Uffelman, Donna Daniels, Brock Merrill and Jacob Strenger.

"Thank you all for all of your dedication and hard work in the classroom," Hunt said.

Retirees recognized at the banquet were the Hot Springs County school district business manager Colleen Anderson, school nurse Janet Chimenti, literacy coordinator and reading coach Sonja Holm, Thermopolis Middle School librarian Carol Burns and instructional facilitator John Gores.

The banquet also featured for the first time the 2015-16 Power Parents of the Year. Etta Emmett was honored for Ralph Witters Elementary, Ciley Andreen was honored for Themopolis Middle School and Jacky Wright was honored for Hot Springs County High School.

Staff members of the month throughout the 2015-16 school year were also recognized. They included Jessica Ream, Brenda Cornwell, Susan Little, Brandon Deromedi, Dave Manning, Craig Redland, Connie Dickinson, Tammy Redland, Ryan O'Connor and Kelli Bloedel.

Others honored at the banquet included Hot Springs County School Board members Chairman Tobi Johansen, Treasurer Nichole Weyer, Vice Chairman Melissa Johnson, Trustee Travis Bomengen, Trustee Jennifer Axtell, Trustee Dan Pebbles and Clerk Clay Van Antwerp. The administrational staff - elementary principal Deborah Brown, middle school principal Breez Daniels, high school principal Scott Shoop, special services director Jim Lash, business manager Colleen Anderson, transportation supervisor Jerry Bowman, maintenance supervisor Jere Apland, technology director London Jenks, food service director Cindy Wallingford and Lights On coordinatior Jenny Davis - were also recognized.

"We all have different roles and different titles but we all are very important to the district," Hunt said. "I just want to express my appreciation for our staff, whether they're retiring or in their first year, and the community members also."