On August 15 during the Chagrin Falls Schools’ convocation meeting to welcome back staff, Director of Operations Chris Woofter presented the Ray Markuszka 20-Year Service Award to the following employees: Sally Gallik, Jacquelyn Gerber, Curtis Howell, Brian Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Daniel Kerul, Joshua Maas and Ed Neptune.
Ray was a dedicated custodian on the 7-12 campus. He is best known as a loyal and hard-working man that put his heart into his daily job. In June 2000, Ray retired after 20 years of service to the District. Then shortly after his retirement, Ray suffered a heart attack that regretfully took his life. “It is in Ray’s name that we show our appreciation to our staff members with 20 years of service,” said Woofter.
During the presentation, colleagues of the award recipients shared a few words…
Colleague Christopher Englehart celebrates colleague Sally Gallik's 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “As a STEM teacher at Gurney, Sally engages students with creative projects, supports her colleagues, and brings humor and positivity to the workplace. Her dedication and impact on the school community are highly valued."
Colleague Courtney Mooney honors Jackie Gerber's 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “As a special educator, Jackie has been instrumental in supporting my son Braden, who has autism. Jackie's innovative approaches, including communication cards, have significantly improved Braden's ability to express himself. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, positively impacting the entire family and inspiring Courtney as a parent and educator. Jackie's ability to understand and meet her students' needs has made her an invaluable team member in the educational journey of children with special needs."
Colleague Janet Adamoski honors Brian Johnson’s and Jessica Johnson’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “I've had the privilege of working alongside Brian and Jessica for 16 years, witnessing first hand their incredible impact on our school community. Jessica, my English language arts co-teacher, inspires students with her creative lessons and passion for reading, implementing innovative programs like the Million Word Reading Challenge. Her organizational skills and willingness to embrace new ideas have been invaluable to our team. Brian, our math teacher and team leader, uses his unique sense of humor to connect with students and motivate our team. His coaching experience and initiative in creating programs like the Boys Club have helped countless students feel supported and engaged. Both Jessica and Brian have taken on additional roles, from cheerleading advisor to union representatives, further demonstrating their commitment to our school. Their dedication, creativity, and positive influence on students and staff alike have truly made a difference in our CFMS community over the past two decades.“
As math teachers colleagues Steve HassHill and Mike Sweeney honors Daniel Kerul’s and Joshua Maas’ 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by quantifying some of their experiences with facts such as, “They've worked with 7 high school principals during their careers (8, if you include an interim one from last year); Between the two of them, they've commuted about 375,000 miles to and from school -- over 15 times around the Earth; and collectively, they've assigned and graded over 1,000,000 test and quiz questions! In all seriousness, they've inspired, motivated, developed, supported, and coached over 2,000 students each. And ‘infinity’ is the amount of gratitude we said they deserved.”
Colleague Vicky Powers honors Ed Neptune’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “Ed is an invaluable member of the bus garage team. He's the early bird who prepares coffee for the drivers and wears many hats in his role. Ed troubleshoots mechanical issues, often deciphering drivers' unusual descriptions of problems. He fills in as a bus driver when needed and maintains a playful rapport with colleagues, known for his practical jokes. Ed is a dependable friend and coworker, always ready to lend a hand both on and off the job.”
Colleague Jennifer Bencko honors Curtis Howell’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by sharing her experiences with Curtis as a teacher, colleague and fellow administrator. “Curtis has served this District in many roles during his time in Chagrin. He collaborates with colleagues and parents and works to meet student needs on a daily basis. As a parent, whose daughter was in Curtis’ second-grade class, I can attest to the relationship he builds with his students.”