Congratulations, September MPS Shines winners!

Each month, staff have an opportunity to nominate their colleagues for MPS Shines. Winners are randomly chosen from the nominations and receive recognition across MPS newsletters and social media, a coffee mug and other prizes.

Help us congratulate September’s MPS Shines winners:

Jason Backes, principal, MPS Metro Education Services

"Jason arrived at our school energetic and interested in learning. He listened to staff and asked questions. He shared ideas with us and asked for feedback. With him, we created a vision. Through Jason’s exceptional leadership, we are empowered to turn our school into a professional learning environment where everyone can thrive. And we do the continuous work of living up to our vision of providing students with individualized educational experiences that are equitable and culturally responsive so that all students learn, thrive and achieve." - L. Kimberly Gillespie 

Laura Byard, multilingual lead, instructional coach, Andersen United Middle School

"Laura is willing to step in and support however is needed. She is a visionary planner and active participant in day-to-day logistics. She has a deep commitment to coaching and is a fierce advocate for our multilingual learners. I am grateful to learn from her leadership at Andersen." - Teresa Gloppen 

Char Boyd, human resources business consultant, Davis Center

“As a new principal I was tasked with hiring personnel for Bethune. Char worked tirelessly to help me hire staff. She made the process so easy. She was always a professional and responded quickly to all of my questions. Working with her was a dream. I can't thank her enough for all of her support.” - La Tonya Overton 

“Char consistently goes above and beyond to support schools in addressing their staffing needs. She tirelessly dedicates herself to assisting principals in identifying the most suitable candidates for their learning environments. Char's proactive approach and willingness to explore various solutions exemplify her commitment to delivering exceptional customer service, all in the pursuit of securing the best possible outcomes for your school. Thank you for your unwavering support.” - Renee Montague

Congratulations to all of our September nominees:

• Nancy Barthel-Waara
• Paul Benson
• Sarah Dowsett
• Larissa Gusman-Johnson
• Aliana Lankford
• Stacy Manuel
• Billy Menz
• Kevin Meyer
• Nicole Nagell
• Heidi Olson
• Lily Sand
• Mary Scavotto
• William Smart
• Kristiana Ward