Honoring our 2021 Excellence with Equity
Award Winners!

This school year marks the 6th year of MMSD’s Excellence with Equity Awards! We have persevered together through an unprecedented global pandemic. In addition, we have witnessed communities around the world speaking up against racial injustice. 

Therefore, we believe celebrating our school staff, and their commitment to equity in education, is more important now than ever before. To our award winners - thank you for being an inspiration to our students and families, and an outstanding example to your MMSD colleagues. 

This year's winners promote a thriving and diverse workforce while regularly engaging in professional growth. From individual administrators to educators and support staff, this award is for those employees who are making significant gains in equity. I also want to recognize all of the MMSD staff who took the time to nominate their peers.

Finally, it is a great honor to say congratulations to the 2021 winners of the MMSD Excellence with Equity awards!


Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Madison Metropolitan School District
2021 Excellence with Equity Award Winners
Great Leadership -
Principal of the Year:

Angie Montpas
Huegel Elementary,
Principal

A principal whose work exemplifies all of the district’s core values and the best practices in the field of education. Nominee must have been employed as a principal with MMSD for at least three years.
Great Teaching -
Teacher of the Year:

Jessica Fleischmann
Wright Middle School,
Teacher - 7th Grade Math

A teacher whose work exemplifies all of the district’s core values and the best practices in the field of education. Nominee must have been employed as a teacher with MMSD for at least three years.
Great Support -
Support Employee of the Year:

Melea Richardson
Sennett Middle School,
Special Education Assistant

Employee in any category other than teacher or principal, who provides direct support to students. Nominee must have been employed with MMSD for at least three years.
Professional Development
Recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding professional development or coaching to employees.
Amy Isensee
East High, Academic & Career Plan Coordinator
Mark Nelson
East High, Instructional Coach

Family and Community Engagement:

Naomi Smith
Sandburg Elementary,
DLI Kindergarten Teacher

Recognizes an individual or team who has helped make major strides in our efforts to engage families and community members as partners.
Students at the Center:

Nakia Harper-Bray
Falk Elementary, Education Assistant 

Recognizes an employee who uses a student-centered, students-first approach, provides exceptional support to students, and develops strong relationships that honor students' cultures and engage them in school.
Schools at the Center: Deb Owan
Doyle - Enrollment, R&E User Services Specialist
Recognizes a central office staff member who best demonstrates the idea that schools are the driving force of change in our district.


Continuous Improvement: Mary Schneider
Black Hawk Middle School, Teacher - 7th Grade Science 
Recognizes an individual or team who has helped make major strides in our efforts to engage in continuous improvement and effective data use at every level. 


Coherent Instruction: Lead Teacher Team at Capital High
Karyn Stocks Glover, Samantha Wolfe, Kelly Pickett, Jason Deal, Amanda Crim, Keely Johnson, Christina Grulke, Jessie Loeb, Pa Vang, Kelli Semrau, John Rodin, Quinn Craugh
Recognizes an employee or team who has helped our district make major strides in our efforts to provide every student with well-rounded, culturally responsive and coherent instruction that leads to college, career and community readiness.


Cultural & Linguistic Responsiveness: Sherman’s Anti-Racism Movement Committee
Jesse Bell Bern, Paula Arango Tavera, Karine Sloan, Lea Rodriguez, Abigail Mannenbach, Kathryn Salkowski, Katie Rickert, Gurney Bartram, Elizabeth Talledge, Nathan Brelsford
Recognizes an employee or team who models practices that engage students in ways that connect with and reflect every student’s cultural heritage, race, language, and individuality.


Thriving Workforce: West High School Team
Alicia Grant, Amy Cassiday, Corvonn Gaines, Kyree Brooks, Michael Jones
Recognizes an individual or team who has helped make major strides in our efforts to cultivate a work environment that attracts, develops and retains top talent.


School Based Leadership Team: Gompers SBLT
Jackie Smith, Jacqui Lazzaroni, Gina Tortorice, Meghan Hickey, Sarah Venable, Kendra Shillinglaw, Jen McDowell, Stacie Winge, Sadie Skibo, Mark Baumgartner, Amy Fitz, Verah Rosenthal, Bobbi Simpson, Hanna Brostowitz, Katie Chambers, Matt Mulligan, Lauren Morris
Award recognizes a team who exemplifies the practices of the School-based Leadership Team (SBLT) Toolkit at a school that meets or exceeds the goals of their School Improvement Plan.


Teacher Collaboration Team: Sennett’s 6th Grade Team
Peter Thompson, Keola Exum, Melea Richardson, Megan Meiller, Tim Paneitz, Darcy Burke, Lori Longhini, Ryan Lanphear, Lynsey Roe, Ivan Loncharich, Kimberly Harn, Erin Proctor, Jay Brockman, Victoria Hennick
Recognizes a team who has made great strides toward implementing best practices in teacher teaming.

To our 2021 nominees and all MMSD staff:
You are the first teachers and district employees to take on a challenge like the one we’re facing now - the COVID-19 pandemic. Years from now, this school year will be remembered as the year we all learned how to live life at a distance from each other and continue to function as a society. Please pause a moment and realize that what you’re doing matters. It matters not just for the students we have in our schools, but also for the future of our community. You are making history, and our students, families, and MMSD community are incredibly proud of you!