The Fox C-6 School District honored seven people with Masterpiece Awards this year.
Custodial supervisor Toni Michalik was awarded the Superintendent’s Choice Masterpiece Award.
Other recipients included Alexia Arensmeier, a volunteer at Seckman High School; Barrett Houska, a Lone Dell Elementary School teacher’s aide; Tracy LaRose, a Seckman Middle School science teacher and dean of students; Erick Perez, a district parent and volunteer at Rockport Heights Elementary School; Heather Politte, a building secretary at Hodge Elementary School; and Jennifer Richardson, a Seckman Elementary School special services teacher.
Masterpiece Awards are given out annually to district members who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the district’s values of achievement, character and excellence, the district said in a written statement.
A committee chooses the winners from a list of nominees, and the superintendent selects one recipient each year.
“After doing it last year and seeing how much it meant to the recipients, I was looking forward to it,” Superintendent Paul Fregeau said of traveling around the district in March to honor all the recipients. “It takes everyone in the district to make school a great experience for our students.”
Superintendent’s Choice
Michalik was coaxed into the conference room at the Fox C-6 Service Center to receive her award. She said Kevin Piel, the director of maintenance, told her she was needed to discuss some supplies for the district, and after she sat down, Fox staff members flooded into the room.
“I don’t know if I was in shock or just surprised by everyone coming in,” Michalik said. “There were a lot of people from Central Office who came over for the presentation.”
Michalik said she is in her fourth year working in the district and was a custodian for three years before being promoted to a supervisor role in June 2022.
Fregeau said Michalik’s managerial skills stood out to him this year.
“I selected her because of her leadership and tremendous communication skills,” he said. “She manages people in 18 buildings, and to properly lead them and communicate with them the way she does is outstanding. Her commitment to the district and her work is top-notch. She truly loves her job, and you see that in her work ethic and the way she interacts with people on a daily basis.”
Michalik said it was nice to be recognized.
“It means someone is noticing what I am doing, and I have made a little bit of difference in the district,” she said. “It is an honor to receive it, but I know there are other people who do way more than I do who should have received it.”
Committee selections
A committee composed of community members, staff and students selected the remaining six recipients from more than 170 nominees, the district reported.
■ Arensmeier is active with numerous student organizations at Seckman High, like Family, Career and Community of America, a career and technical student organization; and the Key Club, helping them bake cookies for a holiday event and teaching them how to fold an American flag, the district said.
■ Houska was nominated because of his dedication to students and staff at Lone Dell, according to the district
■ LaRose has a commitment to the craft of teaching, dedicating hours, days, weeks and time off to her craft by attending national seminars relating to science and weather, the district said.
■ Perez provides exemplary service to Rockport Heights as its cross country coach, according to the district.
■ Politte has a commitment to making all families, especially new families, feel welcome at Hodge, the district reported.
■ Richardson was nominated because of her strong commitment and exemplary service to students in need, according to the district.
“The Masterpiece Awards show the wonderful people we have here at Fox C-6,” Fregeau said.
The Masterpiece winners were honored during an April 25 banquet.