As we wrap up another great school year at West Liberty Community School District, we want to thank all of our staff members for their service and dedication! We are so lucky to have such fabulous people working for us, touching the lives of students each and every day.
Following our staff breakfast at the end of each school year, we recognize our staff members for their years of service in the district and announce WLCSD Foundation grant recipients.
Years of Service Recognition
1st Year of Service
Chloe Adkins, Yarimar Bayon Cardona, Cynthia Bellah-Cabeza, Christina Buser, Annie Butler, Paola Castillo Santiago, Xiomara Cesar, Julissa Chavez, Brylee Christopher, Madison Edwards, Genesis Escareno, Leidygexi Fernandez Beltran, Jennifer Frye, Katlyn Gallegos, Laura Garcia Vargas, Maya Garrido, Angela Gingerich, Itzhel Gutierrez, Virginia Harris, Lauren Hauser, Sara Hayes, Shelbi Hiller, Johanna Kramer, Karla Madrigal, Marisela Martinez, Max Mashek, Milton Moctezuma, Ashley Montelongo, Samuel Morel, Aurea Nigaglioni, Sunhee Oberfoell, Kalyn Probst, Ninushka Roman Santiago, Keishla Ruiz Gomez, Sherina Sackett, Kadyn Staab, Heidy Tapia, Rachel Watters, and Charles Willier.
5 Years of Service
Skyler Appler, Olga Lara, Elyse Buysse-Herrold, Adam Loria, Marlin Daufeldt, Andrea Martinez, Patricia Escobedo, Trent Slemmons, Vanessa Espinoza, Jeremiah Smith, Citlaly Fernandez, Laura Smith, and Nick Frenz.
10 Years of Service
Amanda Daufeldt, Cindy Gonzalez, Jacob Lamb, Katie Thrasher, and Nora Tietje.
15 Years of Service
Brenda Arthur-Miller, Daniel Bartleson, Monty Beal, Brittany Boffeli, and Lori Brooke (15 years teaching, 25 total years with WLCSD)
20 Years of Service
Jennifer Hagens, and Sheila Polman
25 Years of Service
Beverly Feldman, Tonya Gingerich, and Darci Watts.
We thank all of you for your dedication to the West Liberty Community School District! Your work touches the lives of many students and families, and we appreciate all that you do!
2025 Grants Awarded
Fund For Educational Excellence (FEE) mini-grants are supported by earnings from the Alberta Metcalf Kelly Estate each year. Up to 5 grants at a maximum total of $600 per grant can be awarded each year, or a max total of $3,000. The grants will enhance instructional methods, encourage creativity in the classroom, involve parents and other volunteers, and foster imaginative teaching. Annually, teachers will have the opportunity to apply for funding to support innovative projects that will enhance classroom learning. Five grants were approved for the 2025-26 school year!
Recipients are:
Emily Reed - Listening station for read alouds
Janet Smith - Comet Readers are out of this world (Middle School)
Janet Smith - Comet Readers are out of this world (High School)
Morgan Forbes & Erica Jennings - Creative connections: Enhancing literacy
Morgan Forbes - Kindergarten/High School Ceramic Monster Project
Ryan Grants - The Ryan Memorial Trust supports programs in the West Liberty School District and will be awarded based on the general areas identified: educational, musical, medical, artistic, historic, and civic improvements. The Foundation will select applicant requests consistent with these guidelines and being mindful of how the funding impacts student achievement and funding that can have the greatest impact on the most kids. Nine grants were approved for the 2025-26 school year!
Recipients are:
Rebecca Swanson - Expanding instrument collections for well-rounded learning
Preschool Team - Spatial awareness learning for preschool
Brittney Boffeli - Task boxes to promote independent living skills
Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers - ELC Playground
Thomas Theiling - Tech in the ensemble: Updating electronics
Aubrie Hager - Students wiggle into learning
Morgan Forbes - The Cometeer Podcast
Briana Simon/First Grade Team - Literacy materials for whole group and small group
Dan Stevenson - West Liberty - Ignacio Allende Teacher Exchange
Dorianne Rees - Let's set the scene
Morgan Forbes - Enhancing student expression and community engagement
Johanna Kramer - Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression through music (Pending new teacher acceptance)
Kindergarten Teachers - Engaging materials
Nancy Hayes Gardner Scholarship - This year, the recipient of the $500 teacher scholarship that was set up by former principal Nancy Hayes Gardner goes to:
Skyler Appler
The Foundation would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit grants!