Superintendent Rundle Recognizes 2025-26 Employees of the Year, Retiring Staff, and Staff Service Milestones
Superintendent Rundle Recognizes 2025-26 Employees of the Year, Retiring Staff, and Staff Service Milestones
MISD Communications
Mercer Island, WA, May 27, 2026 – Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle recognized the District’s Employees of the Year, Retiring Staff, teachers earning National Board certification, and MISD staff with a years of service milestone in a ceremony Wednesday at Northwood Elementary.
The 2025-26 MISD Certificated Employees of the Year are:
Michelle Hayes, Math, MIHS
Denise Thomas, Language Arts, IMS
Kris McBurney, Learning Support Teacher, Island Park
The 2025-26 MISD Classified Employees of the Year are:
Dawn Schiller, Paraprofessional, Pathways
Le-Minh Ha, Custodian, MIHS
Marcy Berejka, Registrar, IMS
The MISD Employees of the Year were presented a Red Marble Apple by Superintendent Rundle as symbol of recognition for their award.
MISD staff seated in the Northwood quiet dining area for MISD's employees of the year and years of service recognition.
Seven MISD staff members are retiring after the 2025-26 school year. They include:
Tanya Goodman-Sylvester
Karin Hummel
Ka Wai Li
Sally Loeser
Shelley Sage
John Sutherin
Patti Williams
Retiring staff were presented a Crystal Apple by Rundle in recognition of their years of service to the district.
Three MISD teachers received National Board Certification. They are:
Angela Carey
Lori deStwolinski
Sarah Hart
The District recognizes years of service by staff in five-year increments. This year Rundle recognized the staff members listed below for their continuous contributions to the District. Each staff member reaching a year of service milestone was presented with a certificate recognizing their achievement.
30-Year Service Recognition
Parker Bixby
Jacquie Garcia-Fauver
Diane Nielsen
25-Year Service Recognition
Angela Carey
Patri Collins
Kara Millsap
Jamie Prescott
Kay Walker
20-Year Service Recognition
David Baxter
Meredith Carlson
Maria Fontana
Sharon Jarnigan
Heather McLyman
Mike Neff
Shannon Sue
John Sutherin
Grant Weed
Cornelius Williams
Nicki Winder
15-Year Service Recognition
Kerri Goldner
Rebecca Hedlund
Donna Johnston
Daniela Melgar
Dana Parkey
Andreeves Ronser
Leslie Scheurich
Dawn Schiller
Crystal Taitague
10-Year Service Recognition
Lindzie Adamson
Carly Adams
Erin Battersby
Jennifer Blaser
Mana Chun
Giang Dang
Lisa Deen
Mike Diamond
Yan Fatien
Janel Foss
Sabine Friedman
Kate Halter
Miranda Hayes
Melissa Hersey
Tara Hutschreider
Hillary Johnson
Noel Kalthoff
Dani King
Tri Lam
Becky LeMaster
Ka Wai Li
May Look
Kati McConn
Cuong Ngo
Loan Nguyen
Danielle Orr-Bement
Rebecca Reid
Rochelle Robinson
Selamawit Shiferaw
Nick Stafford
Julie Ulrich
5-Year Service Recognition
Claudia Allard
Lindsey Blaine
Yanping Cai
Roxane Chan
Emily Curtiss
Chelsea Cvitkovic
Jacob Ellig
Elysse Forester
Linda Geffen
William Gerdes
Ian Henry
Lance Kinsey
Misuk Lee
Zachary McCauley
Katy Ramsey
Linda Strike
Canada Trieu
Austin Ward
Lukas Widtfeldt
Jen Williamson
Mary Woodgate
Chunan Zheng
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