The Foundation is very proud to recognize so many great individuals that work very hard and give so much of their time and resources to our students This will be the fifth year that the foundation has awarded the “Friends of Education award” this is awarded to an outstanding individual who goes above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of students here at Fort LeBoeuf. The nominees can come from the classroom, athletic field, or someone behind the scenes. They can be a district employee including teachers, coaches and support staff or a member of our community.

Once again all of this year’s nominees are exceptional examples of what makes Fort LeBoeuf such a wonderful place. Two individuals really stood out for all their hard work & selfless dedication to our students, teachers and our district. The Fort LeBoeuf foundation was proud to announce this year’s recipients are Ali Coletta and Kim Heller

Our first recipient is Ali Coletta she has been a teacher for over 20 years. She currently teaching 4th & 5th grade at Waterford Elementary school. Her commitment to teaching is like no other. She is very creative and has created many fun activities for her students such as “Fear Factor”, “Tiny Hands Olympics. “and Elf School” just to name a few. She has also created school wide activities that have become an annual event. Ali is very giving of her time and is involved in several district clubs and her local teachers union. Her personality is magnetic and she is loved by many of her students past and present. One of her nominators stated the following “She flies under the radar staying in the background (which she is fine with) and doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. I feel it is time to give her a moment to shine”. During the pandemic she has continued to go above and beyond to insure school was as normal as possible for her students. She is constantly implementing new ideas into every day and every year. She has also brought community projects into her classroom, her students decorated coffee sleeves for a local coffee shop. She creates so much joy for those around her. We thank Ali for all she does to make Waterford Elementary the best place to learn, work and grow.

The second recipient of this year’s Friends of education award was Kimberly Heller.  Kim has been an employee of Fort LeBoeuf for many years.  She worked in the administration office as the district’s business manager.  In her role of managing the District’s finances, not only was she an expert in her profession but her commitment and compassion for our district’s students could be seen in her attention to detail and extensive knowledge. Kim also served as the treasurer of the Fort LeBoeuf Foundation throughout her time in the district.  Foundation president, Denny Fortin, shared, “Kim was invaluable to the Foundation.  Not only was she always prepared but she was committed to enhancing educational opportunities for our students.”  Kim retired in June of 2022 and will be missed throughout the district.  

Our other 4 very deserving nominees were the following:

Nicole Bowers ESL Teacher

“Nicole has given amazing support to all her students and families, especially her non-English speaking families. Nicole goes above and beyond each day by being flexible, kind and extremely caring she puts her student’s emotional wellbeing above anything.”

 

Casey Jack 1^st grade teacher at Robison Elementary School

“Casey is always looking for an opportunity to enhance her students learning. She encourages her students to not only be academically successful but to become well-rounded individuals. She is always searching to make RES a better place for her students and co-workers.”

 

Nadine Merry Parent Volunteer

“Nadine is a very busy Mom and volunteer. She is always someone you can count on and is always there for the kids and adults. She is willing to help out at any school or community function and is very giving with her time”

 

Dawn Howe Head Custodian

“Dawn has gone above and beyond to keep the school clean and safe for everyone during the pandemic. She is very attentive to all custodial needs in a timely manner even when the custodial department was understaffed. Most of all she is always so friendly and has positive attitude about everything”