NOTE: Awards Nomination Form Available on Forms Page
Golden Acorn (Outstanding Volunteer) and Outstanding Educator Annual Awards If you know of individuals deserving of one these annual awards, please complete a nomination from. USE ONE FORM FOR EACH AWARD. Many parents, educators, and volunteers within our community make significant contributions to create an inspirational environment for our children. This is your chance to recognize and thank them for their efforts. Please help us in honoring those special individuals for their contributions of time and talents on behalf of children.
Each spring, award recipients are typically recognized at a TJMS PTSA meeting, newsletters, emails, and at the Vancouver Council PTA Awards Gala. TJMS PTSA presents the recipients with a special pin and certificate and their name is engraved on the school’s plaque, along with a contribution to the Washington State PTA Financial Grant Foundation. Donations are made in each recipient’s name to the fund, which in turn contributes to the future of youth by awarding grants to students who are freshmen entering post-secondary education. https://www.wastatepta.org/events-programs/awards/volunteer-recognition-awards/
Congratulations again to our past recipients listed below! *Past recipients may be nominated again.
GOLDEN ACORN (OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER) AWARD Do you know an individual who is continually volunteering at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and in our community? The Golden Acorn is a very special award that recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding service to all children in the school community. Since the beginning of this program, more than 45,000 Golden Acorns have been presented to volunteers throughout Washington State. Each year, to recognize and honor individuals for their work with Thomas Jefferson Middle School, the PTSA awards those volunteers with the Golden Acorn. “This award is intended for the volunteers who have gone “above and beyond.” When nominating an individual, please keep in mind this is truly an honor for continued and dedicated service.
GOLDEN ACORN (Outstanding Volunteer): 2004-05 Kim Price and Lori Shipman 2005-06 Debbie Trimble 2006-07 Zorina Nolan 2007-08 Lisa Coy 2008-09 Dawn Anthony and Janice Hall 2009-10 Anne Thom and Sherah Heil 2010-11 Ron Wagner 2011-12 Jennifer Dockter 2012-13 Rosalind Hatch-Pirkl 2013-14 Elizabeth Owen 2014-15 Annamarie Hoobler 2015-16 Rhonda Dojan 2016-17 Pam Erdy and Tandi Gray 2017-18 Jessica Marion 2018-19 Angela Arnett and Christine Wilson 2019-20 Angela Arnett and Kathryn "Zuka" Haarberg 2020-21 Kristin Schmitt
OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR AWARD Do you know an individual who has made a difference in your child’s education? The Outstanding Educator Award was created to recognize educators who go beyond normal expectations of their jobs to make the learning environment fun, beneficial, and challenging and who has demonstrated a commitment to “making every child’s potential a reality”. Do you know an individual who has provided outstanding educational opportunities for children and/or made significant contributions that enhance their education at Thomas Jefferson Middle School? This is your chance to acknowledge those that provide outstanding education and contributions on behalf of our children. An educator can be a teacher, support staff, administrator, or community member. OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR: 2004-05 Travis Wittwer 2005-06 Lisa Phillips 2006-07 Travis Wittwer 2008-09 Melissa Kraemer-Leonhardt 2009-10 Trevor Johnson 2009-10 Patrick Mongrain 2010-11 Greg Roberts 2011-12 Kelly Hathaway 2012-13 Jeannette Hathaway 2013-14 Becky Whitman 2014-15 Tammy Carlson and Autumn Smith 2015-16 Jennifer McKay 2016-17 Mona Dotson, Bill Sixour, Dominque Sukles, Sean Vance 2017-18 Karina Rocha, Leslie Roth, Lance Smith 2018-19 Julia Carstensen, Karina Kelley, Devonne Pele 2019-20 Renee Collins, Carmen Everingham, Marta Gray, and Becky Whitman 2020-2021 Lance Smith