May 31, 2024

On May 31, the Fairview Park City School District held the annual End of the Year Service Awards and Retirement Reception celebration.

Congratulations to Mary Salco and Dennis Johnson, who were recognized as the 2024 Educator of the Year and Employee of the Year.

Here is what was said about Mary Salco by Superintendent Keith Ahearn at the ceremony:

Now for the Educator of the Year award. Here are some of the adjectives used to describe this year’s Educator of the Year: Passionate, hard-working, caring, and committed.  

A nominator wrote: 

“She is an outstanding educator and a tremendous asset to the students and staff at Gilles-Sweet. I have had the pleasure of working with her for the past 12 years. Year after year I have observed her students’ ability and confidence in math grow. Her creative teaching strategies and ability to make math approachable and fun for every student is a true gift. Her work ethic and professionalism are also impressive. I know many of us at Gilles go to her for help. She can look at situations from many angles and works collaboratively to find solutions to problems. Finally, and maybe most importantly, her students love her.  She fosters a nurturing environment where each child feels valued, listened to, and supported.”

Another nominator wrote:  

"For the last four years I’ve gotten to partner with the most hardworking person I know. She stays late, comes in when she doesn’t feel well, and never sits down - she’s always moving. I watched in awe as she navigated teaching math virtually during the shutdown and went above and beyond to see that each and every kid got the help they needed from home. She’s also one of the smartest people I know. Her brain works in ways that I simply don’t understand. The best part of it all is that I get to see kids fall in love with math year after year in her classroom. She’s patient with the most challenging of students, encouraging to those lacking confidence, and loving to those that need it most. She makes kids feel safe in her room. Now many of you may not know this, but those who know her closely know that she is without a doubt one of the funniest people too. She’s quick, does great impressions, and has also been known to throw down in a rap battle with her kids. She challenges the people around her to be better, including her students. Simply put, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her family, both the one at home and the one she creates in her classroom, are the truest reflections of the amazing person that she is. We’re all so thankful she chose to be a teacher and it’s time that she be celebrated for it."

Here is what was said about Dennis Johnson by Superintendent Keith Ahearn at the ceremony:

Words used to describe this year’s employee of the year were dedicated, hardworking, funny, and dependable. Here are just a few of the wonderful things people had to say about this year’s Employee of the Year: 

“He is awesome and treats everyone with dignity and respect. No problem is too small or too petty for him to help people. He is ALWAYS in the building and ALWAYS available to help. He helps out with sports, music, theater, and with weird requests for academics.  He knows this building like the back of his hand, and his focus is always centered on making sure that everything is right for the kids.  

"When situations get tense he can diffuse them with a little joke and some flashy eyebrow raises. He has dedicated many years to serving our community in many capacities. Also, he just rocks!”

Here is what another nominator wrote: 

“[He] sets an amazing example of continued service to ensure our student-athletes have the best facilities and experience possible. When it's so easy to say no, [he] says "Why not?" and finds possible solutions to get the job done.”

Another nominator wrote: 

“He is a fixture in Fairview High School…because he embodies all of the characteristics that a person employed at this district should have. He is hardworking, compassionate, friendly, and considerate and goes out of his way to be helpful and have positive conversations with anyone he interacts with. This building doesn't run on Dunkin, it runs on Dennis."

Best wishes go out to the following employees for their retirement. Thank you for the positive impact you made on students in Fairview Park. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior!

• Ruthanne Baldi
• Jeanne Johnson
• Jan Lockwood
• Alex Morgan
• Sarah McIntyre
• William Naso
• Nick Wolansky

Many Fairview Park City School District employees were recognized for their years of service.

• One year of service: 20 employees
• Five years of service: 3
• Ten years of service: 12
• Fifteen years of service: 7
• Twenty years of service: 5
• Twenty-five years of service: 2
• Thirty years of service: 2

Click here to view photos from the 2024 End of the Year Service Awards and Retirement Reception