Watertown School District recognizes staff

Ingalls, Haukos named Employees of the Year


Certified and Classified Employee of the Year awards (Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current)

Purple and Gold appreciation and celebration filled the air at Watertown Middle School on the afternoon of Friday, Jan 24 as the Watertown School District held their annual staff awards and recognition. Dozens of district teachers and support staff were recognized for years of service, and the Certified and Classified Employees of the Year were named.

McKenzie Bakken, Ashley Holloway, Robert Solum, Stacy Block, Larissa Johnson, Margo Spiering, Kelli Bromwich, Mayce Kahnke, Ashley Stricherz, Kevin Conley, Connie Kieso, Andi Ward, Joanna Dallmann, Ashley Moes, Belynda Weber, Tawny Heiser, Amanda Ries, Colleen Winge, Lynelle Herstedt, Melissa Scholberg, Ashley Zemlicka, Kristi Herting, Hilary Settje and Ashley Zepeda were recognized for five years of service.

Honored for ten years of service were Cristina Brandsrud, Darla Kannas, Lisa Braun, Sarah Kantrud, Beth Falak, Tricia Manzey, Tricia Gerlach, Mary Pike, Jamie Halajian, Sherri Remmers, Justin Harte, Brittany Russell and Patti Johnson.

Todd Brist, Angela Struckman, Brenda Teske and Mallory VanWell were acknowledged for their 15 years of service to the district, while Dawn Burner, Shari Jacobson, Emily Borkhuis, Akiko Johnson, JJ Clendenin, Maria Jongbloed, Lindsey Geist, Michele Kruse, John Hodorff and Ryan Zink were recognized for 20 years. At 25 years are Rebekah Brasel-Anderson, Bobbi Jo Soupir, Jolene Sutton, Tom Wilde, Patty Zemlicka and Tammy Zubke.

Deanna Hickel is honored for her 40+ years with Watertown School District (Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current)

Those honored for 30-34 years of service include: Jenny Berg, Tammy Neale, Carolyn Holien, Stephanie Cole, Denise Mayer, Tricia Walker, Kelly O’Connor, Sara Singrey, Scott Walker, Kathy Busch, Dawn Dahle, Lisa Cady, Susan Fairchild, Dave Ingalls, and William Gripentrog. Bob Kerney, Jamie Schaack and Don Stormo were recognized for 35-plus years with the District. Deanna Hickel was lauded for 42 years with the district, first as a paraprofessional and now as a K-8 Colony teacher based at Lincoln.

Nominees for Classified Employee of the Year included district computer technician Austin Thompson, Watertown Middle School administrative assistant Lexi Gudmundson, Watertown Intermediate School paraprofessional Jessica Miles, Jefferson Elementary paraprofessional Patty Zemlicka, Lincoln Elementary administrative assistant Margo Spiering, McKinley Early Childhood Center paraprofessional Lily Breske, Mellette Elementary special education paraprofessional Julie Kjenstad, and Pam Haukos of district transportation and maintenance services. Certified employees are non-teaching staff who play a key roll in assisting teachers, students, administration, and parents in the day-to-day operations of the school buildings, the classroom, and the district as a whole. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen announced Haukos as the 2024-25 Certified Employee of the Year.

Classified Employee of the Year Pam Haukos (center) is pictured with her fellow nominees (Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current)

Also honored was Certified Employee (Teacher) of the Year, Brenda Ingalls. Ingalls teaches music at Lincoln Elementary School. She has taught for 32 years, with 26 at Lincoln. “I am truly honored and very humbled. The teachers in Watertown are honestly the best, every teacher is deserving. I am touched that the Lincoln staff would nominate me for this award.  I have a job I enjoy every single day and it is my great privilege to work with students in the Watertown School District,” said Ingalls.

The nominees for Certified Employee of the Year (Photo by Brandon Heim, Watertown Current)

Other nominated teachers include Jan Johnson, high school English, Jalynn Feininger, middle school librarian, Amanda Spaniol, special education at Watertown Intermediate School, Dr. Keri Tisher, first grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, Holly Grimsrud, preschool teacher at McKinley Early Childhood Center, and Sierra Vanderzee, first grade teacher at Mellette Elementary.

Superintendent Danielsen congratulated the winners and nominees and thanked all district staff for their commitment to the school district and the education to the young people of Watertown. All honorees were given a gift of Chamber Bucks by the BISCO Club of Watertown.