On May 29, 2024, faculty and staff gathered in the Louisa Performing Arts Center to honor the recipients of the Mary Flynn Flemke Award, the Sarah Hoiles Memorial Fund Award, and the inaugural Outstanding Support Staff Award for the 2023-2024 academic year. The awards were presented by Associate Head of School Ellen Crow. Congratulations to Dr. Josh Gillon, Caren Goldberg, and Kelley Jefferson!
Mary Flynn Flemke Leadership in Education Award
The Mary Flynn Flemke Leadership in Education Award recognizes outstanding individual accomplishments in the education of students and the advancement of the school. A faculty member who leads by example, is loyal to the school, exceeds the high standards of our faculty, and also has the managerial skills to make sure things get done.
The recipient of this year's Mary Flynn Flemke Award is Dr. Josh Gillon. Dr. Gillon models and exemplifies the mission of the school and consistently goes above and beyond his assigned duties to help his students master class content. With seven preps this year, he generously gave his time to help students understand a difficult concept, teach a class needed for a student to go farther in math, and support his economics students in starting a small business to gain real-world practice in being entrepreneurs.
Dr. Gillon, who also received the University of Colorado Boulder’s Outstanding Colorado High School Educator Award earlier this year, finds avenues to support CSS outside of his classroom and make a greater impact on the school. He has been a part of committee work to support Admissions, taken on the Math Department Chair role, and sponsored many student activities, including the award-winning Matchwits team. Dr. Gillon contributes to policy discussions consistently and with insight and can be counted on to offer his opinion on how best to meet the needs of our students. Through questioning and discussion, he brings ideas and solutions for improving CSS.
Most importantly however, Dr. Gillon is a strong voice for all students, particularly those with learning differences, and is a supportive sounding board for the social-emotional needs of many students. An integral member of the CSS team, congratulations to Dr. Josh Gillon.
Sarah H. Elizabeth Hoiles Outstanding Faculty Award
The Sarah H. Elizabeth Hoiles Outstanding Faculty Award is given to the individual who provides exemplary service to the CSS community, has been here three or more years, demonstrates commitment above and beyond the standard job requirements, and shows enthusiasm for teaching, learning, and helping others.
The recipient of this year's Sarah Hoiles Memorial Fund Award is Caren Goldberg. A first-grade teacher for the last five years at CSS, Ms. Goldberg is always looking for ways to improve her craft and do more for students. When talking with her students, they quickly and honestly share how much they love her class and how much they learn because she has that perfect balance of love and discipline that can be a struggle to find.
This dedication and love for her students and her work go beyond that of her classroom. She is a passionate leader, eager to learn and grow to benefit both her students and CSS as a whole, seeking professional development opportunities and continuing her education to earn her second master's degree.
Piloting a writing coach position this year, Ms. Goldberg helped 5th grade by modeling lessons and providing guidance to the teachers. She worked with the Division Director to bring STEAM Day to the younger grades and has run Reading Rocks, a summer literacy camp.
Ms. Goldberg volunteers her time to help anyone in need and is the kind of teacher who many strive to be. She cares deeply about the success of her students, colleagues, and school and is well deserving of this award.
Outstanding Support Staff Award
The Outstanding Support Staff Award is given to the staff member who goes above and beyond to provide exemplary support to teachers, administrators, and students at CSS with a positive attitude and growth mindset.
The recipient of this inaugural award is Kelley Jefferson. Although her job title says "Registrar," Ms. Jefferson is so much more. Often the first contact in the Trianon, she exudes kindness, helpfulness, and positivity. She is an integral part of the success of our campus garden, not only tending to it so lovingly but also making student service a cornerstone of its success. Additionally, Ms. Jefferson has stepped into helping with the facilities and landscaping project for our "million dollar" walk and has provided secretarial support for the campus in addition to her normal duties.
You can find her in Learning Lodge in the afternoons supporting students as they complete their homework or proctoring an SAT or AP exam, sometimes during the weekend! As school registrar, she was integral in completing schedules in record time this year and is always happy to troubleshoot and problem-solve. Most recently she has kept CSS on track for commencement preparations to celebrate our graduating seniors fully.
Ms. Jefferson is focused on the success of CSS, the faculty and staff, and students. She is a joy to be around and well deserving of this award.
