Education Appreciation Awards-Helping Hands Award-Staci Wheeler

The Helping Hands Award.
This person is solution oriented, and someone who looks beyond
themselves and contributes on a regular basis. This educator consistently
exemplifies the spirit of this recognition as someone who looks beyond
herself, offers support without hesitation, and approaches every challenge
with compassion and a solution-oriented mindset.
This past year brought unexpected and deeply challenging circumstances
for many, but she stood out in an extraordinary way. When a fellow educator
was diagnosed with cancer, she immediately stepped up, not only as a
colleague, but as a true caregiver and advocate. She balanced her own
responsibilities while providing unwavering emotional, practical, and
logistical support to her friend. She took on additional duties at work to ease
the load, she was a constant presence, offering her time, heart, and hands
without ever being asked.
Her quiet strength, steady presence, and tireless efforts during such a
difficult time were a source of comfort to many and a clear example of what
it means to be a helping hand. She never sought recognition, only ways to
be of service.
her nomination also states, “What sets her apart is not just what she did, but
how she did it with humility, grace, and a steadfast belief in lifting others up.
She met the year’s hardships with empathy and action, never backing down
from what needed to be done. Her leadership was not loud, but it was
deeply felt by everyone around her.
Please help me congratulate Staci Wheeler from Park Avenue Elementary,
this year’s Helping Hands Award winner.