On April 26, the Bloomington Public Schools held a ceremony to honor Special Education Community Advisory Council (SECAC) staff who were given the district’s Special Caring Award. More than 50 special education staff members were nominated and recognized by the district in an awards ceremony dinner.
The following district special education staff received the Special Caring Award: Kylene Dmochowski (Oak Grove Middle); Marie Endersbe (Oak Grove Middle); Ann Gunderson (Oak Grove Elementary); Allison Hedlund (Valley View Middle); Sheila Johnson Mindermann (Normandale Hills); Samantha Kaiser (Hillcrest); Tara Mitchell (Kennedy); Emily Ramirez Aguilar (Normandale Hills student); Phillip Starr (Kennedy); April Walker (Pond Center); Quinn Walsh (Bloomington Salvation Army); Briana Weigel (district-wide).
In addition, Leticia Alvarez, a Kennedy High School special education staff member and daughter of Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard, was nominated for the Special Caring Award.