Prodigy Awards recognize teamwork to improve education in Bloomington
The Education Foundation of Bloomington (EFB) presented Prodigy Awards to five Bloomington Public Schools staff teams. The awards recognize teamwork among BPS employees to improve the educational environment. Winning teams receive $500 to be used in a classroom or to benefit students.
Jefferson High School Show Choir Directors
Pictured left to right: Elliot Douma, Brian Ohnsorg, Virg Senescall (EFB),
Debbie Belfry (EFB), Katie McCrea, Zach Diedrich
Team: Zach Diedrich, Elliot Douma, Katie McCrea, Brian Ohnsorg
This team is recognized for their work to rebuild and grow the Jefferson Show Choirs and Show Band into an award-winning program after the pandemic. Over the past three years they’ve added more than 30 new members and consistently reached finals at competitions. They’ve fostered a positive, high-achieving community where students thrive musically, socially, and personally.
Bloomington DAPE Team
Pictured left to right: Debbie Belfry (EFB), Justin Lund, Tammy Kellen,
Teri Roder, Jake Wypyszynski, Virg Senescall (EFB), Allie Voineag,
Neil Mortland, Celeste Meyer, Laurie Schields (EFB)
Not pictured: Jennie Berglund, Kyle Green
Team: Jennie Berglund, Kyle Green, Tammy Kellen, Justin Lund, Celeste Meyer, Neil Mortland, Teri Roder, Allie Voineag, Jake Wypyszynski
The Bloomington DAPE/Unified PE Team creates and expands inclusive physical education and leadership programs across multiple schools, fostering a culture of respect and belonging to students of all abilities. The team shares their experiences, strategies and ideas to build a stronger, unified approach to inclusive education. Their work has transformed school communities by breaking down social barriers, boosting student confidence, and creating authentic peer connections.
Valley View Middle School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Pictured left to right: Laurie Shields (EFB), Evan Fair, Holly Hysjulien,
Virg Senescall (EFB), Rachel Masters, Debbie Belfry (EFB), Dailia Hanson
Team: Evan Fair, Dailia Hanson, Holly Hysjulien, Rachel Masters
The VVM GSA team provides vital advocacy, support and visibility for LGBTQIA+ students by creating a safe student-led space. Despite challenges, they’ve persisted in creating a culture of inclusion and education through visibility campaigns and student projects. The program has served an estimated 150 students in the 15 years since its creation.
Jefferson English 10 Book Team Exhibits
Pictured left to right: Nick Hupton, Steve Glover, Debbie Belfry (EFB), Stephanie Feakes-Young,
Virg Senescall (EFB), Elizabeth Erdmann, Scott Sieling, Hannah Kennedy Nazario,
Cindy Elbert, Laurie Shields (EFB)
Not pictured: Mary Klempke
Team: Cindy Elbert, Elizabeth Erdmann, Stephanie Feakes-Young, Steve Glover, Nick Hupton, Hannah Kennedy Nazario, Mary Klempke, Scott Sieling
The English 10 team hosts a schoolwide project combining reading, teamwork and creative expression to engage all Jefferson sophomores in a powerful literacy experience. Students collaborate on presentations on books they read. This year the English 10 team secured grants and donations to create awards to increase engagement and excitement about the projects. The project has demonstrably increased students' reported value of group work, quality of final products, and personal growth.
Javits Instructional Paraprofessionals
Pictured left to right: Laurie Shields (EFB), Christine Thomas, Cheryl Lewis, Tim Kaari,
Jillian Chapman, Virg Senescall (EFB), Debbie Belfry (EFB), Jennifer Elsen, Mikaela Koch
Not pictured: Amy Coleman
Team: Jillian Chapman, Amy Coleman, Jennifer Elsen, Timothy Kaari, Mikaela Koch, Cheryl Lewis, Christine Thomas
This group of paraprofessionals provides instructional support for kindergarten and first grade students at five elementary schools, providing rigorous enrichment to increase equity and access to Gifted and Talented programs. They tailor lessons to each school’s context. Their contributions have extended beyond academics to include school events and professional learning presentations. As the first-of-its-kind team in the district, they’ve set a high standard for instructional excellence and inclusion at this level.