March 2023 Employee of the Month

It is with pleasure that we honor Lynn Bartels, Para-Educator in Special Education, as the March 2023 Employee of the Month.

Lynn is an amazingly compassionate, caring and effective educator with a special gift to reach even the most challenging students. She has been a Para-Educator in the Emotionally Disturbed program at Central West High School for over 15 years, an area of special education that typically loses staff members to burnout quickly. 

Her work ethic is incomparable. In the ED program, students often present challenging behaviors and social-emotional dysregulation that makes learning difficult and daily life challenging. Some of the students even pose physical danger to themselves and others, requiring very specialized supports and sensitivity. Lynn takes pride in helping these students succeed not just academically, but emotionally.

With Lynn’s years of experience as a group home staff, mother and educator, having her in class is like having another psychologist around. Additionally, Lynn is the go-to person for our students enrolled in higher level general education math classes. Lynn’s support of students doesn’t just end in the classroom. Several years ago, she took in a student in need of a supportive home, fostering the student and becoming his parental guardian. 

The last few years during the pandemic have been challenging for ED students and staff. Lynn has gone above-and-beyond the call of duty, coming to work early and leaving late while always taking on more responsibilities for the benefit of others. The achievements and her students are undeniably the product of her efforts because she is an indispensable support that makes both educators and students better people.