• 2021 Superintendent's Service Award Winners

    Each spring support staff from across the district are nominated for the prestigious Superintendent's Service Award. In 2021, forty employees were nominated. This annual award is designed to honor support staff members who go above and beyond the call of duty as they perform their job responsibilities. 

    "Every year, as I review the nominations for this award, I am awestruck with the depth of the commitment to excellence our support staff provides to our schools, families and students. This award was created to celebrate their dedicated service and outstanding work, and I am honored to be part of this process. I thank them for their steadfast commitment to our district’s mission to deliver an excellent education for each student. They are valued team members, and I hope they all realize our entire Plano ISD family is proud to honor them as our 2021 Superintendent’s Service Award nominees. Each was nominated because their peers see them as someone who continually goes above and beyond their assigned duties and demonstrates outstanding commitment to their team and to the district. They help provide our district’s children with safe, creative and innovative learning environments and assist our district staff and families wherever needed. The positive impact they make is far reaching. Their dedication to caring is evident, and we are proud to celebrate their role in our district’s mission," said Superintendent Sara Bonser.

    Congratulations to the 2021 nominees and winners!
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  • Dellmy Cabrera - Sigler Elementary School

    Dellmy Cabrera: Teacher Assistant Prekindergarten, Sigler Elementary School

    Dellmy Cabrera

    Throughout my tenure as Parent Liaison, with the support of many, I was able to achieve many notable accomplishments. From assisting parents in completing health forms to securing glasses for underprivileged students the satisfaction of supporting families has been great. However, my most proud accomplishment involved a brave 9 year old student who had just recently received her U.S. Citizenship and her newly-single, unemployed mother. As a new student, her mother explained that her daughter had recently been diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. She furthered explained that her father refused to support her medical needs. It was at that point I knew that anything less than 100% financial support for this family was unacceptable. Throughout many months of countless phone calls, conferences with doctors, and waiting lists too many to mention, mom and I were finally successful. My brave 9-year-old friend would never want for medical assistance again.

    As I transitioned from Parent Liaison to Pre-Kindergarten teacher assistant, the adventure of supporting young learners continued. This proud moment involved a rambunctious, at times destructive, young learner who was attempting to navigate our American culture. In addition, this young boy had never been to school. Needless to say the lesson plan I was handed consisted of love, great patience and unconditional support. Though some days had great challenges, he and I were slowing moving toward a relationship of love and understanding. I watched this young student slowly learn to maneuver an American classroom with success. The reward for this adventure was “paid in full” when he would smile from simply time spent together or I heard his infectious giggle from a joke well told.

    As I reflect on my days spent at Sigler Elementary, I can say without hesitation there is no greater calling than loving the children that fill its classrooms.

    Letter of Recommendation

    Explaining why Dellmy Cabrera exemplifies all qualities and characteristics of the Plano Independent School District Superintendent's Service Award I could start by stating "just the seen facts"...
    • 8 years of dedicated service to the Sigler staff, it's students and their families
    • I could share that, as Parent Liaison, Ms. Cabrera found the needed resources and education programs for families in need. In addition, she built personal relationships with each family and successfully promoted healthy living and learning opportunities for their children
    I could add that as a Sigler parent volunteer she held the office of PTA President, as well as PTA fundraising chairperson. Ensuring, through these positions, that all Sigler students might have additional learning opportunities through guest authors, artists and science programs.
    However, what I really want to focus on are the unseen "facts" of why Ms. Cabrera is worthy of such a district honor. I have taught young learners within the Plano Independent School District for over 32 years. During that time, I have had the tremendous honor to work with the very best teachers and teaching assistants in the teaching profession. However, sharing a pre-kindergarten classroom with Dellmy has not only been an incredible teaching opportunity, but an opportunity in which she has made me a better teacher.
    To quote Fred Rogers (AKA Mr. Rogers), "the best teacher in the world is someone who loves what he or she does, and just loves it in front of you." This quote sums up what it is like to teach alongside Dellmy Cabrera. Here are just a few of the "unseen facts" which embodies the service of Ms. Cabrera.
    • In working with a student who learns differently than his peers, I have seen Ms. Cabrera pull him aside (without teacher prompting) one-on-one, day after day determined to fill in his learning gaps. I have watched that young man's confidence grow. When counting 1 to 5 seemed an insurmountable task with Ms. Cabrera's determination, over time, became one of absolute success. Ms. Cabrera was relentless. She was unwavering in her attempts to transform this young man's academic challenge into academic success.
    • On more than one occasion, I have witnessed a frustrated and very angry four-year-old throw a game board (and all its many pieces) across her teacher table when the winning outcome did not go in his favor. This student comes from a background where life's uncertainties, at times, are the norm. Ms Cabrera's response to him was one of love, unbelievable patience and pre-kindergarten finesse. After dismissing the other students, she moved closer to the student and together they practiced the "Settle Your Glitter" technique of "mindful breathing." What I witnessed was an angry child slowly returning to a positive rational state with help of an incredible loving teacher.
    • When a student was repeatedly having "nap bathroom accidents," (the ones that required a quick change of clothes) I witnessed Ms. Cabrera placing extra clothes in a near-by locker so that a discreet wardrobe change could be made without the notice of the student's peers. In doing so, the student never felt ashamed or embarrassed due to the thoughtful thinking of a kind teacher.
    In closing, "teaching assistant" is a term I refuse to use as it relates to the relationship, I share with Dellmy Cabrera. There are no "assistants" in our classroom. There is only a TEAM of two teachers determined that all students will be loved well and will be academically successful. I am sure as a committee you will receive many qualified nominations for such a prestigious district award. However, I believe there will be no better nomination than that of my "co-teacher" and friend, Dellmy Cabrera.
    Paula Niece
    Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
    Sigler Elementary School

  • Michelle Heitter: Cafeteria Manager - Wyatt Elementary

    Michelle Heitter: Cafeteria Manager, Food & Nutritional Services at Wyatt Elementary School

    Michelle Heitter

    During the Pandemic, I was asked to manage a school campus in addition to mine. In doing this, I witnessed my own personal training with my staff and knowing my campus would be well run while I was away. I have a good relationship with my staff and kids, because they are special and meaningful to me. I am very compassionate with my job,  and I go over and beyond to make sure every child is happy and fed. For example, I had a kid come in late for breakfast and was upset and the counselor knew I had a special bond with this child. So, therefore, I calmed him down and gave him a wonderful breakfast and made him smile. I am always willing to help or participate in any campus activities. I have the compassion to make my employess feel accepted and will always drop what I am doing to answer questions or lend a helping hand. My leadership and pride encourges my employees and staff to strive that much more for their appreciation to work with me. I truely believe a great leader has the expression "My Door Is Always Open." This is how I am able to make my employess feel they can come to me for anything whether its personal or job related. My goal everyday is to make sure each child has a smile and feels comfortable when coming through to buy lunch, and that my employess have everything they need to do the job well.

    Letter of Recommendation

    I am thrilled to recommend Michelle Heitter, Wyatt Cafeteria Manager, for this distinguished honor. Michelle is all about having a great attitude and because she is SO upbeat, her team is too. Michelle’s philosophy is to be a part of the team, not just a manager. It’s rare to find her sitting in her office, even though she could if she wanted to. She shares all the duties with her team which also attributes to their camaraderie and positive attitudes.

    It would be easy for the cafeteria team to spend all their time in the kitchen, but not Michelle’s team. Wanting to stay connected to our staff, she and her ladies walk the full length of our main corridor all the way to kindergarten every day. They make a point to talk with any staff they encounter as they make their way down the long corridor. The kids are always happy to see Miss Michelle! She knows every one of them by name and loves them all! I recently took a picture of her reading with one of the children. I learned later from the teacher that Michelle reads with students regularly! I love that Michelle has established with her team, that they are part of the Wyatt family. We are all part of one big team helping all students be successful in every way.

    Michelle is loved by the students and staff because she genuinely cares for them. She knows the personal stories of many of our kids and their families. I have gone to Michelle on occasion when a student has had a rough day to ask her view about how the child appeared at breakfast or lunch. I check in with her because I know she pays attention to each child as they walk through the line or while they are sitting at their table. If a student is off, or is having a hard day, she has most likely noticed. I think of her as an invaluable and reliable member of my team who sees that the school day is not just about academics, and her work at Wyatt is not just about serving meals. Michelle knows a lot about the students and their families because she gets out of the kitchen and talks to them. Once the meals are served Michelle can be found visiting the students throughout the cafeteria offering them positive statements, and a warm smile. Although, her smile can’t be seen this year due to COVID protocols, the twinkle in her eye is very visible! Students see that she is not just there to serve them lunch, but that she cares about each of them. She has amazing patience and a special bond with some of our toughest little customers!

    Michelle knows who eats breakfast every morning. If a student who normally comes in for breakfast does not come through the line, she finds out if they’re in school then tracks them down to make sure they have had breakfast.

    Michelle’s dedication expands beyond Wyatt. When asked to lend out cafeteria help to other campuses in need, she never hesitates. When she does this it means that she will only have two staff doing all the work in her busy kitchen. However, she gladly takes on more to assure that another campus can serve their students. She has also been active in the effort to serve families needing food this past year.

    Michelle is a shining example of the PISD Pillars! She is COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE, DEDICATED TO CARING, POWERED BY LEARNING and, is proud to be part of the Plano ISD family! As one of my staff said recently, “Michelle gets joy in making other people happy – she has a heart the size of Texas!”

    Michelle Heitter is truly a shining example of the type of person recognized by the Superintendent’s Service Award!

    Cynthia Hentges
    Principal
    Wyatt Elementary School

  • Michelle Ribeiro: Professional Learning

    Michelle Ribeiro: Office Manager, Professional Learning

    Michele Ribeiro

    I am most proud of my ability to help support others in PowerSchool. When I arrived at Plano ISD, we were using MLP. The following semester we began planning to change that. In a sense, I was being trained in both systems. I was using MLP and training to train staff members to use the new system. I love the fact that supporting this software has challenged me to understand it, administrate it, and trouble shoot it. The opportunity allows me to interact with most of our office managers, and many other operators throughout the district. I've learned how to generate click sheets for instructions, make training videos and lead training on PowerSchool. The interaction with my peers and fellow staff members is sometimes the best part of my daily duties. I get a real sense of accomplishment when we can work our way out of a problem or finish what appeared to be a daunting project for them. I also help existing and past teachers print transcripts, and principals print reports. The system allows me to interact with many people, and I am constantly building new friendships

    Letter of Recommendation

    The Professional Learning team is pleased to nominate Michelle Ribeiro for the Superintendent's Service Award. Michelle serves as a critical member of the professional learning team, taking on tasks above and beyond assigned administrative duties. She has proven over and over that she can coordinate with campuses and other departments to ensure that the details are taken care of and that problems are solved. When we are putting on an event or training, she leads setup efforts and is actively engaged during the events at locations all over the district.

    We don't know how we–or the district–would function without Michelle. The sheer volume of things she manages to juggle is staggering. Michelle is highly skilled at assessing needs and identifying solutions that serve the best interests of all stakeholders. She handles travel, purchases supplies for all projects, buys all food needed for training and events throughout the year, assists with the management of the budget, and reserves spaces for various events. We would not be able to produce high-quality learning experiences without the work she contributes behind the scenes.

    Michelle doesn’t just support the professional learning team; she also leads learning. Office managers and other PowerSchool operators have benefited from Michelle’s expertise as she has taught them how to use our online registration platform. She assists in the organization of the Office Professional Quarterly Conference and oversees the publication of a monthly newsletter for PISD’s office professionals.

    When it comes to customer service, Michelle is the gold standard. If you’ve ever stepped off the elevator on the third floor of the Admin Building, chances are you received a friendly hello from Michelle, and she may have even provided directions to wherever you were going. She is ALWAYS smiling and willing to help anyone from any department at any time. Michelle builds positive relationships across the building and district, fostering collaboration and positive communication. When a problem or conflict arises, she immediately brainstorms solutions, both in professional learning and employee services, and does so with patience and grace. Michelle is a natural servant-leader.

    In addition, Michelle’s productivity is unmatched. We frequently email her with small requests, expecting her to complete the tasks in a day or two, only to receive a reply within minutes that the copies are collated, stapled and waiting for us on our desks. She is a master of communication and understands when to let us handle a task, when to partner with us, and when to take care of it herself and inform us later. She has never encountered a problem that she can't solve and consistently exceeds expectations.

    Michelle is dedicated to serving all 7,000+ employees of Plano ISD. She exemplifies the pride of Plano: an employee committed to her work, a genuinely caring individual and a life-long learner.

    Ivan Cantu
    Director
    Professional Learning

  • Logan Singer: Facility Services

    Logan Singer: HVAC III Technician, Facility Services

    Logan Singer

    My proudest moments come with the day-to-day interactions with Plano ISD staff. I like to take people who are uncomfortable or upset and make them happy. I like to build relationships with the office managers and solve their problems to make their days easier. I find pride in the everyday rather than in sparing big moments. I also take pride in taking part in employee appreciation events and community impact drives. The employee appreciation luncheon is something that I enjoy planning. I also look forward to taking part in the Thanksgiving canned food drive every year. That is something that is very close to my heart. I am also proud of the work that I did in order to receive two promotions in one
    year. When I worked as a Night Filter technician, I worked alone and was able to keep ahead of the crews of two men. Lastly, the work that I did during the ice storm is something I am extremely proud of. I kept a level head while working long hours in extreme weather conditions. When the buildings were flooding, and I was soaked and tired, my managers knew they could count on me to answer my phone every time they called. I was there every day without complaint, because I care about Plano ISD and its people. It's an experience I will take with me for the rest of my years here.

    Letter of Recommendation

    Let me tell you a story about our Facility Services HVAC technician Logan Singer. During the February 2021 winter storm, while the district was shut down, Logan was on-call. Logan responded to on-call requests, as well as calls from his manager resulting in ten to twelve hour days. One particular day, he walked into a building where water was just gushing out of the ceiling. This was after several days of driving and working in weather that shut down an entire state. Instead of panic or anger, Logan sent a video of the damage to his managers along with a message for someone to bring him an extra pair of socks because his were wet. That’s the kind of person Logan is. Even in the face of disaster, he has not just a positive attitude but can even summon up some humor.

    Logan is the embodiment of the model technician. His drive and commitment to Plano ISD is evident in his everyday work. His sole mission each day is to make his customers happy, and he always accomplishes his mission. He is always polite and respectful, making him a favorite among office managers and his peers. His attention to detail makes him a highly skilled and technical HVAC technician, but he’s still always eager to learn and better himself. Most of all, he’s extremely helpful. He’s always willing to go above and beyond what’s asked of him, not only for his customers, but for his peers as well. When you ask something of Logan, you’re sure to receive more than what you asked.

    The kind of person Logan is was evident from the start. He started on the night filter crew in 2016. Instead of working in the normal crew of two, Logan worked by himself but was still able to keep up with, and even surpass, the other crews. In six short months, he was promoted to the night HVAC technician position. Logan made quite the impression while on the night crew, because in another six short months, he was promoted again to the day crew as an HVAC III technician for the West cluster.

    Logan is also highly involved in extracurricular activities for facility services. He’s an indispensable member of the employee committee who enjoys planning and participating in the employee appreciation luncheon. He is also one of the reasons why our Thanksgiving canned food drive is so successful. He has a big heart and truly enjoys giving back to Plano ISD and the community. After a hard day working at Plano ISD, Logan unwinds by watching Netflix by the fire with his girlfriend, Logan, (yes, her name is Logan, too!) and their cat, Liza. You’ll find no better recipient for the Superintendent's Service Award than Logan Singer.

    Juan Ramos
    Executive Director of Facility Services & New Construction
    Facility Services

  • Superintendent's Service Award Nominees, 2021

    • Jamil Ahmad, Stinson Elementary School
    • Vernita Anderson, Thomas Elementary School
    • Debbie Andrews, Transportation Services
    • Susan Baack, Isaacs Early Childhood School
    • Maria Balderas, Food & Nutritional Services at Weatherford Elementary School
    • Mamie Blasik, Gulledge Elementary School
    • Dee Brazile, Otto Middle School
    • Tamaki Buffington, Solomon Adult Transition Center
    • Dellmy Cabrera, Sigler Elementary School
    • Lei Chen, Robinson Middle School
    • Jim Crusinberry, Jasper High School
    • Judith Cruzan, Meadows Elementary School
    • Shirley Dendy, Beaty Early Childhood School
    • Brittany Espinosa, Haggar Elementary School
    • Ashlee Glasco, Schimelpfenig Middle School
    • Flor Hamilton, Bowman Middle School
    • Deborah Hastings, Hendrick Middle School
    • Michelle Heitter, Food & Nutritional Services at Wyatt Elementary School
    • Kristen Jones, Boggess Elementary School
    • Tomasa Kassap, Williams High School
    • Cindy Klapper, PASAR Finance
    • Karla Lemus, Head Start
    • Tonka Majdandzic, Transportation Services
    • Lori McCaffrey, Barksdale Elementary School
    • Marisa Mejia, Hickey Elementary School
    • Richa Nayak, Rasor Elementary School
    • Danielle Palomo, Regional Day School for the Deaf
    • DeAnna Parker, Plano West Senior High School
    • Marianna Perez, Forman Elementary School
    • Sandra Prenzi, Hedgcoxe Elementary School
    • Shaheen Rahman, Bethany Elementary School
    • Catina Rand, Transportation Services
    • Liz Reyes, Food & Nutritional Services at Meadows Elementary School
    • Michelle Ribeiro, Professional Learning
    • Roger Robinson, Transportation Services
    • Angela Aguirre Rojas, Wilson Middle School
    • Denisse Serralde, Mendenhall Elementary School
    • Logan Singer, Facility Services
    • Craig Stephan, Instructional Technology
    • Melinda Thomasson, Beverly Elementary School
    • Katherine Tsao, Food & Nutritional Services at Carlisle Elementary School
    • Tyler Vasquez-Heffner, Food & Nutritional Services at Carpenter Middle School
    • Robyn White, Safety & Security Services
    • Karen Wilkinson, Robinson Middle School