The Mercer Island School District honored its Teachers and Support Staff of the Year at a recognition event June 8 in the Mercer Island High School library.

The Teachers of the Year are Kim Schjelderup, mathematics, Mercer Island High School; Adrienne Bylsma, physical education and health, Islander Middle School; and Kara Millsap, elementary technology specialist.

The two outstanding Support Staff of the Year are Dave Irish, bus driver, Transportation Department, and Scott Sisk, grounds lead, Maintenance and Operations Department.

“We are proud to honor these employees for everything they do each and every day in their respective roles that support our district’s 2020 Vision,” said Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano in a press release. “They are truly outstanding individuals and their efforts are to be recognized and commended.”

Schjelderup, affectionately called “Shelli” by her students, has taught at MIHS since 1994 and is the mathematics department chair.

“Kim is so dedicated to each and every one of her mathematics students,” said MIHS Principal Vicki Puckett in the press release. “She is ready to help each student — rain, shine, hail or even weekends. She comes to work early in the morning, way before school starts and stays to help struggling learners. She has devoted her professional life to helping her students grow.”

Bylsma has taught physical education and health at Islander Middle School since 2012.

“Adrienne is an amazing teacher leader,” said Mary Jo Budzius, IMS co-principal. “Improving teacher practice so that students receive the very best experience at IMS is her number one priority. Students reflect on their experiences in Adrienne’s classes and say her impact on them is great and lasting.”

She serves on the IMS building leadership team, works as the school’s new teacher coordinator, supports the building professional planning team and has revised the class in which students are trained to help others with their transition to middle school.

Millsap was hired in 2001 as a teacher at Lakeridge, and then became elementary technology specialist in 2011.

“Kara’s understanding of the K-2 instructional program, paired with her numerous ideas for technology integration as well as her coaching skills, continue to move our district vision forward,” said Jennifer Wright, executive director of Learning and Technology Services. “Her goal is to make whatever experience she is involved with successful for both the teacher, and most importantly, for the students.”

Most recently, she spearheaded efforts with communication skills in primary classrooms, utilizing green screen technology, publishing book reviews by students and finding ways to personalize learning in literacy.

This year she was also instrumental in implementing SeeSaw, an app that allows students to upload work that can be viewed and commented on by a student’s parent and teacher, thereby creating a digital portfolio of the year.

Irish started with the Mercer Island School District in 1984 as a bus driver and has worked in the Transportation Department ever since. During his tenure, he has received numerous awards for safe driving and was named Driver of the Year in 1998.

“Dave has found his place as a special ed bus driver,” said Dave Bynum, Transportation director. “As an accomplished musician and singer/songwriter, Dave likes to use his talents to inspire children and support the staff in the district. One of Dave’s specialties is writing unique birthday songs for the students he carries each day.”

Irish also directs and performs with the Bus Boys who frequently perform at school events, including the recognition event where he was honored.

Sisk was hired in 2004 as grounds engineer and became grounds lead in 2006.

“There is only one staff member who cares full-time for Mercer Island School District’s 80-plus outdoor acres,” said Tony Kuhn, director of Maintenance and Operations. “Scott has a great sense of humor and is very caring.”

His responsibilities include all the landscape mowing, trimming and weeding. He manages the irrigation systems, which include thousands of sprinkler heads. He also takes care of athletic field painting for high school sporting events.

Sisk is well known as the district “goat herder.” He takes the district’s three grass-eating goats to their daily assignments and picks them up afterwards.

During the summer and on holidays, he cares for them at his home on Whidbey Island.