Kent School District announces employee of the year winners

Eleven staff members recognized

From left to right: Top row – Patricia Stallard. Lyndy Baron, Erica Wolfskill, Emily Collado; Middle row - Zhanna Cheban, Guy Byers, Judy Franklin, Bonita Webb; Bottom row - Laura Haffner, Alyssa Tabolsky, Arlene George. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

From left to right: Top row – Patricia Stallard. Lyndy Baron, Erica Wolfskill, Emily Collado; Middle row - Zhanna Cheban, Guy Byers, Judy Franklin, Bonita Webb; Bottom row - Laura Haffner, Alyssa Tabolsky, Arlene George. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Every year, the Kent School District celebrates and honors 11 employees for their dedication to teaching, serving, and supporting students and families.

The district announced May 28 the 10 employee of the year honorees and one teacher of the year who demonstrate impeccable qualities every day to earn this year’s award.

District staff members submitted their this spring to honor individuals from each employee labor group. From the nominees, a committee was responsible for selecting individuals to receive an employee of the year award.

The Kent School District Board of Directors plan to honor these individuals during the June 9 school board meeting:

• Guy Byers, Meridian Elementary School head custodian

Byers works hard to ensure Meridian students and his fellow colleagues have a clean and safe environment in which to both learn and teach. When school buildings were closed, he kept working on deep cleaning and projects that he did not have time for when buildings were open.

• Lyndy Baron, Health Services assistant director

Baron has stepped up during this pandemic to help our staff and students remain safe and well. She said “this has been a team approach over this last year and I could not have done it without the help of my team.”

• Zhanna Cheban, Nutrition Services assistant lead packaging line

Cheban has been with KSD for 15 years and the last two working as a packaging leader in Central Kitchen. Due to the pandemic, she has been distributing meal boxes at school distribution sites. She is both grateful and proud to receive this award and credits her team for the work done during this pandemic.

• Emily Collado, Student and Family Support Services executive assistant

Collado has been the backbone in her community at the administration center. She enjoys supporting parents in understanding the educational system so they can advocate for their children to get the most out of their education.

• Judy Franklin, Kent Academy administrative assistant

Franklin greets each student by name every morning and encourages students to keep trying even when it is tough. For the past 24 years, she has loved her job and watching students continue to grow into the kind and amazing people they were meant to be.

• Arlene George, bus driver

George enjoys seeing her students and has missed them due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been with the district for 31 years and appreciates her fellow bus drivers and Transportation team for this recognition.

• Laura Haffner, The Outreach Program (TOP) paraeducator

Haffner said, “I am extremely humbled and honored to receive this recognition.” She enjoys working with students at jobsites and watching them progress throughout their time at TOP.

• Patricia Stallard, Cedar Valley Elementary School principal

Stallard loves the challenge of influencing school culture and inspiring a growth mindset with staff and students. She said, “The most rewarding part of being the principal at Cedar Valley Elementary is being present for the moments when scholars and staff recognize their own success.”

• Alyssa Tabolsky, Ridgewood Elementary School counselor

Tabolsky loves working with all students and teaching social emotional skills that develop problem-solving and collaboration skills. She finds joy in seeing progress in each student as they navigate their educational journey.

• Bonita Webb, Meridian Middle School teacher

Webb’s commitment to building connections with each and every student to enhance academic growth is truly one of a kind. Webb said, “finding connections with even the most introverted student helps foster academic growth. I make sure they know I believe in them, that we can do it together, and then they can do it on their own.”

• Erica Wolfskill, Kent-Meridian High School cheer coach

Wolfskill’s favorite part of coaching is when student-athletes find that moment of success and pride in their accomplishment, whether it is big or small, in the classroom or in cheerleading. She said, “coaching is one of the greatest jobs in the world and I would not trade it for anything.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act

Crews on the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County install the framework for a new bus stop on SR 516, also known as Kent-Des Moines Road. The SR 509 Completion Project includes new or improved connections to existing transit centers and stops. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
Eastbound SR 516 ramp to I-5 in Kent to close for 4 months

Drivers heading to northbound I-5 will use a temporary left turn lane

Courtesy Photo, King County
Tacoma boy, 17, charged with murder in November 2024 Kent case

Reportedly fired six shots into vehicle that killed 21-year-old SeaTac man on West Hill

t
CW series ‘Police 24/7’ features Kent indecent exposure case

Department also part of future TV episodes after crews responded on calls with police in 2024

t
Kent mobile home park fire displaces 7 people, kills family dog

Cause of accidental fire Feb. 6 in 24400 block of 64th Avenue S. remains under investigation

File Photo
Police arrest man at Kent hotel wanted for Alabama murder

Officers take fugitive into custody Feb. 5 for December 2024 shooting

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Seven candidates to interview for Kent School Board vacancy

School Board members scheduled to select replacement at Tuesday night, Feb. 11 special meeting

t
Kent man, 24, identified in city’s first homicide of 2025

Elijah J. Oceguera Bestgen fatally shot Feb. 7 in wooded area along Lake Fenwick Road South

t
Cancer Center is open and ready to serve South King County

Cancer patients can now receive treatment at the Valley Medical Center in Renton.

t
Kent officers part of CW ‘Police 24/7’ episode Thursday night, Feb. 6

Department also part of future episodes after CW crews responded on calls with police in 2024