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Education Foundation of Bloomington Prodigy Awards
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The Education Foundation of Bloomington’s Prodigy Award program has been recognizing outstanding groups in administration, support staff and teachers in Bloomington Public Schools since the early 1990’s. These exemplary groups of people have enhanced the lives of students and their families. The Education Foundation of Bloomington (EFB) Board of Directors extends our deepest gratitude to all employees in all Bloomington schools for their heroic efforts to put education and safety as the highest priorities. In our hearts and minds, all of you deserve Prodigy Awards.
We are continuing the Prodigy Awards for the 2024-2025 school year with the intent of recognizing excellence in Superb Staff Teamwork and Superb Administrative Teamwork, creating a better educational environment. The awards are sponsored by former Bloomington Public Schools teacher Patrick Porter.
2025 EFB Prodigy Award Winners
Jefferson High School Show Choir Directors
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.
Team: Zach Diedrich, Elliot Douma, Katie McCrea, Brian Ohnsorg
Bloomington DAPE Team
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.
Team: Jennie Berglund, Kyle Green, Tammy Kellen, Justin Lund, Celeste Meyer, Neil Mortland, Teri Roder, Allie Voineag, Jake Wypyszynski
Valley View Middle School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
Valley View Middle School Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
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.
Team: Evan Fair, Dailia Hanson, Holly Hysjulien, Rachel Masters
Javits Instructional Paraprofessionals
Javits Instructional Paraprofessionals
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.
Team: Jillian Chapman, Amy Coleman, Jennifer Elsen, Timothy Kaari, Mikaela Koch, Cheryl Lewis, Christine Thomas
Jefferson English 10 Book Team Exhibits
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.
Team: Cindy Elbert, Elizabeth Erdmann, Stephanie Feakes-Young, Steve Glover, Nick Hupton, Hannah Kennedy Nazario, Mary Klempke, Scott Sieling
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