2026

Nancy Sonneson

Nancy ensures that our students are nourished and cared for. As a part of our culinary team, she has made a lot of children happy this year. Without a doubt, we are grateful as a staff to have Nancy on our team. Thank you Nancy!

Dina Sawyer

Nancy Sonneson

A friendly shout-out in appreciation for the years of experience, dedication, and professional care you demonstrate every day. The support you give to students, staff, and our community truly makes a difference.

Kathy Sloop

Ann Stevens

A big shout out to Ann, an wonderful member of our kitchen staff for her hard work and the care she puts into daily meals. We appreciate your dedication to keeping our students well fed and healthy each day!

Wendy Morrill

Ann Stevens

A friendly shout-out in appreciation for the years of experience, dedication, and professional care you demonstrate every day. The support you give to students, staff, and our community truly makes a difference.

Kathy Sloop

Linda Manire 

Linda, thank you for showing up with dedication, professionalism, and care. Your work helps students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn. Thank you for always keeping things running smoothly. 

Hannah Hartman

Jami Halverson

We are so grateful for the patience and kindness that Jami shows each day to our students. Kids coming in from recess are often rambunctious when they get to the cafeteria line and Jami understands this. She always gives our kids a little grace and understanding. Thank you Jami!

Dina Sawyer

Katie Freeman 

Katie Freeman is a cook/cashier at CRG/JMT. Katie is the youngest person on the team and brings an incredible joy in communicating and interacting with the students. When she cashiers she knows every name and she makes the students feel known and loved. Katie also buzzes around helping everyone with their work and bring such a great energy and joy. 

Sonia Freeman

Cindy Dole

Cindy comes to work every day with a smile on her face and a story to share. She loves to be social with everyone in the building. She exudes joy. Thank you Cindy!

Dina Sawyer

Heather Dye 

Heather Dye is a cook/cashier at CRG/JMT. Heather is a jack of all trades and shows her innovation and talents constantly in the kitchen bringing fresh ideas and streamlined work ethics. Heather also has incredible focus on making certain the students are seen and heard. She is so pretty also and brings light to the co-workers everyday!

Sonia Freeman

Cindy Dole

Every time I see Cindy, she has a smile on her face and such a friendly energy. Even when things get busy, she stays focused, hardworking, and happy. Thank you, Cindy, for everything you do and for how you model positivity and friendliness for us all.

Aaron Hansen

Graciela Ponce

 Graciela is a key member of our Canyon Creek Culinary Services team, known for her thoughtfulness and her collaborative spirit. As a cook and cashier, she brings a "team-first" approach to the kitchen, always looking for ways to support her colleagues and ensure the Commons is a welcoming space for everyone. We are so grateful for her dedicated heart and the positive energy she brings to CCMS every day. 

Jake Healea

Graciela Ponce

Graciela - Thank you for all that you do for Cape and Canyon! You are a hard worker and bring such a positive light to our kitchen. I appreciate you!!!

Brooke Henley

Lauren Woode

A big shout out to Lauren, one of our wonderful culinary staff for her hard work and friendly smile every day. We appreciate your dedication to keeping our students well-fed and fueled for success!

Wendy Morrill

Sherrie Campbell

Sherrie brings patience and kindness to our hungry, often impatient students every day. She is always kind even when having to redirect students to make better choices. We love having her at Gause. Thank you Sherrie!

Dina Sawyer

Sue Jarrell

Sue is a wonderful member of our Gause team. She is a quiet yet friendly face for our students. Her patience and kindness is ever present. We appreciate all she does. Thank you Sue!

Dina Sawyer

Shanise Abbey

Shanise is a wonderful asset to our schools. She consistently maintains a positive attitude and a friendly, hardworking approach to everything she does. It is clear that she truly enjoys the work she is doing, which means everything when it comes to supporting our students. Beyond her daily role, she also steps up to help the district by filling in whenever additional work needs to be done. Thank you, Shanise, for your flexibility and for all you do for our students and staff.

Aaron Hansen

Shanise Abbey

Shanise has a welcoming personality and presents in our school. She learns students’ names and greets them throughout the day and at lunch. She problem-solves, works as a team, and brightens everyone’s day!

Mary Andreotti

Kerry O'Connor 

We are thrilled to recognize Kerry O’Connor as our new temp Kitchen Lead! Kerry has stepped into this leadership role with a commitment to excellence and a "can-do" spirit. She manages the fast-paced environment of the Cape and Canyon kitchen with grace, ensuring that every meal served is nutritious and every student is greeted with a smile. We appreciate the leadership and organization she brings to our culinary team. 

Jake Healea

Kerry O'Connor 

Kerry - Welcome to Cape and Canyon! We are so glad you are here... I appreciate your smile and hard wok. You are a gem!

Brooke Henley

Kerry O'Connor 

Kerry, thank you for all you have done for CRGE this year and years past. We appreciate your smile and hard work. You have a big heart that helped make our school better. 

Hannah Hartman

Kerry O'Connor 

Kerry O'Connor works CRG/JMT as a cook/ cashier but has recently taken the role of lead cook. Kerry has risen to the occasion and brought a kind and gentle manner of leadership as well as. She stepped into some big shoes and walked in them very nicely. She had to learn many things quickly but she did it and did it well. 

Sonia Freeman

Kerry O'Connor

Kerry has been an exceptional leader in the CRGE/JMS kitchen this year. She has naturally stepped into a mentorship role, treating students with a perfect balance of kindness, respect, and firm accountability. Kerry has stepped up numerous times to fill leadership gaps and has handled every challenge with grace. While we will miss her, I am thrilled that she is moving on to lead her own kitchen. Thank you, Kerry!

David Cooke

Sonia Freeman

Sonia is a kind, caring member of our culinary team. Every day she comes to work with a positive attitude, a great work ethic and genuine care and concern for our students. It is clear how much she enjoys her fellow kitchen staff and the students. Recently she showed great compassion to some students who made a poor choice in the kitchen area. She respectfully listened, showed care and concern, offered great advice and then a treat. The students later on said that they couldn't believe that somebody could be so kind and caring after they made a mistake. They were absolutely blown away by Sonia's efforts to help them learn from the situation and repair the relationship. I was very fortunate to see that moment of kindness. Thank you Sonia for showing how much you care everyday.

David Cooke

Sonia Freeman 

Sonia, thank you for the kindness, patience, and encouragement you bring to every interaction. Your care helps students and staff feel valued, confident, and safe. 

Hannah Hartman

Katie Freeman

Katie is awesome. She brings a big smile and a positive attidtude to work everyday. She loves working with her culinary team and students. She is very helpful with students when they forget their lunch cards. Thanks, Katie, for all you do to serve our students.

David Cooke

Heather Dye

Heather is the 'life of the party' in the JMS kitchen. She brings a big smile, positive energy and a great sense of humor to work everyday. The students appreciated her enthusiasm and joy when she is working with them. Heather is a very important part of our kitchen team. Thanks, Heather, for all you do to serve our students.

David Cooke

Katie Freeman

Katie, every day, you help make our school a place where students feel safe, valued, and encouraged to do their best. Thank you for your ongoing kindness and support.

Hannah Hartman

Heather Dye 

Heather, thank you for showing up every day with dedication, professionalism, and care. Your work helps students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn. 

Hannah Hartman

Rebekah Call

A big shout-out to Rebekah our wonderful kitchen staff member for her hard work and dedication to our school community! We appreciate the positive energy you bring to the cafeteria and everything you do to keep our students nourished and ready to learn.

Wendy Morrill

Kiersten Surbeck 

Kiersten is the definition of a team player. While she serves our students delicious meals as a cook and cashier, she is also always willing to "jump in" wherever she is needed. Whether she is helping with student supervision or providing custodial support to keep our facilities clean, Kiersten’s proactive attitude and readiness to lend a helping hand make her an invaluable asset to the entire school. 

Jake Healea

Kiersten Surbeck

Kiersten - Your smile, laughter, and kindness lights up the cafeteria. Thank you for stepping in and supporting our Kodiaks!!!

Brooke Henley

Linda Manire 

Is the lead cook of Columbia River Gorge/Jemtegard. She was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last year. She has worked tirelessly and fervently never missing a day of work aside from cancer treatment. She lost all her hair and had some side effects but kept serving her kids and her team. This kind of dedication and strength is rare and I want to honor her for it. 

Sonia Freeman

Jami Halverson

Jami, we are so happy you are at the high school. Thank you for putting up with the three of us messing with the line. You are quick on your feet, especially when tech randomly decides not to work. Thank you for all the great work you are doing and the continuous improvements. 

Mary Andreotti

Sidney West

Sidney, thank you for all the work you have done at WHS. You are a constraint within the team and never miss a day :) and always helping when we step in with random questions. Thank you for the great work you have done and continue to do. 

Mary Andreotti