Feb. 24, 2025 -- The theme across the CH-UH School District this year is Heights United. In that spirit, each month CH-UH is recognizing employees who go above and beyond to inspire unity and create a culture of excellence in our district.
For February, CH-UH is honoring 11 people as the “Tiger Team Members of the Month”. Each honoree was nominated by a colleague--and in some instances multiple colleagues--and the nominees were then voted upon by a staff committee.
The honorees will be recognized by the Board of Education on Tuesday, March 4.
Board of Education/Bus Depot/Delisle Options Center/IT/Millikin: Patrice Martin-Bonner
Patrice has a special ability to connect with people, making everyone feel heard and valued. This is especially evident in how she supports families who call in frustrated—she listens, reassures them, and turns the conversation into a positive experience. Patrice also makes it a priority to check in on her team and look for ways to use her strengths to better support everyone. I feel so lucky to work with her, and our team is better because of her dedication, kindness, and problem-solving skills.
Boulevard: George Watters
George is attentive, very helpful to staff, very involved, and has a wonderful personality. He keeps our building looking and smelling amazing, and we all appreciate him!
Canterbury: Loretta Heard
Ms. Heard should be recognized as a Tiger Team Member of the month for her excellent support of her 1-on-1 student. She is caring and patient. She takes time to work with her student and supports the rest of the classroom along the way. Ms. Heard is always friendly and helpful, and is just an all-around great person.
Fairfax: Rochelle Klein
Rochelle is an incredible teacher and wonderful colleague to work with. Her genuine love for her students is evident, and she has created a warm, bright, and welcoming environment for all who enter her classroom.
Gearity: Deja Murray
Deja is very creative and is always willing to find ways to support the building in special projects. She has been instrumental in organizing Black History Month displays, staff team building games, and materials to help Gearity students grow. She is very responsive to staff needs when addressing student attendance. She knows every student by name and shows her genuine care for them by helping them problem solve, setting and maintaining reasonable limits for behavior in a differently structured environment, and sharing humor with them.
Heights High: Keith Newman
Keith is an "unsung hero" of Tiger Nation. He does tons of work that largely goes unseen by the general school population. Keith has been especially busy this month with Fairfax Cabaret, the Superintendent's State of our Schools, high school concerts, Black History Month celebrations, a film festival, and more. All of these events have gone on without any issue, with only Keith and his stage crew made up of students. That success rate is a testament to Keith's abilities, knowledge, and profound contributions.
Monticello: Genevieve McDougal
Ms. McDougal is the glue that keeps the 6th grade team together. She is incredibly structured, detail-oriented, and focused on aligning her team with Monticello’s initiatives and goals. Whether it’s about student support, instructional planning, or school-wide expectations, she leads with clarity, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to both her colleagues and students. Beyond her leadership, Ms. McDougal brings engaging and thoughtful instruction to her Social Studies classroom, helping students connect history to the world around them. She sets high expectations and provides the structure and support for her students to thrive.
Noble: Erik Rozsa
Erik has been so helpful in his coaching and building additional resources to support me as a teacher. I feel the coaching has been beneficial in helping me learn more about the standards of the district.
Oxford: Deidre Murray
Deidre is the heartbeat of our front office—always helpful to everyone, providing top-notch customer service, and handling every situation with grace and professionalism. No matter how busy the day gets, she never gets rattled and ensures that everything runs smoothly for our staff, students, and families. Her dedication and positive attitude make a huge impact at Oxford every single day!
Rox El: Sonya Howell
Sonya is always willing to help! She does a great job of working with her students, even when they are experiencing a challenging situation.
Rox Mid: Quinci Teer
Quinci is a valuable contributor and member of the Rox Mid family. She is relational, solution oriented, and a team player. Students often say how engaging her science class is and how much fun they have while learning. Quinci serves on our BLT and always provides an insightful perspective. Community is the heart of who Quinci is. A question she often poses at meetings is "how can we partner with our community?".