Spirit of the Mustang Recipient - Mailani Ovard

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Spirit of the Mustang

You all exude the Spirit of the Mustang on a daily basis. I’m constantly impressed and awed by the dedication and determination of Mapleton Jr. High Teachers and staff. Moreover, you are all so delightful to work with, and I’m truly privileged to work here.

The person I’ve selected this month is passionate and invested in student learning. This teacher pays close attention to student needs and facilitates communication between parents, teachers, administration, and students to create positive experiences for young people who are often experiencing an even more thrilling Jr. High rollercoaster ride than most.

Mailani is a master at dealing with the mountains of paperwork that Special Educators face, and does so with grace and humor. However, even more important than her Ninja paperwork skills, Mailani is dedicated to the population of students we work with every day. From sitting with reluctant students one on one to washing and mending student clothes when the situation call for it, Mailani is invested in the success and happiness of students who may not see their own potential. She always sees the big picture and is bothered about what might happen later on in life when she can’t watch out for these amazing students.  She constantly teaches students the value of kindness, respect, hard work and resiliency and is a great role model for our incredible students.

Additionally, Mailani has been one of my great teachers in life. Her determination to show up and give her best effort on tough days is inspiring to me as is her passion for student success. When she needs to take a day off, she is always aware of the load others are taking on to support the absence, but never hesitates to take other’s classes, check in with our substitutes, and watch over students. Working on the SpEd team with Mailani Ovard  is a great honor. Thanks Mailani for  demonstrating Mustang Spirit  every day.

Attributions
Becky Clement