Hemlock Elementary School proudly honors Lisa Biggs as its Classified Employee of the Year.
Lisa’s official title is Student Monitor and Crossing Guard, but she is much more than these titles imply. She takes the time to show genuine interest in every student and staff member. She learns names and sees the best in everyone; her presence is the glue that holds our school community together.
She is always ready to help. When behavior support is needed, Lisa is often the first person to respond to radio calls for help and gets there quickly. She seems to be everywhere, all the time! She works extremely hard and maintains a positive attitude, no matter how challenging her day is.
Students, families, and staff members get to start their school day with a smile and “Good morning, how are you?” from Lisa as they cross the street to come to school. For some of our students, that greeting and smile were their first positive interactions that day. It may sound small, but for many, that one moment of being seen is priceless. Students regularly seek Lisa out for encouragement or a listening ear. She is unfailingly empathetic and kind while holding students accountable to high standards.
One of the most distinctive qualities Lisa possesses is her ability to look at every student with unconditional positive regard, regardless of what mistakes they may have made. Even if students have made the same mistakes repeatedly, Lisa is always looking for the “why” behind the behavior and stays focused on the good, worthy, wonderful human being behind the poor choices. Then she seeks a way for students to find their way back to their best selves.
It is an incredible honor to work with Lisa Biggs, and it is a fantastic gift for our students to experience the kindness, love, and encouragement that Lisa showers on those around her.
– Nicole Bandy, Principal, Hemlock Elementary School