Staff Breakfast signals a positive start to the district’s new school year

by Mary Jo David

On August 16, 2022, Stockbridge Area Schools staff and administrators gathered for a breakfast meeting to kick off the new school year. The cafeteria in the Junior/Senior High School was filled to the brim with people and an optimistic vibe for the new 2022-23 school year. Superintendent Brian Friddle opened the meeting and introduced each of the speakers, beginning with school board president Carrie Graham.

Joan Tucker, president of the Stockbridge Community News took a few minutes to encourage staff to send along school news worth noting, as stories about the district’s activities and events are always well received by SCN readers.

Jennifer Hammerberg, president of the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation, presented SAEF’s Employee of the Year award to Michelle Hilla, director of curriculum and instruction. Hilla’s husband and three daughters were in the wings waiting to surprise her with their hugs upon announcement of the award.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, Friddle passed the baton to various principals and department heads who recognized their department staffs—with emphasis on new staff members—and spoke about initiatives they would be focusing on for the coming school year.

Following are photos of this year’s Employee of the Year and many of the new staff who were in attendance at the meeting.

All photos by Mary Jo David

Michelle Hilla (left) accepts the Employee of the Year Award from SAEF president Jennifer Hammerberg.

New Smith Elementary staff members looking forward to a great school year.

New Heritage staff already bonding as they prepare for the 2022-23 school year.

The smiles say it all; new Stockbridge Junior/Senior High School staff are ready to take on the challenges of a new year in a new school.

The district’s newest bus driver is ready to roll!