Online voting for Dream Big staff choice award open through Oct. 14

October 6, 2023 | By Muddy River News

Top row from left, Krykette Eversden-Duesterhaus, Marcey Wells, Heather Maston and Brian Armstrong. Middle row, Shawn Sparrow, Tami Redd, Heather Columbo and Amy Leebold. Bottom row, Kate Sanders, Jessica Koscielski, Cheryl Vogler and Alison Merrill. | Photos courtesy of Quincy Public Schools Foundation

QUINCY — The Quincy Public Schools Foundation is asking for the public’s help in deciding this year’s Dream Big staff choice award winner.

This is the third year the award is being given out having been developed to recognize the extraordinary efforts of local educators. All faculty and staff of Quincy Public School District 172 were asked to nominate a peer for recognition of this award. People with the greatest number of nominations at each of the 11 school locations are moving on to community voting to decide this year’s Dream Big staff choice winner. A new category was added this year to include staff members who work at multiple school locations.

Contenders for the award are as follows:

Tami Redd, teacher at Early Childhood and Family Center
Shawn Sparrow, student support family liaison at Baldwin Elementary School
Krykette Eversden-Duesterhaus, special education cross categorical teacher at Denman Elementary School
Jessica Koscielski, kindergarten teacher at Iles Elementary School
Alison Merrill, instructional coach at Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School
Amy Leebold, special education third grade co-teacher at Rooney Elementary School
Heather Maston, science teacher at Quincy Junior High School
Cheryl Vogler, science teacher at Quincy High School
Marcey Wells, principal at The Academy
Brian Armstrong, diesel equipment teacher at QAVTC
Kate Sanders, hearing impaired teacher at multiple locations
Heather Colombo, librarian and media specialist at the Board of Education Office

Voting is open through 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 14. To vote, visit the QPS Foundation website, qpsfoundation.org. The winner will be announced at the Night to Dream Big Gala, planned for Friday, Nov. 3, at the Ambiance.

Tickets for the Night to Dream Big Gala are on sale now. Early bird prices for tickets are $70 for an individual or $500 for a table of eight. After Oct. 13, ticket prices increase to $80 for an individual and $550 for a table of eight. A link to purchase the tickets is at qpsfoundation.org. Tickets may be bought by calling the foundation office at 217-228-7112.

Gifts to the Dream Big Campaign should be made to QPS Foundation and can be sent via postal mail to the foundation office at Quincy Senior High School or online via the foundation’s website, qpsfoundation.org. Mobile device users may donate by texting “QPSF” to 44-321. Those interested in endowment giving may contact the foundation office at 217-228-7112 to request more information.