Dream Big Staff Choice Award voting to remain open through Sunday

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: One of the nominees, Jenni Moran, died Saturday following a battle with cancer. She was 45 and leaves behind her husband, Tom, and a daughter, Hadley.

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 fourth year the award is being given
out, having been developed to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Quincy Public Schools
educators.

All faculty and staff of Quincy Public School District 172 were asked to nominate a peer for
recognition of this award. Those with the greatest number of nominations at each of the 11
school locations are now moving on to community voting to decide this year’s Dream Big Staff
Choice winner.

Contenders for the award are:

• Donna Bichsel, paraeducator at Early Childhood and Family Center;
• Caprice Alexandre, fifth grade teacher at Baldwin Elementary School;
• Kyle Koenig, Cross Cat teacher at Denman Elementary School;
• Brad Funkenbusch, principal at Iles Elementary School;
• Amber Holtschlag, fifth grade teacher at Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School;
• Jenna VaLeu, student support family liaison at Rooney Elementary School;
• Christopher Turner, family liaison at Quincy Junior High School;
• Jenni Moran, SPED teacher at Quincy High School;
• Sarah Brigman, social worker at The Academy;
• Andrea Nicholson, culinary arts teacher at QAVTC;
• Teresa Kemp, benefits coordinator at the Board of Education Office.

Voting is open through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. To vote, visit the QPS Foundation website, qpsfoundation.org or by going to https://forms.office.com/r/VtzvgU0x6r. The winner will be announced at the Night to Dream Big Gala, planned for Friday, Nov. 1, at the Oakley-Lindsay Center in Quincy.

Tickets for the Night to Dream Big Gala are on sale now. Ticket prices are $80 per individual and $550 for a table of eight. A link to buy 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 High School or online at qpsfoundation.org. Mobile device users may donate by texting “QPSF” to 44-321. People interested in endowment giving may contact the foundation office at 217-228-7112 to request more information.