Montenaro, Wilcox receive December MVP award

Congratulations to the December recipients of the Most Valuable Patriot (MVP) award, school bus driver Debbie Montenaro and third grade teacher Jen Wilcox. 

Debbie Montenaro, school bus driver 

Long-time bus driver Debbie Montenaro plans to retire at the end of this school year, and she teared up when she learned she had been selected for an MVP Award.
 
Montenaro was nominated by two parents of children who ride her bus. Her first nomination read, in part: "Debbie takes great pride in the way she performs her job responsibilities. In the mornings, she always greets my child (I'm sure every student!) with a warm, welcoming 'hello' and a positive comment… On Halloween, my daughter expressed to me how Debbie helped her exit the bus safely so she wouldn't trip on her costume."

"I love these kids," Montenaro said. "It's going to be hard to walk away."

Montenaro's second nomination underscored her love for the children in her care. "Miss Debbie has been protecting my children since we moved into our new home a few years ago. She isn't a 'bus driver' – she is genuinely the 'mama bear' when the children are under her watch! Every day, I see or hear Miss Debbie saying something to the kids that shows her love for them. I can sincerely say my kids are more than just safe with Miss Debbie; they are loved."

Montenaro's love for her job and commitment to safety shows in all that she does. Her first nomination concluded: "Whenever I see her bus in the community or parked waiting for the students to dismiss, Debbie is showing her concern for safety or just there to offer a friendly gesture. Her love for what she does ensures students have a positive start and end to the school day. Broadalbin-Perth is extremely lucky to have such a truly amazing person transporting the students!"

"I love this community more than life itself," Montenaro said. "I wish I could take B-P to Florida with me. This is my favorite job I've ever had."

Jen Wilcox, third grade teacher

Third grade teacher Jen Wilcox said she was "shocked and amazed" to win an MVP Award. Jen was nominated for an MVP Award by a grateful parent who stated: "Ms. Wilcox has helped my daughter progress more academically in the past three months than she's been able to in the past three years. And she has achieved this while constantly remaining gentle and kind, commanding respect and adoration from her students."

Wilcox's nomination concluded: "Ms. Wilcox has seemed to make it her personal mission to help grow all of these young individuals and I am honestly awestruck. She is truly an incredible teacher and we've been so grateful that our daughter has her this year."

"I'm honored to be a teacher," Wilcox said. "It's a reward every day to work with my students. Personal connections are everything with the kids. All I want is to watch them succeed."

Each month, two district employees are recognized through Broadalbin-Perth's MVP program. Each winner receives a B-P Yeti mug. Nominations can come from any member of the school community and all nominations should be submitted online. The deadline to nominate a B-P employee for the January MVP award is Thursday, Jan. 4.