At the March Board of Education meeting, Carpenter Elementary School celebrated fifth-grade student Matthew Rusiecki and Interventionist Camille Derwin. Both honorees exemplify the heart and spirit of the District 64 mission to foster growth and care for others.
Carpenter Assistant Principal Kristen Hoch introduced 5th grader Matthew, noting that he is an amazing student who "stood out immediately, not because he seeks the spotlight, but because he consistently demonstrates the same steady character, grounded in kindness, thoughtfulness, awareness, and reliability."
Matthew interacts with peers and adults alike with respect, courtesy, and confidence. He has become a quiet leader, especially in the lunchroom, where he took ownership of helping staff without ever needing a reminder. His empathy shines brightest in his genuine care for others, particularly his younger brother. Hoch shared a touching moment when Matthew instinctively comforted his upset brother to understand what was wrong, noting that this "reflects who Matthew is at his core. He's empathetic, attentive, and compassionate."
"Matthew is a role model in the truest sense," Hoch concluded. "His quiet leadership, steady character, and authentic kindness make a lasting impact in our school community."
The Board also honored Camille Derwin, an Interventionist currently in her final year before retirement. Principal Brett Balduf praised her decades of dedication to Carpenter, describing her as a "phenomenal resource for our students, our staff, our parents alike."
"Camille knows her students," Balduf shared. "She knows what they need and how to continuously monitor their growth and advocate for their learning."
This year, Ms. Derwin went above and beyond by volunteering her own lunch time to help revamp the school's lunch and transition program. She helped implement a check-in/check-out system and a positive reinforcement system called Tabletop Titans, where grade levels can earn sticks each day for demonstrating an unannounced skill of the day. Also, the students renamed the gym cafeteria to Cougar Café to reinforce the generalization of appropriate social skill expectations for our students when dining with families and friends. On top of that, Ms. Derwin started a lunch buddies program, allowing Carpenter students to take on leadership roles in the cafeteria, supporting younger students, or helping with lunchroom organization.
"Camille's passion for working in the lunch program has rivaled her expertise in the intervention world," Balduf said. "Whether she is navigating the "March Manners Madness" basketball games in the cafeteria or emailing new ideas for indoor recess right before spring break, her dedication never wavers. "Camille is still shining," he added.
Congratulations to Matthew Rusiecki and Camille Derwin for being truly shining examples of the Carpenter and D64 community!