Teacher Appreciation Nominations Blog O – P

Through our Teacher Appreciation nominations, we were able to see exactly how our teachers are impacting our kids and community. We want to recognize each nomination that has come in. 1495 unique nominations and 525 teachers nominated, we are sharing the answers to our question posed: “Why does this teacher make you smile?”. The blogs are organized by last name of the teacher.

Teacher: Elaine O’Kelley, M.Iverson Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? She relates to situations of the school day and can put a smile on anyone who is gloomy! She is the sunshine of the grade level team. Elaine can make you feel upbeat when feeling down.

Teacher: David Oberg, Bonanza High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Because of the enthusiasm, appreciation, and motivation he gives out.

He has this saying “Life is good” that he says every day and it makes all of his students smile.

He is really funny and super nice.

He is the most sweet and caring person I’ve ever meet; he starts off the day with “life is good” and we respond with “yes it is sgm”.

He works super hard to make sure we’re all doing our best. He put more than a lot of effort and time into pushing us farther than we imagined. He showed me newer perspectives and taught me core values.

His attitude towards us is so sincere and he likes to joke around when the time is right. He knows when to get serious and when to be joking.

Sergeant Major David Oberg has changed the lives of many students and has changed mine. Having him as my instructor for ROTC was amazing and I appreciate how hard this man works. He is now retiring after 17 years of instructing ROTC; he made a huge impact in who I am today.

Sergeant Major Oberg makes me smile because he pushes each of us cadets todo great, and to never settle for less. He teaches us the value of becoming better cadets/citizens. He’s changed my life for the greater. Our school is x4 CCSD Drill Champions because he continues to motivate and inspire us cadets every day.

Sergeant Major Oberg makes me smile because he pushes each of us cadets todo great, and to never settle for less. He’s taught us to be great citizens and to always live with integrity.

Sergeant Major Oberg makes me smile because he pushes each of us cadets todo great, and to never settle for less. He’s taught us to be great citizens and to always live with integrity.

Sergeant Major Oberg makes me smile because he pushes each of us cadets to do great, and to never settle for less. He’s taught us to be great citizens and to always live with integrity.

SGM Oberg is a really inspiring person in the JROTC program. His influence has resulted in the winning of the CCSD championships for 4 years in a row and had created a strong legacy for Bonanza High School.

They’re always encouraging and push us to do our best each and every day. He always makes everybody happy.

This instructor makes me smile because he has been there for all his cadets in all his years teaching and has taught us many things that changed our lives indifferent ways.

This teacher is our SGM over at bonanza and is an overall awesome dude who just wants us to succeed.

He never misses a day of school. He is like a second dad to our battalion. Makes us the best version of ourselves. Takes us to a national competing level. Cares and loves us all so much. And is always there to motivate us in everything we do.

He reminds you every day how good life is which encourages and motivates you to keep going and he puts a smile on everyone’s face giving that reassurance that no matter how bad your day is or the situation you’re in, you have to remember to put that smile on your face because life is good and it gets better and it gives you hope in knowing that and that very smile might be just what someone else may need to keep going so overall it’s a positive domino effect that everyone appreciates.

Senior army instructor David Oberg has been one of the best teachers I have ever had he is kind strict caring and all around a good teacher you could feel comfortable to ask questions and to ask for help.

Teacher: Melinda Oldroyd, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Center

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? This teacher makes me smile because she doses the above and bound with me and other students, she teaches students with disabilities on how to get a job and she goose over and Beyond with it and it makes me smile on how much she puts her heart in making sure that students with disability’s to get a job.

Teacher: Jennifer Oliver, Las Vegas High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? She is an outstanding teacher, as I am a nonverbal student, she makes me feel welcomed by her best attitude every morning. She guides me with patience through the hallways and recognizes me every time I accomplish a goal on a lesson either with a candy or a great job Pablo, it has increased my self-confidence. She definitely needs this award to be recognized as a teacher who puts a smile on each of her disabled students.

Teacher: Angelique Orengil, Las Vegas High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Angel’s pleasant demeanor and sunny personality makes her a joy to be around, she is a role model, not just to her students, but to many of her colleagues. But the biggest reason for a nomination is that she shows such strong leadership qualities. Her highest priorities are her students and their needs. When we all see frustrating obstacles in the educational system, Angel embraces them, learns from them and adapts her curriculum to them without compromising her values and the student’s needs. Not only does Angel treat her students with the utmost care, but she is also always there for her colleagues. There have been countless times that she has stopped by my office to check in and give me words of encouragement. Angel is always willing to sacrifice her time and money to help her students and others. As an educator, Angel not only uplifts the students in her classroom, but she makes a significant impact on countless other students hereat Las Vegas High School. Angel is a remarkable and inspiring individual who deserves recognition for her dedication to her profession, her students and to Las Vegas High School.

Teacher: Janelle Ortiz, Iverson Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Mrs., Ortiz is just a breath of fresh air. She’s always so caring and involved and very informative and she just does excellent work with all her for her class and especially my son. We’ve worked really hard with getting him on track with reading. This is Ortiz constantly since updates and she is just truly amazing, and I really appreciate all of her hard work and how she’s so informative and keeping my son on track and I just think she’s just overall a great teacher we thank her so much. My son says it all the time she is his favorite teacher of all times.

Teacher: Fabiola Ortiz, Kirk Adams Elementary School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? She makes me happy.

Teacher: Matthew Ostlie, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile?

Mr.Ostlie always makes us laugh and smile, even when i freaked out and cried in class over singing in front of everyone he let he sit down in another room to calm down and he also gave me the choice to sing another day, i sang on that same day with a different track and he helped me know my cues. And he always lets us know that it’s okay if we aren’t doing well in school and he never really gets mad or yells at us which is nice. He also supports us through everything and truly cares about us.

Teacher: Sarah Overland, Clifford J. Lawrence Jr. High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Because she’s always there for me and cares for all of her students. She’s very laid back but makes sure we all get our work done. I love Mrs. Overland and she always makes sure I’m not struggling physically or mentally.

Even when i miss school she makes sure that i am ok and that i get all my missing work done. Even if it is not her subject, she will try to help me.

She makes me smile because she tries very hard to get us to learn even if we don’t listen to her and she is really hard working and she doesn’t show how tired she is even if she is very tired from working hard.

This teacher makes me smile because she is a really funny teacher, she nice everyone, and she makes the whole class laugh with music playing and her teaching. Ms. Overland is my teacher’s appreciation.

Teacher: Tierney Pahls, Walter V. Long Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile?

Teacher: Karla Pahua, Iverson Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Ms. Pahuais very thoughtful and caring. She has helped me advance in so much in so little time. I really appreciate her patience with me. I Love My Teacher Ms.Pahua.

Teacher:  Carrie Parsh, Cozine Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Mrs. Pash opted to make a difference in all her student’s education by following them up to 3rd grade staying with them for two years. She does amazing prizes for achievements of all kinds (behavior and of course academics). She volunteers and devotes time to all school aged children in Garden Club and tends to all the animals in the Cozine Sanctuary including, chickens, tortoise, hedge hogs, rats, Guinea pigs, ferrets, fish, lizards, and so much more. She fosters education, compassionate care of animals and begins each day with a smile. The students feel safe and loved with her. She gives all her extra time to all the students here at Cozine and gives time to the care of all the animals at Cozine. In our book, she is top notch!

Teacher:  Daryl Pedroso, Centennial HighSchool

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Always there to listen to us and learning makes sense when he explains things. Very dedicated teacher and loves his students.

He just brings a really good vibe to the classroom. He takes care of grades accordingly and he actually makes learning a little fun.

He’s a great teacher and is loved and liked by so many of his students even student that aren’t in his class. -Riley R

Is always so transparent with his students, is caring and so considerate. You can tell he genuinely cares for his students; he also makes me feel more included. Having a teacher that can make a student feel more included can really make a school experience so much more enjoyable.

Mr. Pedroso is makes me smile because when I’m in his classroom I know that I am safe. I know that there is no judgement in his classroom and being in there makes me happy. He helped me when I was at a low point where everything seemed to be going wrong, but I would go to his class and all he would do is make me so happy and I would genuinely smile. So, thank you Mr. Pedroso for helping me through that time!

Teacher:  Michael Percival, Monaco Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? I never had a grandpa in my life, I only heard stories about them. Mr percival was the closest thing i had to one. He is a wonderful soul; I hope he lives a full and happy life. He served in the military; he truly is a great man.

Teacher: Christopher Percy, Clifford J. Lawrence Junior High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile?  He is just an amazing teacher, and he works hard every day to ensure to put a smile on everyone’s faces. He is really funny and always has a fun way to do activities. This is why I think Mr. Percy should be nominated.

Mr. Percy give students a fun environment, motivating them to learn and pay attention more. Mr. Percy also make sure the class is under control and is staying on task. If students are off task, instead of pointing out which students are off task, Mr. Percy tells all the students in the class what they should be doing instead of playing games, etc.

Mr. Percy also guides the students through the assignment, though not telling us the answers he shows us how to figure it out ourselves. Mr. Percy acknowledges our achievements and encourages us to “keep up the good work”. He uses his own stories to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you deserve a chance to try and that you can do amazing things.

Teacher: Rosie Perez, Booker Elementary School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Ms.Perez makes me smile because she’s funny and she’s very nice to me and everybody else. When she was my kindergarten, she would always help me with everything and would always do her job to teach me and be a great teacher.

Teacher: James Perry, Duane D. Keller Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? This teacher makes me smile by being a great band teacher and is funny when the time is appropriate. This teacher will do a lot for his students even when they don’t notice.

Teacher: Kyle Peterson, Ed W. Clark High School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? He’s always been very cooperative and helpful and understanding with all students.

His lessons are easy to understand so instead of studying day and night for an exam i can enjoy the class and become more invested in the lessons.

Teacher:  Carrie Philips, Bunker Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Because she has positive energy, and she is always happy and smiling. She has the music inside of her.

Teacher: Nicholas Phillips, Woodbury Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Mr. Phillips is funny.

This teacher makes me smile for lots of reasons. One of the many reasons he makes me smile are he’s funny, kind, supportive and very understanding.

Teacher: Tina Pina, Kitty Ward Elementary School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile?

Mrs. Pina makes sure all her students shine and do their absolute best. She is funny, so kind and patient. She pushes her students to do their best work and learn so next year we are all ready for 4th grade.

Teacher: Sylvia Ponce, Walter V. Long Elementary

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Mrs. Pina makes sure all her students shine and do their absolute best. She is funny, so kind and patient. She pushes her students to do their best work and learn so next year we are all ready for 4th grade.

Teacher: Meliny Pond, K.O. Knudson Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? This teacher makes me smile because she has helped me out a lot. Her joyous attitude/bright mindset encourage me to be the best I can be in her class. Whenever I am sad, she notices and she cares. She always gets along with her students and is always finding ways to motivate her students to do well in class. She decided to be our teacher when our class had no teacher at all at the time which is something that I will forever be grateful for. My classmates and I can always just take a seat around her and talk about our problems as a group because she is like a best friend to us. I hope she knows that I am forever grateful for her teaching us.

Teacher: Joseph Powers, Cashman Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? The most likely reason why is that he is a chill and sometimes a hilarious guy where most of the time, he teaches us in a good way which we learn and is not really mad all the time. He also reviews us some questions we were confused about. I feel a little good when i go there because at least i can rest a little and still do the work that is in my class.

Teacher: Teresa Prezgay, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? She helped me feel confident about my math skills. I have now learned to love math and especially geometry because of her. She gives us projects and so much fun work!

Teacher: Ami Pritchard, Glen Taylor Elementary School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Mrs.Pritchard is beyond amazing and has made our first year of school a dream. She is extremely passionate and caring about her job. She loves and treats everyone of her students as if they were her own. She makes learning fun and gets the children excited to learn. The list of fun my child has in her class makes me jealous. Every day my child comes home with a new reason to smile. She is amazing and my child loves her!

Teacher: Dona Prock, KO Knudson Academy of the Arts

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? She makes me smile because she actually cares about me, my well-being, and my succession in her class. She makes sure to check on me when I’m not doing well, in grades and emotionally. She gives me extensions when she realizes I need them. She helps me when I need help. She cares about all of her students and is an amazing teacher. That is why I am nominating Ms. Dona Prock of KO Knudson Academy of the Arts.

Teacher: Ms. Puhua, Iverson Elementary School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? Because she is my favorite teacher.

Teacher: Whitney Purdy, Roy Martin Middle School

Why Does This Teacher Make You Smile? This teacher has been told by many colleagues that she is positive, always smiling, and has been thanked for always putting together climate & culture school activities.

Teachers play a significant role in our lives, and we are thankful for them and all they do for our community every single day. We understand how important their job is in student development and learning and know they work tirelessly to educate children and add value to their lives! Thank you, you are our heroes!