Jay Jones, Bus Driver
Jay has not missed a single day of work since he started as a bus driver for the Brookings School District. His date of hire was September 30, 2018. Recently, Jay submitted a request for an afternoon off. At first, It hought someone was messing with me—but it’s true. On March 26, 2026, Jay took his first afternoon off from work (so technically, just a half day!). If you do the math, that’s 7 years, 5 months, and 24 days. Even taking out the summers, that’s 2,090 days of work without ever calling in or being a no-show. His dedication to the students, the District, and the Bus Garage team is truly worth recognizing and celebrating. We are very proud of his character and commitment, and we appreciate the example he is setting.
~Nominated by: Nate Loehr
Kelly Erickson & Elizabeth Meester, Brookings High School Teachers
Over the past several years, Kelly and Liz have collaborated in Wellness Activities and Peer-to-Peer courses, helping general education students learn how to respectfully and effectively support students with special needs. It has been rewarding to observe the positive interactions—both student-to-student and staff-to-student— throughout the building. Through their partnership, students from Liz’s classroom are developing meaningful friendships and gaining valuable skills that will extend well beyond their high school years.
~Nominated by: Connie Girard