Mercer Island School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle recognized the district’s employees of the year, retiring staff and staff with a years of service milestone in a ceremony on May 31 in the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) library.

The 2022-23 certificated employees of the year are: Kate Yoder (math, MIHS); Melissa Gaffney (language arts/social studies/electives, Islander Middle School); and Elizabeth Ohvall (special services, Northwood Elementary School).

The 2022-23 classified employees of the year are: Kristin Brintnall (administration assistant, MIHS); Lisa Elefson (paraeducator, Northwood); and Ron Pham (technology specialist, MIHS).

Four staff members are retiring after the 2022-23 school year: Shawn Cusack, Roy Ellingsen, Evelyn Jiménez and Jay Little.

Among the staff members honored for their continuous contributions to the district were: 45-year service recognition — Jane Dolence and Francis Materi; 35-year service recognition — Dave Bentley; 25-year service recognition — Kirsten Bourke, Jamie Cooke, Tanya Goodman-Sylvester, Aaron Noble and Chris Twombley; and 20-year service recognition — Mary Jo Budzius, Michele Frisch, Liz Kuhn, Phuoc La, Erica Ottesen, Kelly Rorem, Suh-Jen Tsaur and David Willecke.