BUSD Staff Recognition

Elsa Hernandez – Teacher of the Year - 2011
Mrs. Hernandez has served as a special education teacher for twelve years. For the past seven years she has taught at Stephen Foster Elementary School in a moderate to severe class and her students range from fourth to sixth grade. It is a delight to enter her classroom. Her students are always engaged and learning. Mrs. Hernandez is the district expert in augmented communication devices and regularly evaluates special education students at the elementary and high school level to determine if such devices would be beneficial to the student. In addition, she trains the teachers and the students in the use of these devices. Mrs. Hernandez’s commitment and energy are boundless. She has served as a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) mentor for the past four years. At Stephen Foster, she is a team player and is ready to step in at a moment’s notice to serve as an Individual Education Plan (IEP) designee or help a colleague with a challenging student. Elsa Hernandez is greatly deserving of the award for Bellflower Unified School District Teacher of the Year and she is one of the top twelve Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year finalists who now moves on to the state competition.

Renett Banagas – Classified Employee of the Year – 2011
Mrs. Banagas began her career in the Bellflower Unified School District in 1996 as a health assistant at Frank E. Woodruff Elementary School. She nursed students’ scrapes, bumps and bruises for two years before becoming the community service worker at the school. She is dedicated to bringing health services to families so that students will attend school regularly, stay healthy, and improve their academics. Three years ago, Mrs. Banagas took on an additional assignment as the community services coordinator for Caring Connections. She is a perfect liaison between the district and more than 50 local child and family-serving agencies. Last year alone, she facilitated 2,804 Caring Connections referrals for services such as health insurance, mental health, vision, dental, tutoring, and food and clothing for Bellflower Unified students. Mrs. Banagas is able to link families to services needed to ensure that children have the tools they need to be successful students. Congratulations to Renett as Bellflower Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year.