Unsung Heroes and Heroines
This August, VCS proudly celebrated its 2023 Unsung Heroes at the Opening Day assembly for faculty and staff. The VCS Unsung Hero award is a tradition that took root more than twenty years ago to honor employees that go above and beyond in the workplace. Honorees represent five categories: Transportation, Teacher Aides, Clerical, Food Services and Building and Grounds. These men and women define excellence. The following reflects some of what their nominators had to say about them.
Transportation:
Doreen Benschop
Doreen began working at VCS in August of 2013 as a school bus driver. In 2018, she became a trainer, a role in which she excelled. In 2021, Doreen officially became a certified examiner which means she can not only train new drivers, but also conduct New York State testing for current drivers. During the bus driver shortage Doreen did everything she could do to recruit new bus drivers, from hanging “Help Wanted” signs around town, to talking to people at Hang Around Victor Days, Touch a Truck days, job fairs, and parades. Doreen recently even trained her own husband to become a bus driver! This year marks her 10th year as a school bus driver.
Teacher Aide:
Sandy Kramer
In her almost 30 years at VCS, Sandy has worked as a teacher aide in multiple capacities. For the last several years she has supported students at the Intermediate School as a one-to-one aide to a wide range of students including some of our neediest. Sandy is a problem solver, approaching each challenge with creativity and collaboration and thinking outside the box. She is the definition of perseverance and a role model for us all! Sandy likes to be productive and busy, always looking for ways to make our days a little easier often just knowing what we need. She is always planning ahead and forward thinking with the needs of her students in mind. She is a great sound board for everyone, giving her honest opinion always putting others before herself.
Food Services:
Ann Rauscher
Anne has been a faithful Food Services employee at VCS for 8 years. She consistently demonstrates excellence in her role and is always kind and helpful to students and staff. In addition to her own work, Anne happily helps her coworkers and assists with training new cafeteria employees. Whether she is preparing food, cleaning up, or interacting with customers, Anne serves up her best each day. Over the last few years Anne has really shown a desire to grow in her career by learning new roles and responsibilities and going above and beyond whenever she can.
Building and Grounds:
David Graham
David is always pleasant, friendly, and helpful when asked to complete a task, which due to the size of the VCS campus, could be one of hundreds every week! One of David’s main duties is to understand the fire alarm systems on campus, a job that ensures the safety of thousands of students and staff each and every day. As our resident expert on the fire alarm systems, each year, David coordinates all the Victor Fire Department visits. David has a can-do attitude. He will figure out what ever needs to be repaired with a positive attitude and a smile.He is just an all-around amazing person!
Clerical:
Erin Lettman
Erin always has a smile on her face and greets everyone with warmth and a desire to help. She goes out of her way to locate a book, assist with printing student materials, and checking in and out thousands of books. She even challenges students and staff with a riddle of the day! Several years ago, she introduced an indoor recess initiative, alongside her mother, where students learn to quilt. Finished quilts are donated to the Project Linus, an organization that provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Erin’s contributions don’t stop here. She is an active member of the VIS Sunshine Committee, the VIS Community Read committee and builder extraordinaire of amazing library displays!