JCSD 509J is spotlighting a team for Employee Spotlight! We are recognizing Felicity Haywood and Taylir Rehwinkel who are Behavior Educational Assistants at Madras Elementary.
Felicity started working for JCSD 509J three years ago and Taylir started last school year, but she had a previous stint with our district years ago when she worked at Warm Springs K8 Academy.
These two work side by side on a daily basis with students who are in need of extra support.
“We support students in our classroom who have really big emotions,” Rehwinkel said. “So, we have a lot of wiggle breaks. We talk a lot about our feelings, and we try to replace negative behaviors with more positive ones. We implement a lot of intervention strategies.”
“We work within small groups to give students that we work with on a day to day basis a more individual learning experience,” Haywood said. “That allows us to help them learn and develop skills that are going to be needed to be successful throughout their academic careers.”
Both Felicity and Taylir said that when their students no longer need their help, that means they’ve done their jobs successfully.
“When they can just be successful on their own without our extra support. We’ve done it. That’s like our biggest woohoo,” Rehwinkel said.
“It’s really bittersweet because you build connections and relationships with these kids and to see them just kind of venture out on their own and they’re like, you know, Miss Felicity, Miss Taylir. I’ve got this today and you’re like, awesome,” Haywood said. “Then the next thing you’re just seeing them in the hallway giving them a high five and you’re not having to push in support for them because they have it figured out and they’ve got a grasp on what they have to do to be successful.”
Below is their nomination,
“Felicity & Taylor consistently goes above and beyond in serving their students by fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. They demonstrate patience, empathy, and adaptability, catering to the individual needs of each student. Through clear communication and effective collaboration with teachers, they ensure that instructional goals are met and that students receive the necessary guidance and assistance. Moreover, they actively engage students in their learning process, providing encouragement and constructive feedback to promote academic growth and confidence. Their dedication to student success shines through their commitment to creating a positive and enriching educational experience. Taylor and Felicity certainly are an invaluable asset to the Madras Elementary School community.”