Ray of Sunshine: February 2026

Muriel Smith	Prep Teacher	Trent River Public School	Muriel truly is a ray of sunshine in our school. She remains calm and positive in every situation, guiding students with patience and kindness while earning their respect. She is incredibly caring and puts consistent effort into her work every day. She also generously volunteers her time at School Council events whenever she can, even though she is not a member of the committee, which speaks volumes about her dedication to our school community.
Jill Callaghan	SSW- Social Services Worker	Harmony, Park Dale, Stirling, Frankford	Jill continuously goes above and beyond for students that require significant support to successfully access school, thrive at school and reach their full potential. She provides her knowledge and expertise to staff continuously and spreads her skill set throughout the schools that she serves.
Craig Morris	Lead Hand Carpenter/Maintenance	Georg Umb Building	Craig is consistently a pleasure to collaborate with. He approaches every request with a positive disposition and is always happy to help, often going above and beyond to provide options tailored to our needs. His attitude and the genuine care he puts into his work make a significant difference in our day-to-day operations. We are very grateful for his continued support and the standard of excellence he maintains.
Miranda Bennett	Teacher	Prince Charles School Belleville	Miranda welcomes every new child with warmth, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping them feel safe, valued, and included from the moment they arrive. She has created and sustained a classroom culture rooted in safety, trust, and genuine learning. Her students are happy, engaged, and eager to take on challenges because she works tirelessly to build a space where they can thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. Her dedication, empathy, and skill make her truly deserving of recognition.
Antigoni Gardelis	Occasional Teacher	Various (including Marmora Public School)	Mrs. Gardelis is a regular guest teacher at Marmora Public School and she is welcomed by staff and students alike. Her enthusiasm for teaching, her positivity, and her energy are infectious, bringing life into any class she visits. It can be a challenge to be in a different class every day, but Mrs. Gardelis gives it her all every time, even participating in spirit days and other events, whenever she is present.
Karen Murray	Teacher Librarian	Eastside Secondary School	Karen is a kind and welcoming presence in the school and library. She is always willing to help everyone. Karen is highly knowledgeable on all things books and literacy. The school is a better place for having her there!
Brad West	Building Maintenance	Trenton High School	Brad is a very pleasant and helpful person. He is always there to help and double checks if anything else needs to be looked at before he leaves the building. Brad is a real asset to the school board
Angela Lupenette	Educational Assistance Extraordinaire	Centennial Secondary School	Angela is the dedicated, efficient heart of our resource room, expertly organizing it into a structured, supportive space. Her exceptional organizational skills ensure the room runs smoothly, meeting all students' needs and aligning with classroom goals. She excels at motivating students facing academic challenges, providing consistent encouragement and clear direction to help them stay on track for their credits. She is a true teammate, brightening everyone’s day.
Janice McLaren	Executive Assistant, Business Services	Education Centre	Janice is truly a Ray of Sunshine in our workplace. Her leadership is grounded in positivity, encouragement, and an unwavering commitment to supporting those around her. She creates a space where people feel comfortable sharing their ideas and she’s always the first to cheer others on. Even on busy or challenging days, she keeps the team feeling supported. The way she leads makes a real difference in our work environment and has a lasting impact on our team.
Stephanie Phinnemore	Elementary Teacher	Trent River Public School	Steph is always full of joy and encouraging those around her. Whether you are a staff member or lucky enough to be her student, her positivity affects all of those around her. She goes above and beyond for her students and you can see the love her former students have for her when they continue to seek her out years later to show off their passion projects. Steph encourages everyone to be a better person and make your day better by just being around her infectious smile.
Amanda Carleton	Teacher	North Hastings High School	Amanda is the definition of a Ray of Sunshine. She has a brilliant way of ensuring all of her students feel safe and included within her classrooms. Amanda is the person I go to if I need a good laugh, or just some kind and encouraging words.
Kelly MacKay	Principal Tyendinaga Public School	Tyendinaga Public School	I have known and admired Kelly MacKay's work at Prince of Wales and Tyendinaga for many years. As a career supply, I've seen her transform school environments, bringing community, inclusion and belonging. She is fiercely supportive of her staff, both personally and professionally; many, including myself, credit her for their career success. Kelly is the most inclusive and accepting administrator I've worked for, always ready to help parents, students and staff without question.
Dave Lanovaz	Secondary School Teacher	Trenton High School	Dave is a constant, positive presence at Trenton High School, making students feel seen and welcomed with sincere daily check-ins. A cornerstone of the math department, Dave consistently supports colleagues with supply plans, instructional ideas and math help for all students. Dave’s school-wide helpfulness is evident in a "never-give-up" approach to technology troubleshooting and connecting staff with resources. Dave's kindness and collaborative spirit truly improve the working and learning environment at THS every day.
Theresa Green	HR Staffing officer	Education Centre	Theresa deserves a Ray of Sunshine recognition for her outstanding commitment to a positive workplace culture. Not only is she consistently proactive in her daily tasks, but she also went above and beyond to honor Chinese culture by decorating for the New Year and coordinating a team lunch. Her efforts to foster an inspiring and inclusive environment make her a joy to work with.
Megan Mertins	Speech Language Pathologist	Education Centre	Megan is always going out of her way to help others and brings such a light to so many people!
Michelle Cooney	Grade 2/3/4 Teacher	Coe Hill School	Michelle is always happy and always doing fun things with her students. She helps anyone who needs help at the school. Teaching 3 grades is not easy but she makes it work and her students are all learning. She coaches and manages most of our school sports, she runs the after school skating club each year. Michelle brings such a wonderful energy to the school.
Jenn Mullins	Special Education Lead	Eastside Secondary	Jenn is always up beat and kind. She is bubbly, energetic and is always encouraging others.
Sherry Torrens	Educational Assistant	North Hastings Highschool	Her patience and kindness to the students she works with. She celebrates their birthdays and their accomplishments.
Collin Lisk	Maintenance Mechanic	Centennial Secondary School	Collin Lisk, the new CSS Maintenance worker, has demonstrated outstanding performance and strong work ethic since starting this school year. He is consistently respectful, leaving everyone impressed by his work at each school. Collin maintains a positive attitude, bringing laughter and joy, and is also a great listener who offers advice to coworkers.
Caitlin Steenburgh	Learning Support Teacher	Prince Edward Collegiate Institute	Caitlin, a Learning Support Teacher, has an impact that extends far beyond her role. Approaching her work with kindness, compassion and reliability, she makes every child feel seen and valued. Consistently working from a trauma-informed lens, she seeks to understand student needs, promoting both growth and learning. She leads by example, modelling best practices, building staff capacity and fostering empathy and high expectations. Caitlin is an incredible asset to our school community.
Wendy Goodman	Learning Support Teacher	Prince Edward Collegiate Institute	Wendy is truly the organizational backbone of our school. She has an exceptional ability to keep everyone on track while balancing countless moving pieces with creativity and skill. Our school would simply not function as it does without Wendy’s innovative thinking, strong technology skills and deep passion for supporting students with special education needs. She is a tireless advocate for students and families, consistently going above and beyond to support them both in and beyond the school setting. Wendy also helps strengthen our sense of community by bringing staff together through thoughtful initiatives that boost morale. She is an invaluable member of our team.
Shawn Geen	ITS Security Coordinator	Education Centre	Shawn is a valued member of HPEDSB, consistently demonstrating a positive, friendly and collaborative attitude. His commitment to his work is evident, and his readiness to support colleagues makes him a pleasure to work with.
Victoria Furtado	Teacher (Kindergarten)	Susanna Moodie Elementary School	Victoria is a dedicated, caring teacher who works hard to implement meaningful, effective strategies supporting student growth. She fosters a warm, welcoming environment where all students feel valued, supported and included. Victoria intentionally reaches every child, ensuring all—especially those struggling—feel seen and capable. Her positive presence and consistent kindness and professionalism make her truly embody the spirit of the Ray of Sunshine recognition.

Ray of Sunshine 2025-2026

2024-2025 Ray of Sunshine Recipients

2023-2024 Ray of Sunshine Recipients

2022-2023 Ray of Sunshine Recipients