Local 4098 Member of the Month
December 2024
Jamie Santiago
Jamie Santiago has worked as a Paraeducator in the Springfield Public Schools since December 18, 2007. She currently works at Dorman and was nominated by Jennifer Gagnon, Paraeducator and Dorman Building Representative.
Jennifer Gagnon writes “I nominate Jamie Santiago because she is just an amazing para!!!! Her dedication and commitment to the students is evident she truly loves her job!! Not only is she an amazing para , I am blessed to call her my friend!”
“Jamie Santiago has worked at Dorman School for close to seven years. Prior to coming to Dorman she worked in a middle school. In the capacity of a special needs paraeducator, she worked with students who had significant special needs and required a great deal of assistance in order to learn. With her teaching partner, she came to Dorman Elementary School to work with a similar population but significantly younger. Extremely patient and kind, Jamie was very successful right away. It is not common for educators to move to lower grades as it can be very challenging but this was not the case with Jamie. Clear, consistent and fair, she helped her students in the low incident classroom learn and become more independent in their academics and social skills. A few years after working at Dorman, the program was moved to a different school. As a dedicated educator, she moved with her students to the new school. A year later, she returned to Dorman in the capacity of a pre-school paraprofessional where once again she was very successful. In any position she is placed in, in any school she has worked in, she has done an outstanding job. She has been a gift to Dorman school and all the students she has served over the years. We are very fortunate to have her and continue to see the positive impact she has with all she works with. Thank you “ Rhonda Stowell Lewis, Principal
“I am thrilled to be able to honor Jamie Santiago, the most fantastic paraprofessional you could ever imagine working with every day! She has been working with me for the past 17 years starting in middle school and now in Pre-K at Dorman. She can run the classroom like a pro! Students love her sense of humor, her support, and her enthusiasm to engage with their daily activities. As a co-worker she is an amazing team worker. She listens, offers advice and is willing to help everyone. She has years' worth of students that are thrilled to see her when seen outside of school. Dorman Pre-K students are lucky to have such a wonderful person to teach them. Great work, Mrs. Santiago!” - Jennifer Ross, Pre-K teacher
“I would like to share a few words about Jamie. She is professional, adaptable, resourceful, creative and consistent, just to name a few qualities. We are happy to hear that she is being honored as member of the month. Congratulations Jamie! “ - Shawn Battles. Paraeducator