19 honored for extra mile of work

Nineteen Newport-Mesa Unified School District employees were honored Tuesday for going far beyond the call of duty.

The Newport-Mesa Employee Super-Star Awards celebrate excellence; in particular, maintaining high standards, paying attention to the smallest details and going the extra mile.

Tuesday’s recipients included Lincoln Elementary sixth-grade teachers Judy Taylor and Nancy Urricariet; Asim Babovic, the district’s assistant director of information technology; Newport Coast Elementary teacher Alicia Colich; Kaiser Elementary administrative assistant Kathy Dugan; nutritionist Dale Ellis; Victoria Elementary teacher Gary March; Risk Management Technician Cheryl Hosman; special education office assistant Debbie Kerwin; Jim Lamond, the district’s director of facilities, planning and design; Newport Coast Elementary teacher Ryan Longacre; nutrition services assistant Lewis McVay; nutrition services office assistant Veronica Sanchez; special education instructional assistant Annette Schumann; Kaiser Elementary music teacher Audrey Seidman; Davis Magnet School music teacher Thomas Shiskovsky; and Transportation Department Behind the Wheel trainer Robert Villalobos.

There also were two surprise recipients: Secondary Education Assistant Supt. Chuck Hinman and district Maintenance and Operations administrative assistant Cindy Means, who also is the president of the California School Employees Association Chapter 18.

— Candice Baker