Peck, Casey & Carpenter go “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” for GJSD

a close up photo of a purple gem stone pinThe ABCD Award was born from the Board of Education’s desire to acknowledge employees of the Greater Johnstown School District who are nominated by school community members because they go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty to make a difference in the lives of our students and help them succeed. Karlene Peck, Jennifer Casey and Larraina Carpenter were named last week as ABCD Award winners for the second quarter of the 2021-22 school year. Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Crankshaw publicly acknowledged each of the recipients at the district’s monthly board meeting on Thursday, March 17.

Read more below about our three ABCD winners, with comments from the people who nominated them!


a woman with glasses smiles at the camera while standing in front of a brick wall

Karlene Peck, special education teacher at Warren Street Elementary.

KARLENE PECK  is a special education teacher at Warren Street School whose students mean the world to her. She is also the Vice President of the Johnstown Elementary PTA  at Warren Street and the minute an event is thought of for JEPTA, Mrs. Peck is the first one to step-up and volunteer to help. She wants every student to excel academically and have some fun while doing it.  In years past she has planned and executed Accelerated Reading themes and events. One of those was “Double Dare”  that included  monthly challenges and rewards, together with an end of the year obstacle course. The students loved it and they read and read and read that year! Mrs. Peck’s heart bleeds purple and gold for ALL Johnstown students and she goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty looking for ways to encourage children, to engage them in learning, and to bring a smile to their faces.


a woman wears a purple dress, holding a clarinet in a music room

Jennifer Casey, music teacher at Johnstown Junior-Senior High School.

JENNIFER CASEY is a music teacher at Johnstown Junior Senior High School, where she provides instruction to the seventh and eighth grade band students. Mrs. Casey is also the director for the Junior High Jazz Band and serves as the assistant director for the Johnstown High School Marching Band. Jen has been described as super kind, caring and understanding. Her students say that she creates a positive environment and helps them to succeed in band, offering encouragement to try harder, without raising her voice. In past years Mrs. Casey and the eighth grade band students have visited the Willing Helpers Home to provide holiday cheer and music to residents. She has also accompanied student musicians in the hallways, while they provide holiday music for classmates during arrival at school. Mrs. Casey goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty every day  to inspire Johnstown students and engage them in a life-long love of music. 


a woman stands on a staircase, with sunlight coming through the window

Larraina Carpenter, GJSD Board of Education clerk.

LARRAINA CARPENTER is the Board of Education clerk at the Greater Johnstown School District. Her nomination read:  Larraina Carpenter has been a quiet team leader for the Greater Johnstown School District family since 2004, when she started part time as Board Clerk. Larraina has seen a lot during her time at GJSD, and like her District-level teammate, Suzy Hall, has assisted the Board of Education and the Superintendent throughout the tenure of six superintendents and many, many Board member volunteers. Mrs. Carpenter is one of those consistent cogs in the machine that keeps the District records and meetings flawlessly executed, time and time again. She helps the Board and the superintendent to manage all Board policy and District elections. She shows up, and goes above and beyond – whatever it takes – to put the District first.

 

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