The PBIS Leadership Team is proud to announce our Mustang of the Month award recipients for April. Congratulations to Carolyn Ingalls, Jill Waite and Steve Drescher.
Our first Mustang of the Month for April is elementary teacher, Carolyn Ingalls. After graduating from Whitesboro High School, Ingalls obtained her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Herkimer County Community College. Using her background in education, she worked at various daycare centers and provided at-home daycare while raising her three daughters. In the six years that Carolyn has been at Mount Markham, she has enjoyed being a part of a team that works together for the good of the kids. “I believe that if you truly love your job, it shows through what you do,” she shares, “I am very grateful that maybe I made someone’s day. Because that’s what truly matters.”
When she’s not at work, Carolyn enjoys running, reading, and camping in the Adirondacks. She also values the time she spends with her husband, daughters, their spouses, and her grandpups!
Jill Waite is our middle school nurse and the next Mustang of the Month. After receiving her nursing degree, she and her husband moved south where he was stationed in the military. She began her career working in hospitals in Mississippi and Maryland before eventually moving back to New York. Jill also worked at Faxton Hospital and the Medical Center in West Winfield before becoming a school nurse.
Her favorite part of working at Mount Markham is seeing “the students evolve from young children into productive young adults.” She encourages both students and her coworkers to always do their best and to “be kind, you never know what someone else is going through.” In her free time, Jill enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren, working in her flower gardens, and traveling.
The final Mustang of the Month for April is high school math teacher, Steve Drescher. Steve received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland and his master’s degree from Union College. During his time at Mount Markham, Steve has enjoyed working with the students, who he commends as being “very polite and respectful.” His advice for his colleagues? “Try to never show your anger. Wait, think, and deal with the problem when gain your composure.”
Steve is thankful for the support of his wife and two children and enjoys spending his free time with them. He also tries to stay active by going to the gym, golfing, hiking, biking, and kayaking. After 15 years with Mount Markham, Steve will be retiring at the end of the school year.