Front row; Coach Sharon Johnson, Kailee Carver, Makennah Prosser, Abby McNiel, Shauntai Burton, Back row; Superintendent Aaron Davidson, Board Member Jennifer Downes, Kenna Small, Emersyn Gavin-Hiatt, Ireland Johnson, Macy Pierce, Emerald Johnson, Shaun Kukuzke.

Front row; Cooper Oyen, Back row, Superintendent Aaron Davidson, Elizabeth Dobesh-Owings, Laura Hilton, Jordy Acord, School Board Members Jennifer Downes and Shaun Kukuzke.

The Clear Creek Amana Community School District announces the October 2025 Students and Staff of the Month Honorees.

This program recognizes one student and one staff member each month from an elementary school, the middle school, and the high school for exceeding expectations.

Cooper Oyen is the Elementary Student of the Month. He attends Clear Creek Elementary

Angela Zacharias nominated Cooper writing, "Cooper is always staying on task during class! He is eager to participate in every part of our day and always leads by example! Cooper is always willing to help others in and outside of the classroom. Cooper treats everyone with respect.

Cooper is a steady leader in our classroom and someone I can always rely on. He is a role model for others and is consistently persistent in working towards his goals. I am so proud of him and I can't wait to see the growth he continues to make this school year. It is clear that Cooper wants to learn all that he can and cares about his learning ad the learning of others, and that is why he deserves Student of the Month."

Jordy Acord is the Middle School Student of the Month. 

Aaron Bohr nominated Jordy writing, "Jordy is a very hard worker and does a great job sharing his thoughts in class. He has a can do attitude and even though material may be tough for him at times he has the grit needed to overcome and succeed. Jordy is always kind to his peers but also is a good leader because he doesn't tolerate people messing around in class and encourages others to give a better effort. Jordy deserves to be student of the month because he's a good student, he's active in activities and he's a nice kid."

The High School Cheerleaders and Coach Sharon Johnson were the High School Students of the Month.

Duane Helgevold nominated the Cheerleaders for the following, "For being friendly and outgoing and because they show GREAT school spirit at every athletic event." Sharon Johnson also spoke about the awesome work the cheerleaders are doing.

Laura Hilton is the Elementary Staff of the Month.

Brad Fox nominated Laura and he wrote, "Laura has been an outstanding kindergarten teacher at Amana Elementary for many years. She cares deeply for each and every student in her classroom. She's a tireless worker that is always prepared for the school day. She prepares before and after school to ensure that everything is in place and will go smoothly for the school day. She creates lessons for her kindergarten students that are of the highest quality and engaging for the students. Over her career she has mentored other young teachers and has worked with many student teachers as well. Laura is a team player that is willing to do whatever is needed to help our school run smoothly. Thank you Laura for your great years of service and dedication to Clear Creek Amana! Laura is someone that always puts the needs of others first. It doesn't matter if it's students or staff, Laura will help others. She advocates for kids, especially the ones that need it the most."

Elizabeth Dobesh-Owings is the Middle School Staff of the Month.

Lauren DiGiorgio nominated Elizabeth for the following, "Elizabeth goes above and beyond to support ALL students in my classroom. In band, this may look like helping percussion find what they need, helping a student unstick their trumpet valve, or giving helpful reminders for students who are wandering off task. With 70 students in a rehearsal, this extra support is invaluable, and benefits the entire band. She is AWESOME!

Elizabeth is very knowledgeable about her students' needs - she is very patient and kind when helping them through difficulties, while still remaining firm in supporting them in their goals. Every day in our classroom, Elizabeth is attentive and positive when interacting with all students and staff."

Mike McCue is the High School Staff of the Month.

Tony Brack nominated Mr. McCue by writing, "Mr. McCue consistently goes above and beyond for our students. He demonstrates this by regularly attending sporting and fine arts events, including many away competitions, and by volunteering his time as a referee and assisting at track and field meets. Many staff and students look to Mr. McCue as a moral compass. In a time when values are often tested, he exemplifies true character and consistently demonstrates kindness toward others."

Maury Gallagher is the District Staff of the Month.

Christine Mangrich nominated Maury for the following, "Maury manages so many staff members with grace. With all of the locations over many, many miles, I am so impressed that he makes the job look seamless. Road projects get in the way of work but he keeps the teams moving and our facilities looking amazing. On top of that, he is an outstanding member of district leadership. He contributes to the conversations with positivity and a focus on what is best for students and staff. He attends almost every school board meeting and most recently impressed me with his dedication to the Facilities Committee as we had our building tours. He demonstrated an incredible amount of knowledge about all aspects of our buildings. He shared highlights of each facility in a positive and helpful manner, and answered questions from the community members with clarity and professionalism.

Maury follows up on what he says he will do and is always prepared. He shows kindness every day as he interacts with staff and shows that he goes the extra mile with all of the work he does outside of the typical work day."