Poway Unified Announces 2023 ‘PUSD Volunteers of the Year’

(San Diego, CA) – The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is proud to announce that Jennifer Basinger, Shoal Creek Elementary School Volunteer; Mechele Chadwick, Creekside Elementary School Volunteer; and Debra Surber, Twin Peaks Middle School Volunteer have all been chosen as the PUSD Volunteers of the Year for 2023. 

 

Schools across Poway Unified had the opportunity to nominate their site’s Volunteer of the Year for District level recognition. The nominations were reviewed by a committee of District staff and the selections are based on the impact an individual has had on their entire school community, the dedication of their own time for the benefit of all students and teachers at their school, and the outcome of their efforts. Poway Unified volunteers are pivotal to the success of school events and programs, such as clubs, athletics, arts, fundraisers, and student enrichment.

 

 

Jennifer brings a positive, energetic enthusiasm to the Shoal Creek campus daily. She puts the interests of students first in all that she does, supports site administration and staff, and is always working to bring the Shoal Creek community together. She has been specially impactful through her support of the No Place For Hate Team and Student Committee at Shoal Creek. She worked with students to hear their ideas for the campus and fostered a safe place for brainstorming. Her support of the initiative ensured that each classroom received a No Place for Hate Book and continued the community building activities such as Strictly No Elephants and the Great Kindness Challenge.

 

She has established many ‘firsts’ at Shoal Creek this year such as the Let Your Kindness Glow family dance and bingo nights. When the PTA president was unable to fulfil duties because of illness, Jennifer was the one to step up and continue the charge. Shoal Creek is excited to have her as the PTA President next year.

 

 

Creekside Elementary has been lucky to have Mechele in their community as a volunteer for 10 years. Over these years she has been an active member of the PTA, has trained other parent volunteers, and has had significant involvement in many community events such as the annual campus and community favorite – Creepside, a Halloween event. She was instrumental in Creepside’s post-COVID return, investing hundreds of hours.

 

Mechele also leads the campus art program, Art Attack and trains volunteers who want to participate in the program. Through Art Attack, she leads clay molding project lessons for every grade, a unique experience at the elementary school level. At the end of the lesson, each student takes home a clay project that she fired in a kiln.

 

Mechele has spent countless hours dedicated to Creekside’s staff, community, and students. She is constantly fostering an open, welcoming community and has others in mind in all that she does. 

 

Debra, or Deb as the staff know her by, has supported schools in Poway Unified as a volunteer for many years. Although she is being recognized as the Twin Peaks volunteer this year, she has dedicated hours of her time at Poway High School as well. Her hours spent at campus-wide book fairs, registration days and other events allow Deb to be a pivotal part of the school community.

 

Perhaps the biggest impact Deb has made at Twin Peaks this year is through the ‘Free Fashion Closet’ clothing drive that she organized. This initiative worked to increase students’ sense of belonging and remove barriers for lower income students. The clothing drive was formal wear specific and allowed students in need to ‘shop’ for free for formal and semi-formal school events such as dances, academic awards, and promotion. Deb ensured all students would benefit by seeking and acquiring clothes for all sizes and genders, and students felt empowered to support one another by donating their gently used items. 

 

In all Deb does she remains a constant advocate and voice for the students of Twin Peaks Middle School, working to make the campus more equitable and conscious of the needs of all students.