Submitted photo Dunkirk school district administrators pose with some of the teachers granted tenure by the Board of Education.

The Dunkirk Board of Education granted 12 educators tenure at its meeting this month, and administrators said a few nice words about each of the dozen.

School 3 teacher Sarah Crane is “confident within her abilities. Kids love her, families love her,” said the school’s principal, Kisun Peters.

School 5 principal David Boyda spoke about teachers Carmen Andrews and Jaimee Gustafson, and speech language pathologist Nicole Piazza.

Boyda said Andrews is “a Dunkirk success story,” graduating from the school district and starting her career there as a teacher aide. “She’s always seeking the best practice for her craft,” he said. “Her desire to keep learning herself is evident.”

Gustafson, in her second stint with the district, has a “positive attitude… she’s one of the most positive people you can be around and it permeates everything she does.”

Piazza, who has been published in a speech pathology trade journal, is “student-focused” and “highly professional,” Boyda said.

Danielle Russell, director of special education, talked up School 7 special education teachers Heidi Bates and Julie Brueckl. They are both “valued employees,” she said. Both of them were unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting because they had to be home with sick children, she said.

Kim Texter, intermediate school principal, spoke about four of her school’s newly tenured teachers, Meghan Bible, Ashley DeJohn, Kelsey Gawronski and Amanda Kulig.

Texter called DeJohn, who is also a SUNY Fredonia professor, an “innovator” and “risk taker.” Bible transferred from fifth to third grade teaching and thus offers a unique perspective. She’s “an asset to this district,” Texter said.

Gawronski, another Dunkirk school district alum, got high praise from a fellow teacher recently. “She’s like, ‘I’d like my own kid in Kelsey’s class,”” Texter said. As for Kulig, also a Dunkirk graduate, she is “a breath of fresh air. She beams. She’s so happy to be with her kids and our school.”

Finally, High School Principal Rebecca Farwell honored English as a second language instructors Inez Gonzalez and Judy Ippolito.

Farwell said she knew Gonzalez was special when she went to sit in on one of her classes. “She’s like a mom to them, but in a very professional, positive way,” Farwell said.

Ippolito has a unique ability to connect with students, the principal continued. “She knows them well and is excellent in making them feel comfortable,” Farwell said.