By Seth Romsa
Staff Writer
West Side paraeducator honored with Bell Ringer award
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Seth Romsa
Washakie County School District No. 1 board chair Sarah Lungren hands the annual Bell Ringer award to this year's winner Loretta Alcaraz, as board members David Tommerup and Jonathan Hake congratulate her at a meeting May 24.
WORLAND – The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees honored their newest Bell Ringer Award winner Loretta Alcaraz during their monthly meeting on Monday, May 24.
The Bell Ringer is annually awarded to an outstanding citizen from the community who contributes to the district behind the scenes.
When she was honored with the award, Alcaraz was under the impression that she was going to the meeting to translate for a family who spoke Spanish.
"I was shocked," Alcaraz said. "I think there are a lot of people that do more in this community than me that should be recognized."
Alcaraz has been a paraeducator within the district since 2009, and currently serves as a special education paraeducator at West Side Elementary.
Alcaraz is involved in the district as she enjoys getting to know each student individually and helping bring in treats to the students and staff along with lunch for the teachers every other Friday.
"It is a time for them (teachers) to get together, because I notice a lot of time they are so busy with their lives," Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz tries to keep in contact with the student she develops a rapport with as she hopes to be a lasting impact in each student she comes in contact with.
Alcaraz said that even though she feels like she does not do anything outstanding, West Side has named a kindness award in her honor which will be given out each year.
Alcaraz has a long history with helping those in the community as she worked with the Northwest Community Action Program, which was formally known as a Head Start program. She also has worked with different migrant Head Start programs over the years that have helped non-English speaking youth transition into the community.
"I love the kids I just love being there with them and hopefully in some way I am helping them learn a bit," Alcaraz said.
She said it has meant a lot to her seeing all of her students grow up over the years, and even keeps in contact with some of them over the years. She said one student in particular who wanted to quit school since the fifth grade she was able to call once a year and help that student in any way in order to help motivate that student until they graduated this year.
"It is good things like that that I remember," Alcaraz said.
