By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Craig Pallister, Hays Middle School principal, was honored with the Best of the Best Award by the Hays school board Monday night.
Pallister, who has been with the Hays district for 25 years, was nominated by Jerry Braun, HMS gifted teacher.
Braun has been on the staff at the middle school three different times, and he said it was because of Pallister that he wanted to keep coming back.
“I have had many bosses now, and he is the best I have ever had,” Braun said. “Mostly because he doesn’t get in our way. He lets us to our job. He supports us and he gives us the resources we need. He tells us every day from day one that working with students is about caring, compassion and connections. Craig Pallister is someone who practices what he preaches.”
Pallister approached the award with humility, saying, “This is not really my thing being recognized for this, because it is part of my job that I started in this district 25 years ago.”
He thanked Braun, the middle school staff and all the central administration staff he has worked with over the years.
He said he had been blessed with many assistant principals, including Shanna Dinkel, who is now the assistant superintendent of the district.
“I felt as if I should have had teachers, paras, secretaries, coaches, custodians, bus drivers, nurses, counselors and school [psychologists] all up here instead of me,” he said.
He said he went in this weekend and put in about a dozen nominations for the Best of the Best Award for people he really felt strongly about.
Superintendent John Thissen added, “There is a characteristic that we love to have leaders have, and none have it more than you in all the years I have been working in schools, and that is humility. We are very fortunate to have you care for your staff the way that you do.”
Wyatt Kirkpatrick, Lincoln Elementary School fifth-grader, was named this month’s student Best of the Best. He was nominated by teacher Monica Dreiling.
“Wyatt Kirkpatrick comes to school each day with a cheerful attitude and is always willing to learn,” Dreiling said. “He is respectful to adults and peers and listens to directions and is honest. Wyatt actively participates in class and is a self-motivated learner.
“He sets high goals for himself and is willing to ask for help when he needs it. He frequently assists other students in the classroom and gives them encouragement. I am exited to have Wyatt in my classroom. I know he will be a role model for his peers this school year and in the future.”