Office specialist named top classified school employee

Teri Cantley sat in her chair for a moment after her name was announced. Then she started to cry.

"It is an honor to be selected as the Classified Employee of the Year," she told Carson City School Board members. "When I saw the list of nominees, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, the selection committee has a monumental job this year.'"

The other nominees, teachers and administrators in the audience Tuesday evening gave her a standing ovation.

"She is the epitome of an excellent employee," said Kevin Curnes, her supervisor at the Carson City School District's transportation department. "It is so nice to work with somebody as professional as Teri."

Cantley started her job as administrative office specialist in 1999.

"I love it," she said. "I get to treat 56 people like my family. Then I get to add the kids on top of that."

Each school and department in the district chose an employee of the year at the site. From that list, a committee made up of school board members, teachers, administrators and classified employees, announced a district winner at Tuesday's board meeting.

"The list of this year's winners read like a who's who of classified employees," Cantley said. "Every one of them deserved this award."

Cantley received a plaque and one day's paid leave.

She and her husband, Carl, moved to Carson City 14 years ago and have two daughters, Amanda, 17, and Brandy, 13.

She has been involved with the parent-teacher association for more than 10 years, first at Empire Elementary School then at Eagle Valley Middle School.

She also served on the citywide Silver Sage Council and the Nevada State PTA.

Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.