Eisenhower High School

"The goal is not to make a square peg fit a round hole. The goal is to value the square." - Stephanie Bermed

Congratulations to Michelle Cottingham (Special Education - Instructional Strategies ELA Teacher, Eisenhower High School) for receiving the District Attitude Award from the USD 265 Board of Education! She was nominated by Stephanie Robinson, who shared the following, "I am honored to nominate Michelle Cottingham for the Goddard District Attitude Award. Michelle consistently demonstrates a positive, student-centered attitude and goes above and beyond to make students feel supported, capable, and valued.

One example that especially stands out was Michelle’s work mentoring a summer program in which students designed and created their own board games for Goddard USD. Rather than simply helping students complete a project, Michelle encouraged them to take ownership of their ideas, be creative, and take pride in what they accomplished. She invested her time and energy into making the experience meaningful for the students. To celebrate their success, Michelle even purchased shirts for the students, giving them a tangible reminder of what they had created and accomplished together. That small gesture says a lot about the kind of educator Michelle is. She recognizes that students deserve to have their hard work celebrated.

Michelle brings that same attitude to her work every day as a special education instructor. She works hard to build genuine connections with her students and takes the time to understand what they need in order to be successful. She consistently looks for ways to make learning accessible and meaningful rather than allowing challenges to become barriers. She believes in her students and works to help them believe in themselves.

What makes Michelle deserving of this award is not one particular project or accomplishment. It is the consistency of her attitude. She brings patience, encouragement, creativity, and genuine care to her work each day. Whether she is mentoring students through a summer project, celebrating their accomplishments, or working alongside them in the classroom, Michelle makes students feel like their ideas and successes matter.

Michelle represents the kind of positive attitude that strengthens a school community. She does not simply teach students; she invests in them. For these reasons, I am proud to nominate Michelle Cottingham for the Goddard District Attitude Award."