Laguna Beach Local News
Chantale McConnell is an instructional assistant at Top of the World Elementary. Photo courtesy of Chantale McConnell
Instructional Assistant Chantale McConnell rose to the challenge of guiding cohorts of up to 20 Kindergarten students through a very unusual year at Top of the World Elementary School.
She still sees little smiles underneath her students’ face masks as they sit behind plexiglass mounted on their desks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Inevitably, a student will break down and cry for their mom. McConnell is there to help make them feel happy at school.
“The one thing that’s hard for me, because I’m very involved physically with the kids, I’m a big hugger,” she said. “That’s been the hardest thing for me, not being able to hug.”
Reply
On Wednesday, Laguna Beach Unified School District surprised 3rd Grade Teacher and an Instructional Aide with the prestigious award. (Laguna Beach Unified School District Photo)
LAGUNA BEACH, CA Laguna Beach Unified School District surprised the 2020-21 employees of the year in a socially distant ceremony this week.
Third grade teacher Cory Day was awarded Teacher of the Year at Top Of The World Elementary School. Instructional Aide Chantale McConnell received the award for Classified Employee of the Year. It was an exciting morning at Top of the World, and congratulations to all, a spokesperson for Laguna Beach Unified School District said.