Michele Wade
Michele Wade is a dedicated team member who goes above and beyond in her role as an Office Specialist. She is detail-oriented, incredibly efficient, and takes great pride in her work! Michele works daily, putting forth an incredible effort to communicate with families about attendance, taking detailed notes, and finding solutions to ensure students attend school every day. She stays calm under pressure while juggling student, staff, and community needs. When help is needed, especially anything related to safety, you never have to ask Michele; she shows up and does what is required, no questions asked. Michele has projects near and dear to her heart, thus making time for them every year. She organizes our Giving Tree with our PTG, which brings our community together to support families that may be in need. In addition, she organizes Books and Blankets, bringing Benicia community members to our school to read a book in different classrooms and fostering the love of reading. This experience also helps our students learn about and develop relationships with community members. So much of what Michele does is behind the scenes, and the impact of her work keeps our school running smoothly. Our students, staff, and community appreciate Michele and all she does for our school! Michele Wade, Thank you for being a BUSD All-Star!
Meagan Carroll
Meagan Carroll teaches second grade at Mary Farmar Elementary School. She is an exceptional team member who goes above and beyond to create a sense of community in her classroom and our school. Her warm welcome to her students sets a positive tone and a space for them to learn about each other, work through conflicts, develop self-regulation skills, and show compassion.
Ms. Carroll creates a kind culture, and the benefits are priceless! Over the past two years, she led spirit rallies enthusiastically, focusing on inclusivity and ensuring our students are front and center and have a voice. Ms. Carroll also leads and supports projects focusing on “giving back to our community.” She leads the Students in Action program by helping our student leaders organize a Cozy Community Drive by collecting canned food, warm socks, and blankets for families in need. In addition, Meagan created a Wall of Heroes to honor Veterans in our community and loved ones who have passed away through the Mary Farmar Ofrenda.
We are fortunate to have Meagan Carroll as a part of our team! Our students, staff, and families greatly appreciate her commitment and dedication as an educator! Ms. Carroll, thank you for being a BUSD All-Star!
Kari Troedson-Diaw
Kari Troedson-Diaw joined the Joe Henderson and BUSD staff during the 2014-15 school year, cementing her influence on a generation of Henderson Hounds and as a source of calmness and grounding among her colleagues! As the longest-serving member of Henderson’s 3rd-grade team, Mrs. Diaw brings institutional knowledge and deep pedagogical knowledge to that year of elementary school, a pivotal transition toward upper elementary skills! She strives for excellence and rigor from all her students but does so with a calm, caring manner, a perennially warm smile, and a dry, witty sense of humor – one that even a 3rd grader can appreciate! Ms. Diaw can frequently be seen traveling Benicia on her daily walks, and perhaps this consistent habit of hers is what brings her the grounding that makes her this quiet source of strength for so many! Whether in her classroom or contributing to the District Equity Team, an effort toward which she has been a passionate leader for years, Mrs. Diaw is someone who “gives.” Beyond the school day, she can also be found giving her time as an afterschool ELOP tutoring teacher and as a frequent attendee of the PTG-led and community-led events that make being an educator in the Benicia community an inclusive and special experience. Bravo to Mrs. Diaw, a BUSD all-star!
Sarah Thomsen
Sarah Thomsen joined BUSD as an employee in the Fall of 2018, beginning many years of dedication to our district by serving in the Nutrition Services Department, both at Benicia High School and at Robert Semple; then she became a Henderson Hound during the 2021-22 school year. Ms. Thomsen first served the Hounds as a Student Supervision Aide, keeping everyone safe, respectful, and responsible on the playground. The following year, she transitioned into supporting students with IEPs, first as a Special Education Assistant and then as a Special Purpose Aide. Currently, as one of the three talented and compassionate aides in Mr. Mertz’s primary intensive academics classroom, Ms. Thomsen brings creativity, patience, and dedication to her students and her teammates – going so far as to design special t-shirts for the special education team at Henderson! Ms. Thomsen’s commitment to professionalism and her collaborative spirit have made her an asset to the district in all her various roles since 2018, but JHE feels that she has found the perfect spot where her exceptional talents can serve students with exceptional needs! Bravo to Ms. Thomsen, a BUSD all-star!
