Rodriguez and Mitsuyasu Win Staff of the Year Awards for Cascade School District

Every year, one teacher and one non-teaching staff member from the Cascade School District are recognized with an award of excellence. This year’s awardees, band director James Mitsuyasu and bilingual secretary Miriam Rodriguez, have proven to be true champions at combining educational opportunity with compassionate understanding in the face of the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.

This is James Mitsuyasu’s eighth year teaching sixth through twelfth grade band. He works with beginners first learning their embouchure and fingerings, to advanced students able to improvise a jazz solo. 

Music programs took one of the hardest hits during the pandemic because of the inherent risk associated with a group of students blowing through instruments indoors. Mitsuyasu’s technology skills shone as he supplemented Zoom classes with a variety of camera angles and instruments, gave a lot of individual feedback with video recordings and created video showcases of band, choir and art students’ work. 

Now that students are back in the classroom, he’s teaching them all the many percussion instruments. 

Eighth grader Rhonan Allen appreciates Mr. Mitsuyasu, saying, “Mr. M. helps everyone learn the materials while keeping it fun and simple to understand.”

Senior Ellie Camp added, “Mr. Mitsuyasu is always giving our class music recommendations, kind words, amazing jokes, and the support that we all need to keep learning and being a part of the arts.”

Some of the band parents, who work closely with Mitsuyasu in the band boosters, are also teachers, so they know him from a few perspectives. “I would always choose James Mitsuyasu for Teacher of the Year, but even more so for this crazy school year,” said Kodiak Cubs preschool teacher and band mom, Lindsay Camp. “When we were all going nuts trying to figure out how to do instruction through a computer, James figured out how to stay connected with his students through music and, in the process, taught the rest of us how to move forward through everything.

“I loved listening to him relate to students on his Zoom calls. We could always tell when Ellie had band because we could hear the chatter and laughter. During Covid, James managed to pull off a band program where kids actually enjoyed learning music theory, which is a miracle all by itself.”

Third grade teacher and band mom, Jenelle Allen said it simply, “Mr. M. is the single most dedicated and caring teacher I know.”

Band parent Tiffany Brine gave an example of Mitsuyasu’s dedication. “He is at school on the weekends and also very involved in the summer and Christmas Lighting with fundraisers to support Band Boosters. He has really turned the band program around. This has been an extremely difficult year to be a band teacher, and he does his best to provide opportunities and inspire our kids.” 

Finally, Cascade High School principal Elia Ala'ilima-Daley echoed what others stated about Mitsuyasu, but also said, “Simply amazing in all aspects of his job. James has a humble servant’s heart with the ability to work with everyone. He is truly deserving of this award!”

Miriam Rodriguez is a bilingual secretary who works at both Peshastin Dryden Elementary (PD) and Alpine Lakes Elementary (ALE). She has been with the district for six years.

“Miriam has transformed the district since she joined as our bilingual secretary,” praised PD principal, Emily Ross. “She is intelligent, positive, incredibly inventive, caring, and a genius at creatively supporting our Spanish-speaking community.  She is essential in the day-to-day functioning of PD and Alpine Lakes. 

“Miriam translates documents, interprets conversations, creates schedules, puts band-aids on kiddos, and explains information to families in a genuinely caring way. Miriam thinks on her feet and can handle emergency situations with an urgently calm manner. Miriam's advice is full of wisdom and has helped us to establish systems of support to better serve our community. I trust her judgement, and I consider myself a better person for knowing and working with her.”

Holly Simon, who works alongside Rodriguez in the PD office, said, “Peshastin Dryden Elementary is a better school because of Miriam. She thinks of our students and families first and is quick to develop solutions and plans that are inclusive to all. Miriam is more than deserving of this respected award.”

Bonnie Phipps, ESL teacher at PD, understands the importance of bilingual staff like Rodriguez to help Spanish speaking students and families feel connected to the district and have their voices heard. “She is the bridge that connects our Spanish speaking families to our district, making them feel welcome and keeping them informed,” said Phipps. “She is always smiling and fun to have in our building. I don’t know what we’d do without her.”

“As a classroom teacher, I benefit from Miriam’s presence on a daily basis,” added Tina Richardson, a kindergarten teacher. “She supports not only staff in a myriad of ways, she also is invaluable to students and their families. Miriam humbly, warmly and efficiently takes care of each task. Miriam is such a valuable asset to our school district.”

Although an award ceremony through the North Central Educational Service District is unable to occur this year, Rodriguez and Mitsuyasu will be celebrated at a local appreciation dinner.