Gorzycki Middle School teacher Cynthia Christensen today received the district's first Superintendent Coin, designed to recognize outstanding work by teachers and staff throughout the district.

Superintendent Paul Cruz delivered the coin to Christensen during her fashion and interior design class, for a project completed by students in the fall.

Using a simple pattern and some old pillowcases, Christensen's students sewed 40 dresses for children in Africa.

"It was a lot of fun. They really got excited that they were able to use their skills," she said. "It gave them the opportunity to think of others and help people who could really use it."

Christensen, a career and technical education teacher, said that she hopes to make the project a regular part of the curriculum for the class, and that she was honored for her students' work to be recognized by Cruz.

Cruz and principals will work together to award coins to faculty and staff throughout each school year. The coins were created specifically to recognize employees who go above and beyond to create a positive, engaging environment that challenges students to learn more effectively.