“My Cardinal Joy comes from the opportunity to express my love and care for all of the Melissa students I encounter. Being able to encourage, guide, and listen to the children as they grow has been a reward in itself."

“To me, being a Difference Maker means always being there to help—whether it’s the students I drive or the drivers I help train. Every act of support, big or small, can make a lasting impact."

“Being a "Difference Maker" as a middle school coach and teacher means having a positive, lasting impact on your students' and athletes' lives, both inside and outside the classroom or on the basketball court. Key aspects of what it means to be a Difference Maker in this role: Leadership, Life skills, and Encouragement. Thus, it’s caring, consistent, and impactful presence in students' lives that helps shape who they become not only academically but athletically.”

"To me, a Difference Maker means you are continuously thinking about how you can support others; creating a safe and supportive environment where others feel valued and understood. It means that you demonstrate patience, integrity, and humility. A Difference Maker seeks to continuously learn from others around them and to always crave each other’s success."

"To me, being a Difference Maker involves embracing the joy of contributing to a child's educational journey. It is about collaborating with my colleagues to achieve remarkable outcomes and engaging with the community toward a unified purpose. I am blessed to be surrounded by dedicated and hardworking teammates who share an unwavering passion for teaching and learning."

"Being a difference maker is being that smiling, welcoming first person our students see each morning. We hope by having fun in the safest way possible on our route to school, we can deliver our students in a positive light, happy and ready to have a great day."

"Being a Difference Maker to me is helping others achieve the goals they have for themselves. Working hand-in-hand with a vast range of other parents, coaches, teachers, and students towards a common goal brings me the greatest joy. Cardinal Joy is helping all programs succeed!"

"Melissa is a family. A family and a team that supports your work and your everyday lives. I was Blessed to grow up here, and now I am blessed to work here while my own kids grow. I can not wait to see what the future holds."

"As a school bus driver here in Melissa, I do my best to create a positive environment for the students while riding on the bus, with kindness and a smile at the beginning and end of each day. My goal is to build trust with the students and parents so that they know that my number one responsibility is the care and safety of their children."