At Manitou Springs High School, there are many teachers and staff that go above and beyond to make students and staff feel comfortable and safe. Some of these people are Gabby Santos, Cat Albanese, Alisha Mauer and Georgianna Derziotis.
As all of these staff members show generosity, and they all do it in different ways.
Santos, who is MSHS’s head basketball coach and a PE and Health teacher, shows generosity through her constant kindness and help to all. “Gabby really tries to keep everyone included, and makes sure that everyone has a spot and place in our school,” Brooklynn Sheffield (11) said.
While Santos is generally a positive person, she is still human. “If she’s having a bad day, she really makes sure that people don’t realize,” Sheffield said. “She’s a safe place for us and that we can come to her, if we need anything.”
It seems as if generosity comes to Santos easily. “I don’t know if it’s something that I do consciously; it’s just part of who I am,” Santos said.
While balancing coaching and teaching, Santo’s biggest goal is to help support students. “I like to support young people in their growth,” Santos said, “whether that’s growing academically, as individuals, or within teams.”
While there are many different definitions of generosity, Santos believes that it is choosing to give back without reward. “It’s choosing to do what’s best for people and for the community because that’s just the right thing to do,” Santos said.
Santos brings the light of positivity to anywhere she goes. “Gabby is very fun, goofy, energetic, and she’s very competitive,” Sheffield said. “We appreciate Gabby, she’s a great person.”
Along with Santos, Cat Albanese, the front office secretary, does many things beyond her job title.
Albanese is generous by nature, and whatever students need, they go to her. “Students ask for snacks, if they need something printed, or if they need to go to the clothing closet,” Albanese said.
Madi Campbell is an Office Aid during the first block on A days. She thinks that Albanese has a lot of generosity.
While still being professional, Albanese is kind to students, staff, and parents. “Even if somebody’s mean to her on the phone, she doesn’t get angry at them,” Campbell said. “She handles it with respect and professionalism.”
Although it is her job to make sure structural things run smoothly, she also makes sure social and emotional care is provided. “I like to make sure that the teachers are taken care of, the subs are taken care of, and the students are taken care of,” Albanese said.
Campbell believes that Albanese is generous just because of the type of person she is. “She’s not a mean person. She likes her job. She likes the students here,” Campbell said. “She’s a part of the community.”
Albanese has a lot to do day-to-day, yet she still manages to keep the kids engaged. “She provides really good discussion,” Campbell said.
Similarly to Albanese and Santos, Georgianna Derziotis also has a kind and generous nature to her.
Derziotis, who is the Athletic and Activities Administrative Assistant for MSHS, is constantly working to help students and staff get through the day and the year with ease.
Ezra Gervais (11) is always able to meet his deadlines during StuCo with Derziotis by his side. “I’m able to get a lot done with her and meetings always go quickly,” he said. “I’m never scared to talk to her.”
He believes that she does a lot for the staff and students. “It would make my life and the district’s life a lot more difficult without her,” Gervais said.
According to Gervais, Derziotis is very hardworking and one of the kindest people in the district. “She’s a young soul and she’s fun to be around,” he said. “She’s really kind, and one of my favorite staff members.”
Without Derziotis, StuCo would not run smoothly. “She’s the one dealing with the big bucks, and she approves a lot of our spending for StuCo,” Gervais said.
Additionally, Alicia Mauer is also a very generous person in our school.
Mauer, one of the science teachers for MSHS, has a generous personality. Although she doesn’t have to, she shares things with her students. “I share my food with them,” Mauer said.
One of her goals is to create eco-friendly students and reduce their carbon footprint. “I would like to produce students who are environmental stewards,” Mauer said, “who want to look after their community and ecosystems around them.”
She is kind to students and would like them to also be kind to themselves and others as well. “I want to add goodness to the world,” Mauer said.
According to Mauer, being generous is to give without thinking. “Being generous is having a giving spirit, which can be giving time, it can be giving things,” Mauer said. “It can also just be your spirit.”
Mauer takes pride in making her students better people. “Everyone should aim to make the world a better place,” she said.
