Staff Spotlight: Meet Teresa Cavendar, IS/ES assistant cook

Staff spotlight art

Teresa CavendarMeet Teresa Cavendar, the assistant cook at the Intermediate/Elementary school!

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

The favorite aspect of my job is the children. I really missed the interaction with the children this past year and being able to greet them. Seeing their smiling faces brightened my day!

Why do you believe in and support the work of the Minisink Valley School District and what it does for the community?

I’ve worked in the district for the past 20 years. My three children grew up in Minisink and graduated from Minisink. Over the years, many changes have occurred within the district, each year growing larger and stronger. Whether it was sports, drama or chorus , my kids and our family were involved, as were  most of the Minisink students. I believe if we are all involved, we, as a district, can only get better.

 How has this pandemic refocused the work you do every day?

For myself and my co-workers, this year has really proven that together we are a team. We were thrown a curve ball this past year. Together, with different thoughts and ideas on how to prep and  package all the breakfasts and lunches for take homes and to go school meals, we were able to produce  an enormous amount of meals each day. I’d like to give a huge shout out to our team in the Elementary School, the Middle School, the High School and the Otisville girls! You all carry a part in this!

What do you want to say directly to the community about the importance of your work?  

It’s been an adjustment this past year for us all in the district.  The parents, the bus drivers, the aides, the teachers, maintenance, grounds, custodians… the pandemic affected all of us as a community. Most  importantly… the children. They have made the largest adjustment, and for the children, we all do what  we do. Together, we do our best to help make this adjustment run as smoothly as possible.