SCASD Staff Black History Month Profile
Employee Profiles - Black History Month 2025
Janette Ortiz
Kindergarten Teacher
Park Forest Elementary
How long have you worked for the district?
"This is my 7th year with SCASD."
What previous jobs have you held?
"I worked in Early Childhood Education for 17 years."
What drew you to work here and continues to make you want/choose to work here?
"What drew me to SCASD was my desire to impact little lives and be the change I wanted to see. I am a product of SCASD and cannot remember a time I had a Black teacher. What better testament of change than to be the change."
How would students or your colleagues describe you?
"I think three words to describe me are fun, fair, and firm.
How did you become involved with/the leader of our annual AARI activities?
I used to be a participant in the Read Ins before I worked for SCASD, and it kind of made sense when I got here to be the organizer behind it. I couldn't pull it off though without my teammates: Gary Abdullah, Duane Bullock and Tracey Jackson, and the host of community members that read to the schools each year."
Nichol Helton
8th Grade Student Work Center
Mount Nittany Middle School
What previous jobs have you held?
"I have worked in a variety of fields, from retail to medical offices, even dipped my toes in banking. Though I always seem to miss being at the school after I started subbing and keep finding my way back here."
What drew you to work here and continues to make you want/choose to work here?
"Honestly, the students!
Working for a school is like no other job. Watching students grasp difficult concepts and improve their skills over time is beyond rewarding. Knowing that I am making a positive impact on their lives. Positively influence students' futures and help them develop skills they will use for a lifetime.
I also work with some amazing colleagues that have become like family."
How would students or your colleagues describe you?
"Students describe Ms. Helton as fun, helpful, positive, kind, funny, easy to get along with, chill, and just great - a very kind para who bonds with her students and treats them with respect."
Andre B. says, “Ms. Helton you are the nicest person in the world, and I love you so much. I see you as a second mom and role model. Thank you for helping me through tough times and being here for me.”
Colleagues:
Colleagues shared that Ms. Helton is caring and always able to make connections. In addition, she is upbeat, friendly, accepting, reliable, and honest.
Please share a funny or meaningful story about your time with students.
"Every day these kids leave me with a lasting memory."
"Thinking back on my first year with Jane Brown's first grade class (Spring Creek). We had so much fun together. When the cafeteria served the Thanksgiving feast our class took our lunches back to the classroom to eat together and watched "Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving". A few weeks later, as a holiday gift, Jane had scarves made for me and Kristin Roberto (her student teacher) and all the students. These first graders are now in sixth grade at Mount Nittany Middle School. One of the students last week brought hers into school to show me. She still uses it. It's really special when kiddos that aren't yours remember the small moments you have with them. Just another reason I love my job. That was an amazing year and now I get to do it all over again in new ways with a lot of the same faces this year."
Aaron Moon
Secondary Equity Liaison
Grades 6-12
What previous jobs have you held?
"The previous jobs that I have had in my career have been very helpful to do this position. I was an elementary educator for 7 years where I taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade while being 4th grade team leader for one year. I have also worked private security as a part time job, while also being an Auxiliary police officer with the city police in Maryland for 2 years."
What drew you to work here and continues to make you want/choose to work here?
"What drew me to work here was moving here due to starting a family and my fiance worked and lived here. I wanted something different than teaching inside the classroom which would allow me to try other leadership roles where I can still work in the community and work with students. This role allows me to work with secondary level teachers and students in the district while also allowing me to network and make connections with other stakeholders that I do not see daily."
How would students or your colleagues describe you?
"My students and colleagues would describe me as passionate, relationship building, flexible and driven. These words describing me simply show my personality in wanting to help people, my work ethic and just helping people to want to do the right thing and be good people."
How does your work impact students?
"My work impacts students through our daily interactions. I work with many groups that work on diversity, inclusion and community and what is great is that I get the chance to be a part of student groups that want to make our future the best that it can be. It is great to be able to meet with students who make projects and missions to make their future secure and who want assistance with upholding equity in place throughout the schools."
What's the favorite part/duty of your work?
"The best part of my job is the connections I get to make with students and staff who learn different ways to adapt, react and communicate with difficult matters, but also with my background I am able to support on different levels with leadership, education, security and networking amongst different people in the district which allows me to learn from other people as well in order to educate me on how to do this job, I love it!"