By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Fountain Hills Unified School District standout students and staff were recognized as part of “District Celebrations” at the Sept. 17 FHUSD Governing Board meeting.

Present at the meeting were many of that month’s honorees. Those included 2024-25 Falcon of the Year Milica Bulj, whom Superintendent Cain Jagodzinski described as the kindest, attention-to-detail type of custodian.

The superintendent said Bulj, whose first name is pronounced like “Melissa,” is retiring and was also a district employee of the month last spring.

“If I were a coach starting a team with an (expansion) draft, I’d take Milica first,” Jagodzinski said.

Also recognized at the Sept. 17 meeting were Little Falcons Preschool staff Heather Penkava and student Bodhi Orozco.

McDowell Mountain Elementary School recognized staff was Selina Reisig; the student was Frances Dowling.
Fountain Hills Middle School staff recognized at the meeting were teacher and coach Andrea Hall and student Henry Good.

Fountain Hills High School’s honorees were staff Luke Salzman and student Katie Dwyer.

Also recognized were Transportation staff Kailey Brown and district office staff Kristi Fuda.

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Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.