Below were the remarks delivered by Mexico Board of Education President James Emery as he honored Mrs. Vicki Ladd as the district’s Proud to be MACS honoree for January 2026 at the January Board of Education Business meeting.

In an age where acts of kindness and compassion are highly valued but seldom found, it is a great pleasure to be recognizing a staff member this evening where those characteristics are displayed by her each and every day. I am referring to our Proud to be MACS recipient for January, Vicki Ladd, Teacher’s Aide at the Mexico Middle School.

Vicki grew up in the Parish area graduating from Altmar-Parish-Williamstown in 1981.

While in high school, through relatives, Vicki met the love of her life, Earl. For those who may be unfamiliar with Earl’s family, I want to mention that his family holds a special place of respect and inspiration in the Mexico community. You see Earl is the 15th of 16 Ladd children. Despite this large family, Earl’s parents never accepted any public assistance. Their key to success was a tremendous work ethic that has been passed down to their children and grandchildren.

Vicki and Earl would marry in 1981 and be blessed with three children; Nicholas, a veterinarian technician in Fruit Valley; Cassandra, a physical therapist with Pemberton Associates, who works with MACS students; and Travis, a Structural and Civil Engineer at Nine Mile Point. All three are graduates from MACS and they have further blessed Vicki and Earl with six grandchildren, who, according to Vicki, are the lights of her life. The grandchildren are: twins Ryan and Avery Ladd who are 3rd graders at Mexico Elementary and the Bashfords:  Alayna, a 4th grader at New Haven Elementary; Logan, a 7th grader at Mexico Middle School; Tyler, a 9th grader at Mexico High School, and Carter, an 11th grader at Mexico High School. Vicki credits them with inspiring her and giving her added insight and patience.

Besides high school graduation and marriage, the year 1981 was a significant year for Vicki as she began her career at Eddie’s Big M (now TOPS Friendly Market). Vicki would work there for some 40 years starting as a cashier and finishing as the office manager. During this time, she trained many of the store personnel with ties to MACS that included Chad and Shannon Bigelow and their daughter, Anna and Mexico Elementary teacher, Melissa Perlet.

Over the years, especially in the 1990’s, Vicki did substitute for the District in clerical positions and in the classrooms, however, it was not until September of 2021 that she officially joined the District as a Teacher’s Aide. Today, Vicki remains a Teacher’s Aide because she prefers the one to one relationship that comes with being an aide. For the record, Vicki did receive her Teaching Assistant Certification in 2022.

Ironically, Vicki confessed to me that she always wanted to be a teacher, but with marriage and raising a family, she never had the resources or the time. Consequently, working for MACS is a dream come true for her.

Though Vicki did not come to the District with a multitude of degrees and certificates, she did possess many intangibles gained from her forty years at Eddie’s and TOPS. There, she was well-known for her consistent acts of kindness, friendliness, and willingness to do anything for her customers. These were the hallmarks of owner Eddie Nykaza and store manager, Bobby Oustrich. These traits are utilized daily in her duties at MACS and have been noticed by her peers and supervisors. Here are a few reflections on Vicki from those staff members.

Director of Pupil Services, Jennifer Stanton writes, “Vicki Ladd is an aide that works tirelessly with the student that she supports. She is kind, positive and always has a smile on her face. She has been very responsive to whatever her student needs and works well with the team to support her student.”

Assistant Mexico Middle School Principal, Laurie Nohle writes, “It’s an honor to share my thoughts about Vickie. She is truly one of the most generous and kind individuals I know. Vickie’s dedication to helping those around her is unmatched, and she consistently places students at the center of her work.”

Laurie adds, “She exemplifies selflessness, continually supporting others while prioritizing the needs of students. Vickies’s focus on students and her willingness to help others set a remarkable example for our entire school community.”

Mexico Middle School teacher, Catherine Rivenburgh adds to the praises mentioned above by writing, “I was so glad to hear that Vicki Ladd was chosen for “Proud to be MACS” this month. I honestly couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. Vicki comes to work early and leaves after the workday. When Vicki works with a student, she forms a relationship of trust and mutual respect. Vicki takes the time to learn that particular student’s likes and dislikes, so she can be most effective. As a 1:1 aide, Vicki goes above and beyond her duties, and is very effective in communicating with parents and teachers. She shares concerns and celebrates triumphs with all. She pushes students to succeed in a kind and positive way like no other. On another note, Vicki not only supports her own 1:1 student, but looks out for other students when needed and shares vital information with the appropriate staff members. She does so many acts of kindness to support our school and students as a whole. Great Job Vicki!!!!!!!”

As for those relationships referred to in Catherine’s praises, Vicki prides herself on her ability to identify a source of motivation within her student; a source that she can nurture and utilize to benefit her student. One example was a student who loved the military and the K-9 Units. Vicki would reference those loves to get the student to do their work. Another student loved football but was very introverted. By referencing this love, and with the help of many others, Vicki got the student to become more social and talkative, and, when he became eligible, the student got to enjoy his love by actually playing football. It is discovering and developing this “spark” in a student that Vicki feels is her favorite part of her job, and the successes with students like the ones aforementioned constitute her favorite memories.

Not only do supervisors and teachers recognize Vicki’s contributions, but specialists like Mexico Middle School Speech Pathologist, Jacki Bates do as well. Jacki writes, “Vicki Ladd is a team player. Her stellar communication skills allow me to provide more detailed intervention for the students. She frequently stops by for check-ins or to provide updates on a student we share. She goes above and beyond on a daily basis. Once her student’s needs are met, she will help others and support the teacher as needed. This support doesn’t stop at the classroom. Outside of school, she has been known to open her pool to neighborhood kids on hot days as well as provide transportation and support to kids and families wanting to participate in community activities. Again, it is her excellent communication skills that are a catalyst for this. She is brave and diligent enough to initiate difficult conversations. Vicki is constantly thinking of others and how she can ease burdens or offer encouragement. If you are lucky enough to work alongside Vick, you will benefit from the kind, honest and respectful approach that she takes with everybody. Our students are fortunate to have such a positive role model.”

Referring to nominator and former Proud to be MACS recipient, Kristine Earley’s nomination, Kristine writes as the reason for nominating Vicki the following, “Mrs. Ladd is the kind of person every school needs. She currently works 1:1 with a student but she loves to help everyone who crosses her path. Mrs. Ladd worked at our local TOPS grocery for over 20+ years and retired from there before joining our family at Mexico Middle School. She is extremely caring, taking time to explain things until everyone understands, never making anyone feel left behind. Her kindness shows in the way she greets each student and adult with a smile and listens with genuine care when they need help. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Ladd organizes the school’s Kindness Closet, a project that provides clothing, shoes, personal hygiene, and other essentials to students in need.”

Mexico Middle School teacher, Kristen Burdick further amplifies Vicki’s contributions to the Kindness Closet by writing, “Vickie was my “behind the scenes” hero during the time that I ran the Kindness Closet. I was so excited to make this opportunity for our students shine. I wanted them to know it was available and feel safe to ask for it. However, being a teacher that was on several other committees, my busy schedule often made it difficult for me to keep up on the closet. A few times in passing, she would casually mention she had gone to the closet in support of a student and while there had noticed how messy it had been left by someone else, so she tidied it up for me. I’d thank her and tell her I appreciated the help. However, upon one of my visits to the closet, I was blown away. She had been far too humble in letting me know her version of “tidy.” Over multiple trips to the closet, she had organized all the clothing by gender and gender neutral, sizes, and even seasons. Everything had a place. This was always my goal, but something I didn’t have time to make happen myself so she took it upon herself without hesitation. For some time after, she continued to work in the closet, keeping it up to par. She often brainstormed ideas to make the process of using it better with me, and offered to help run it alongside me so that times I was unable to take students down or go down on behalf of a student myself, she would step in. It was relieving to know that the Kindness Closet wasn’t going to lose priority because she had my back. This nature is simply who Vickie Ladd is - sweet, supportive, humble. It’s been a great joy in my life to know her, work with her, and have her in my circle.”

Finally, returning to Kristine Earley’s nomination, she writes, “Aside from the students, Mrs. Ladd is also one of the most positive and pleasant adults in our building and always has a “hello” and a smile. Through her selflessness, dedication, and genuine care, Mrs. Ladd creates a warm and supportive environment where every student AND adult feel valued, respected, and cared for. MACS should be so grateful that she chose us as her second career!”

And so Vicki, for bringing your gifts and skills from your years at Eddie’s and TOPS that would make Eddie Nykaza and Bobby Oustrich proud, for working tirelessly on behalf of your students, for your focus on students and your willingness to help others that sets a remarkable example for the entire school community, for taking the time to learn that particular student’s likes and dislikes, so to be most effective, for discovering and developing the “spark” within your students, for going above and beyond on a daily basis, for making the Kindness Closet a place available, tidy, and organized, for being sweet, supportive, and humble, for being one of the most positive and pleasant adults at Mexico Middle School, but, most of all, for the many acts of kindness and compassion that you display each and every day, we, the Board, are indeed grateful that you chose MACS as your second career and enthusiastically recognize you as our Proud to be MACS recipient for January 2026.