Mike Pickering, POWER Zone curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development administrator, acknowledges outstanding faculty member Elaine Schoen, Vista Ridge High School dean of students, during the POWER Zone mid-year convocation and teacher workday Jan. 7 at Vista Ridge High School in Falcon School District 49. Principals from the zone's three elementary schools, middle school and high school recognized four faculty members for their efforts in boosting quality of education. Pickering awarded zone honors to Schoen and John Litchenberg, Apple systems engineer, for their exceptional commitments. After the ceremony, teachers worked on their individual curriculum and semester goals. The Board of Education approved this mid-year event last April, as part of a POWER Zone innovation plan that modified the calendar for the zone's five schools. According to the plan, the effort is meant to increase quality in-class instruction, promote respectful staff relationships and ensure timely conference days.