Honoring Our Employees

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Honoring Our Employees We’re nearing the end of another school year and, along with celebrating our student successes, the MOBOCES leadership team takes a lot of pride in recognizing our staff. In a typical year, we host an organization-wide celebration to recognize employees who have reached service milestones and to honor our colleagues who are retiring. It is just one way we can show our appreciation for their dedication and hard work! This is, unfortunately, not a typical year, and we are not able to have our traditional Employee Recognition ceremony in the Courtyard. But we did not want to miss out on the opportunity to celebrate and honor the wonderful staff we have here. Your commitment to our work, your innovative ideas, and your flexibility during this difficult year are truly what make MOBOCES such a special place to work. Whether you are ending your service with us or just starting out, we’re honored that you chose a career here with us. Thank you for your service! CATHY QUINN Confidential Secretary to the District Superintendent Cathy has been part of the MOBOCES family for 33 years, first as secretary to the Deputy Superintendent before moving to Secretary to the District Superintendent/District Clerk. During her 25 years in her current role, she has worked for three District Superintendents and with 37 BOCES board members, assisted with more than 40 local school superintendent searches, and spearheaded 31 Annual Meetings. Never one to step into the spotlight, Cathy was recently selected by the Tri-County School Boards Institute to receive a Distinguished Service Award for her years of dedicated service to supporting school board members. Her reputation for precision and excellence is unsurpassed. BOCES staff know her for her strong, steady leadership, her expertise in all aspects of this organization, and her calm thoughtfulness and practicality, even in times of stress. She is a master of her profession, an esteemed colleague and a mentor to so many, both here and in the region. Cathy lives and breathes the BOCES mission and truly sees her coworkers as family. She is known for her tireless work on our annual holiday drive and she never hesitates to help students or staff members in need. We will miss her sense of humor, her open door, and her no-nonsense attitude that we have come to rely on. We wish you the best on your well-deserved retirement!

Transcript of Honoring Our Employees

Page 1: Honoring Our Employees

Honoring Our EmployeesWe’re nearing the end of another school year and, along with celebrating our student successes, the MOBOCES leadership team takes a lot of pride in recognizing our staff. In a typical year, we host an organization-wide celebration to recognize employees who have reached service milestones and to honor our colleagues who are retiring. It is just one way we can show our appreciation for their dedication and hard work!

This is, unfortunately, not a typical year, and we are not able to have our traditional Employee Recognition ceremony in the Courtyard. But we did not want to miss out on the opportunity to celebrate and honor the wonderful staff we have here. Your commitment to our work, your innovative ideas, and your flexibility during this difficult year are truly what make MOBOCES such a special place to work.

Whether you are ending your service with us or just starting out, we’re honored that you chose a career here with us.

Thank you for your service!

CATHY QUINNConfidential Secretary to the District Superintendent

Cathy has been part of the MOBOCES family for 33 years, first as secretary to the Deputy Superintendent before moving to Secretary to the District Superintendent/District Clerk. During her 25 years in her current role, she has worked for three District Superintendents and with 37 BOCES board members, assisted with more than 40 local school superintendent searches, and spearheaded 31 Annual Meetings.

Never one to step into the spotlight, Cathy was recently selected by the Tri-County School Boards Institute to receive a Distinguished Service Award for her years of dedicated service to supporting school board members.

Her reputation for precision and excellence is unsurpassed. BOCES staff know her for her strong, steady leadership, her expertise in all aspects of this organization, and her calm thoughtfulness and practicality, even in times of stress. She is a master of her profession, an esteemed colleague and a mentor to so many, both here and in the region. Cathy lives and breathes the BOCES mission and truly sees her coworkers as family. She is known for her tireless work on our annual holiday drive and she never hesitates to help students or staff members in need. We will miss her sense of humor, her open door, and her no-nonsense attitude that we have come to rely on. We wish you the best on your well-deserved retirement!

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LINDA BILLSTeacher Aide

Linda has worked as an aide at BOCES in the 12:1:1 Skills program and the VTP program for the past 12 years. She has been invaluable in keeping communication regarding

students and programming between buildings up to date. She consistently goes above and beyond for students and staff. She is an advocate for her students and is quick to celebrate their successes. Linda is a very proud, hardworking, gracious person. She cares very much for all of her students and always has a kind word to offer them.

She loves trivia and is always making everyone laugh! She has a long standing love for horses. She has worldly knowledge from her early years of traveling around the world in an Army family and is known for her perseverance. One of Linda’s co-workers wrote: “Linda is always ready and available and is the most dependable person I know. You can always count on Linda to lend a helping hand!” Kids had a friend and motherly figure in Linda, and they were fortunate to have her as one of their teachers. Her smile and grace will be missed. We wish you well in retirement.

BILL COUCHCarpenter

Bill joined MOBOCES in 2000 and helped care for our buildings with dedication for 20 years. Although his primary role was as a carpenter, he has served the organization in many capacities, from food delivery to painting and general Buildings and Grounds support. This allowed him to positively impact many programs, staff and students. His dedication to the BOCES was greatly appreciated and he could always be counted on to

lend a helping hand. Bill has been missed since his retirement, but we hope he has been enjoying his much deserved free time!

CYNTHIA ACKERMAN

Teaching Assistant

Cindy has been a fabulous TA for 17 years and will be missed very much. She always has a happy, kind heart and makes everyone feel special. She connects with all the students and can deliver any lesson in the Cosmetology classroom. This year has been challenging, but she has jumped in and learned a variety of ways to deliver virtual instruction. She plans on spending much needed time with her grandchildren and going camping with her husband Rick. She plans to live life to the fullest.

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STEVE COUGHLINSocial Studies Teacher

Steve was first hired as a teacher with MOBOCES for the Project Adventure/Awareness program! He then went on to teach Global Studies and U.S. History in the Alternative Education program and SOAR Academy. In his final year with MOBOCES, Steve taught at our CTE program.

Before coming to BOCES, Steve worked with the incarcerated population. Regardless of who he taught, he always focused on relationships. Steve was a exceptionally gifted role model for all students, many of whom looked to Steve as a teacher and as a father figure.

Steve always loved a good debate, and political cartoons were his favorite. He is famous for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich assembly line teams. He has a joke for everything. Steve cares about kids. He is meticulous and he always dots his “i’s” and crosses his “t’s” because accuracy matters and students matter. He is undefeated as a BOCES basketball coach! His teachers at John T. Roberts Elementary School in Syracuse would be proud. After retirement Steve is rumored to be working with the SU Men’s Basketball Team on perfecting foul shot techniques.

One of Steve’s colleagues wrote: “Old geographers never die, they just become legends.” Steve...you are a legend here and you will be missed dearly. Happy Retirement! Enjoy!

KAREN ENDRESTeaching Assistant

Karen worked in the BOCES 12:1:1 Skills at VVS High School for many years earlier in her career. Her dedication and sincere desire to help the young adults in this program was evident with each passing year. She not only helped her students to make better choices socially and behaviorally, but she also assisted them in processing the reasons for their choices as well as better options for success. Her sense of humor and valuable experience

allowed for effective collaboration and cooperation with her BOCES and VVS colleagues.

The last teacher Karen worked with wrote: “Karen and I had the pleasure of working together for five school years and she made my transition into the program and BOCES environment an enjoyable one. While she has some vision and hearing challenges, she heard and saw everything. She kept the students and me laughing with her sense of humor and Miss Endres “isms.” She made sure I was well prepared and organized for our classes and could take over in a moment’s notice. She established a rapport with the students that was warm and inviting, even to the point of being known as ‘Grandma Endres.’ Karen was old school and she had a real presence in the classroom that students and I respected, and her knowledge surpassed all expectations. It was a pleasure to work with Karen and I wish her the best.”

Congratulations from all of us at BOCES!

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CARLA GUALTIERICase Manager

Carla has been a valued staff member of BOCES for 20 years. Her passion and commitment knows no bounds and she has continually gone above and beyond for the Adult & Continuing Education division no matter what was asked of her. What she truly loved was engaging in meaningful conversations with individuals who felt safe enough to tell her their story and what brought them to their current situation in life. It gave her the

opportunity to counsel, guide and cheer them on as they walked through their journey with BOCES.She has truly enjoyed serving on the Madison and Oneida County Drug Court Teams. Carla said: “It was an honor and a privilege to serve on a team whose main goal is to support individuals who long to transform their lives from utter despair to becoming successful members of society. Every time an individual succeeded, it was heartfelt by everyone on the team.”Last but not least, Carla said she smiles every time she reads our BCCE slogan, “Promote lifelong learning to achieve lifelong success.” Carla played a significant part in creating this tagline, which will remain with us for many years to come. In addition, Carla’s contributions will continue on in the success of the many, many students whose lives she has touched and helped transform. That gift will never be forgotten.Thank you, Carla! Enjoy your retirement!

BRENDA FROSTTeacher Aide

Brenda has worked with MOBOCES for 30 years. She started her career in Stockbridge in the Multi-Disabled Program. She then became an aide in the Pre-K Program at Broad Street and later, moved on to the Multi-Disabled

Program at McAllister. Brenda then spent 10 years in Morrisville working in the elementary and high school, and she was an aide in the Day Treatment program for five years. Most recently, Brenda has been a Job Coach for the Work Study Program at VVS High School, where she has been for the last 11 years.Brenda is a multi-talented professional who demonstrated emphasis on flexibility and adaptability throughout her three decades of work with the Madison-Oneida BOCES. She took on each challenge, new experience, and opportunity with motivation and a sincere desire to assist her students with disabilities in achieving more independence, skill development, and success. She loves to laugh, and her sense of humor, smile, and positive relationships with staff and students benefited all those she encountered daily. Simply stated, she was a coach of many winning “teams!”Brenda is looking forward to her retirement and spending quality time with her four grandchildren and family. Best wishes.

RICHARD FROSCHAUER

Graphic Aide

Rik has been an employee of BOCES for 30 years as a Graphic Aide in the Print Shop. During his employment, he was our go-to guy for all our specialized graphic projects. His design skill set was top notch. He developed many strong relationships with our customer base, and they came to depend upon him for his design capabilities and imagery. He will be missed here at BOCES and by all of the districts we serve.Thank you, Rik, for your years of service.

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DEBRA HAVENERTeaching Assistant

Deb has been retired for this past year and was missed in both the Conservation and Workforce Readiness programs in CTE. Deb was always a no-nonsense influence in the Conservation class – she connected with students but they knew that

she meant business and the kids responded well to her firm but fair manner!

She started working for MOBOCES in 2004 and spent many years as the TA in our Equine and Animal Science program. She trained harness horses all of her life and operates a 62 acre horse farm completely by herself.

We hope she continues to follow her passions in retirement and wish her all the best!

LUANN HOLLINGSWORTH

Senior Office SpecialistLuann has worked in the Early Childhood Division since June 2008. At that time, the division provided preschool special

education, preschool evaluations, related services, Pre-k services and oversaw programs such as When In Rome READ and the Early Childhood Direction Center. All of these were unique and challenging services that required intensive knowledge and understanding of the various systems required to operate. Luann’s ability to develop quick and long lasting relationships with component district staff as well as internal BOCES staff to help the division function was notable. She quickly learned who to call to obtain additional information. Luann was also charged with training several new or temporary employees and did so with a great big smile and lots of patience. Always professional and punctual, Luann is always pleasant and willing to help staff and families. Her compassion and ability to give is remarkable. Luann always led the charge for needy families and students by bringing in items or donating. From an unexpected card for staff to home baked goodies for the custodial staff, her heart is large and always giving. Although her secretarial career is ending, we hope that she will continue to visit and perhaps substitute in our classrooms since her contagious smile and love of kids will be greatly missed. Thank you, Luann, for all you have done to help the Early Childhood Division!

SUSAN KELLERCoordinator of Student Services

Since August 2005, Susan Keller has been a constant in CTE Student Services. In Susan’s own words, “Helping other people is something I have always enjoyed doing.”

She was known as The Queen of Treats for her

hard work with her church to get generous donations to our Food Pantry program, work based learning opportunities, and student scholarships. She never forgot a birthday, was always thoughtful of her colleagues’ life events, and she was the master of keeping the parking lot free and clear of rogue student drivers. Susan was a generous contributor to the food pantry along with any of our other outreach operations. Her kind heart and generous spirit have assisted in serving hundreds of families over her many years associated with MOBOCES. Even in retirement, she continues to support students and families in need. Thank you for your generosity! Best wishes in retirement!

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MARY ANN LEHNEROffice Specialist

Mary Ann started at Madison-Oneida BOCES in 1978. Colleagues describe her as dependable and personable. She was the queen of processing referrals and the master of purchase orders. She loved all dogs and treated all of them like her own. No

one is more dependable than Mary Ann. She is kind, courteous and committed to the CTE program.

Mary Ann was always dedicated to MOBOCES and her colleagues. Her work was her life and her co-workers were - and are - her family. She loved to hear about our families, but she REALLY loved hearing about our pets!

She loves her own dog dearly and those who remain close with her know she is eager for a second dog once her veterinarian’s office lifts its COVID restrictions. We wish her all the best with her future endeavors!

GARY MAGLIOCCA

Graphic Aide

Gary has been an employee of BOCES for 22 years as a Graphic Aide in the Print Shop. During his employment, he was an integral part of the digital work force. He was the lead person for the printing and delivery of New York State Common Core materials as well as all state and Regents testing materials. He also worked with several counties for tax and ballot printing. His attention to detail was a strong asset we depended on. Gary always went out of way to help with last minute requests and he did so with a smile on his face. His work ethic and quality of production will be missed. Thank you for your years of service.

KAREN MURPHYHealth Occupations Teacher

As one of our Health Relations Careers teachers, Karen led many campus initiatives related to mental health education and awareness. Her main focus was always on social emotional learning and kindness, long before it was a building-wide focus. She started the ”Captain Nice” initiative a few years ago and it’s impossible to count how many students’ lives she has touched through her kindness efforts.

The building will be lost without her thoughtfulness, creativity, dedication to promoting a positive culture for both students and staff, and her amazing sense of humor. She is always going above and beyond. Karen’s kindness and passion for teaching are contagious. Her sense of humor, her generosity, her compassion, and her wisdom will be missed every day and will be impossible to replace. Karen has been not only a mentor but a great friend and a shoulder in difficult times for many. She will be missed by us all. Best of luck in your retirement!

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CAROL MUSACCHIOTeaching Assistant

Carol was much more than a teacher assistant and behavior specialist for MOBOCES Alternative Education students. She was the heart and soul of the school. It was an honor to have worked with her for so many years. The impact she has made on thousands of students is immeasurable and will never be forgotten. With a kind heart, soul, and spirit, she always put students first. We were all amazed by her energy and devotion to the students. Her walls in her office were covered with photos of the students

who she supported and saved during her career.One of Carol’s co-workers wrote: “Carol and I spoke on the phone every single workday morning. She was my coffee, my person to vent to and figure out problems with, and most of all, a good friend.” Another co-worker wrote: “Carol had a knack for navigating difficult interpersonal situations with grace and keeping everyone’s best interests at heart.”If there were an Alternative Education Hall of Fame, Carol would be a unanimous, first ballot inductee. Best of luck and enjoy your well-earned retirement.

CHRISTINA OMANSCook Manager

Tena has been part of the School Lunch Management service at MOBOCES since 2005, serving many

local school districts. Prior to COVID-19 affording all students the option for a free school lunch, she helped Camden secure a federal grant that allowed all children to eat school meals for free. It was a significant undertaking and the first time a district in our region earned that status. We were very proud of this achievement!

Thank you doesn’t seem enough given the number of years you have dedicated to feeding the children in our region. Your expertise in managing staff, menus, and schedules will be surely missed. Congratulations, Tena!

LORRAINE PIERCEAssistant Purchasing Agent

Lori was hired in October 2015, bringing with her a wealth of experience and knowledge of state procurement laws and requirements. During her five years with us, she shared her time between MOBOCES Cooperative Bidding Service and the Rome school district as their Assistant Purchasing Agent. As Cooperative Bidding Coordinator,

Lori collaborated with participating districts and colleagues to keep bids up to date and in alignment with districts’ needs. She scheduled postings and openings, as well as analysis and recommendations for awards, for approximately 52 regular annual bids. This culminated in over 260 bids in her five years with us!David Dreidel, Rome’s Director of Business & Finance, added that Lori was a highly valued member of their Business Office team for many years and news of her retirement was bittersweet for them. They were saddened to lose out on the opportunity to see her as part of their daily work lives, but very happy for her to be able to move into her well-deserved retirement. They thank her for her commitment and contributions to their district and send their congratulations on her retirement!The BOCES’ Business Office team misses her, but wishes her a very happy retirement! Lori is looking forward to post-COVID days, spending time with her family and doing projects around the house!

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GEORGE THURSTONCleaner

George joined the Building Services department in 2005 as a cleaner. During his 15 years here, we could always count on George to help in anyway he could, including a stint in shipping and receiving. In fact, he helped develop the position into what it is today. No matter what projects George was working on, he always took the time to acknowledge you with a smile or kind word. We hope he takes the time to enjoy the fruits of his labor and get a little more hunting in! All the best in retirement!

JOANNE SAYANew Ventures Teacher

Joanne has led the unique New Visions Professions program for more than 25 years. During that time, she has demonstrated over and over her amazing ability to foster connections with businesses and students. She has created a strong

and solid program through her dedication and hard work, helping hundreds of students secure valuable internships and prepare for college and meaningful careers.She has helped mold many young people’s lives, including many children of MOBOCES teachers and employees! She always held her students to a very high standard and encouraged them to keep stretching and reaching for their goals. Her commitment to the program and the students is commendable. We will miss her passion and her energy. All the best to Joanne in her retirement - she will be missed!

JOHN THEOBALDSchool Social Worker

John has had a remarkable career with MOBOCES as a school social worker with Alternative Education/SOAR Academy. John graduated from Corcoran, Lemoyne College and then SU prior to starting his career. John also attended John T. Roberts Elementary School in Syracuse, which is the same school that his fellow MOBOCES retiree, Steve Coughlin attended at an early age. They became friends when they joined MOBOCES.

John summarizes his accomplishments by simply saying he has “helped kids for 44 years!” John is a very modest person. He could always be found seeking out a student to offer comfort and advice or speaking with a parent or teacher. He always did all he could to support a student and to offer some encouraging words. Those people who knew John best use the following words to describe him: integrity, honesty, professionalism, caring, devotion and dedication.Most people don’t know that John was a USA Olympic athlete for soccer. He competed in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. He was a sweeper and a staunch defender. Just like in soccer, John was a staunch defender of kids and teachers throughout his career. John was famous for his Grill Master role at the end of year school barbecue. It was always nice to see John wearing an apron and a friendly smile, handing out hamburgers and hot dogs.John has plans to become involved in youth soccer in retirement and to reconnect with family and friends. Best of luck with your well-deserved retirement.

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WANDA VANLUVANEETeacher Aide

Wanda started working at MOBOCES in 2007. She was a special gift to the students, families and staff in our BOCES classes at J.D. George Elementary School. Her sunny disposition, pleasant demeanor, and positive outlook on life drew both children and adults into her world of nurturing, compassion and understanding. Wanda took her job seriously and loved coming to work. She always put the students’ needs first. She was loved by students and co-workers. Students still ask about her and miss her.

The love and respect that she gave to so many was admirable, but the love and respect that she received from others was immeasurable! She is a gift that will last a lifetime to many who know her.

A special tribute toSHANNA AYERS

Senior Office Specialist

Shanna Ayers joined MOBOCES in February 2006. She was a longtime employee of the Alternative and Special Education Division, as a member of the Administrative Secretarial Staff. Shanna worked in many locations throughout the years, including J.D. George Elementary, Campus Administrative Offices, and the TriPlexus Building. Her work ethic and organizational skills were impressive and appreciated, but her greatest strengths were her sense of humor, her smile, and her ability to bring out the best in those of us who knew her, loved her, and worked with her side by side. She tackled any report, project and task assigned to her with precision

and accuracy, and was meticulous in her final products.

More importantly, Shanna was a role model for anyone dealing with a challenge, illness, disappointment or despair. She was refreshingly honest and to the point, and you always knew where you stood with her.

Shanna had announced that she would retire on July 21, 2020. That turned out to be the date she passed away after a long illness. Some of her co-workers were unknowingly messaging her on that morning to congratulate her on the start of her well-deserved retirement, before learning she was leaving our world as we know it and entering a heavenly retirement instead of an earthly one.

While the one-year anniversary of her passing is almost upon us, the memories of her life, her work, and the relationships that she formed over the years with both students and staff will be her legacy at the Madison-Oneida BOCES.

Shanna will be greatly missed, not only for her service but for her friendship and love of life.

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10 YEARSValerie Anguilli, Adult Education Health Occupations Instructor w David Bales, Adult Education ESL Instructor w Christine Barry, Network Administrator I w Allison Blackwell, Instructional Computing

Specialist w Shelley Camadine, Sr. Account Clerk w Phillip Helmer, CTE Coordinator w Zach Messenger-Harris, Building Trades Teacher w Justin Mitchell, Asst. Educational Technology Planning Specialist w Timothy Moylan, Network Administrator II w Justin Murphy, Labor Relations Specialist w Andrea

Paoni, Educational Technology Planning Specialist w Derek Register, Auto Mechanic w Maria Rocker, Sr. Instructional Computing Specialist w Lillie Savage, Adult Education Case Manager

15 YEARSLinda Bills, Teacher Aide w Kristin Capotosto, RSE-TASC Training Specialist w Roy Coston, Motor Vehicle

Operator w Rosemary Crowley, Data Processing Clerk w Gail Eastman, Custodian w Brenda Egelston, Data Processing Coordinator w Brenda Esengard, Teacher Assistant w Lynn Kelley, Teacher Assistant w Andrea Kinney, Administrative Assistant w Andrea Metz, Special Programs Teacher w Daniel Mordaunt, Culinary

Arts Teacher w Christina Omans, Cook Manager w Julia Phillips, Administrative Assistant w Nancy Pitman, English Teacher w Casey Williams, Auto Mechanic w Sally Zielasko, Data Processing Coordinator

20 YEARSSean Dewan, Auto Mechanic w Cornelius Faber, Custodian w Elaine Farruggia, School Nurse w Tammy

Foster, Teaching Assistant w Christopher Grieco, Sr. Data Processing Coordinator w Carla Gualtieri, Adult Education Case Manager w Paul Hurlburt, Network Administrator I w Ann Husak, VTP/ELA

Teacher w Niki Maiura, Sr. Administrative Assistant w Robert Matthews, Auto Mechanic w Scott Murray, Telecommunications Specialist II w Kristen Nash, School Social Worker w Tracy Pulverenti, Sr. Office

Specialist w Jennifer Russ, Labor Relations Specialist w Michael Sales, Telecommunications Specialist I w Ed Salsberg, Webmaster w Stan Sobieraj, Micro-Computer/AV Equipment w Antoinette Vanderlan, Occupational Therapist w Patricia Van Slyke, Sr. Office Specialist w Scott Walker, Computer Technical

Assistant w Carola Zavalidroga, Adult Education ESL Instructor

25 YEARSTammie Crumb, Computer Programmer Analyst w Gerald Day, Special Programs Teacher w Lisa Decker,

Deputy Superintendent for Finance & Operations w Paul Mancarella, Teacher of Hearing Impaired w Paula Orr, Teacher, Work Based Learning

30 YEARSLisa Cunningham, Teaching Assistant w Richard Froschauer, Graphic Aide w Brenda Frost, Teacher Aide

Karen Kloss, Special Programs Teacher w Richard Szmurlo, Criminal Justice Teacher

35 YEARSJean Curro, Teaching Assistant w Victoria Eastman, Teacher Aide w Laura Kent, Pre-School Teacher

Geraldine Meeker, Teacher Aide w Mary Mennig, Teacher Aide w Cynthia Ricketts, Teaching Assistant

SERVICE AWARD HONOREES

Congratulations & Best Wishes!