Sierra Community House honors the trusted, safe, and caring adults who make a real difference in the lives of local youth. This November, we collaborated with Truckee Community Theater's production of Matilda: The Musical to spotlight this important child abuse prevention message and recognize community members who embody it. Below, Dominique Apollon, PhD—our Community Education & Prevention Manager and a volunteer cast member—shares the story behind the collaboration and the 2025 "Miss Honey Appreciation Award" honorees.
This holiday season, Sierra Community House had the privilege of partnering with Truckee Community Theater (TCT) on a special project that brought together the power of storytelling and the importance of keeping kids safe.
Sierra Community House works year-round to support local families with services that prevent violence, strengthen families, and create safe, healthy communities. One of our core messages is simple but vital: every child needs trusted, safe, and caring adults in their lives.
A Collaboration Inspired by Matilda
When TCT staged its sold-out November production of Roald Dahl's Matilda: The Musical, we saw a meaningful opportunity to highlight this message. In the story, Matilda is a bright, resilient young girl whose home life is chaotic and unkind. At school, she encounters a cruel headmistress—yet finds hope in her gentle and supportive teacher, Miss Honey.
As Dahl wrote, "What [Matilda] needed was just one person, one wise and sympathetic grown-up who could help her."
Miss Honey represents exactly what we work to promote in our community: adults who show kindness, listen without judgment, and help children feel valued and seen.
Honoring Real-Life "Miss Honeys"
Inspired by the themes of the show, Sierra Community House and TCT invited youth cast members to nominate real adults in their lives who make them feel safe, supported, and understood.
Together, we created the Miss Honey Appreciation Award, recognizing nine local educators, mentors, and community members. Each awardee received a certificate and complimentary ticket to one of the performances—many were even brought onstage by the children who nominated them.
Our 2025 Miss Honey Appreciation Award honorees:
- Erica Allstadt – 4th/5th Grade Teacher, Donner Trail School
- Melanie Cooke – Assistant Principal, Sierra Expeditionary Learning School
- Jennifer Couch – Ballet Instructor, InnerRhythms Dance Studio
- Wendy McKechnie – 3rd Grade Teacher, Glenshire Elementary
- Jill Pagliaro – TCT Youth Music Director
- Amanda Richardson – Administrative Secretary, Donner Trail School
- Brittany Rose – Music Teacher, Glenshire Elementary
- Heidi Rothery – 7th Grade Teacher, Alder Creek Middle School
- Todd Tanis – TCT Music Director & Truckee Youth Chorus Leader
Parents shared how meaningful the experience was not only for the adults honored, but for the children who nominated them.
"I know my daughter thought long and hard about who she trusts and looks up to," said parent Sara Spurlock.
What Makes a Trusted and Caring Adult?
Trusted, safe, and caring adults are people who:
- Make young people feel valued
- Listen actively and without judgment
- Pay attention to changes in behavior or emotions
- Model healthy boundaries between adults and minors
- Offer support and help connect families to resources
Emily Ramey, Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District Wellness Specialist and TCT Board Member, emphasized the importance of this role in children's lives:
"It is a sign of a vibrant and healthy community when our children can identify multiple caring adults from multiple areas of their lives."
Gratitude for a Meaningful Partnership
We are sincerely grateful to TCT Artistic Director Carrie Haines and the entire Truckee Community Theater team for helping shine a spotlight on this powerful message. Partnerships like this help strengthen our community and ensure more young people have the support they need to thrive.
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