Outstanding Support Staff Named
Five district employees were honored by the Putnam City Public Schools Foundation at the Arpil 7th board meeting with “Outstanding Support Staff” awards for the vital roles they play in the mission and operation of district schools. Each Outstanding Support Staff Award winner received a framed certificate and a check for $200. Outstanding Support Staff awards are presented once a year by the Foundation. Below is information read at the presentation of the awards.
Martha Christensen
Attendance Secretary, Putnam City North High School
Randy Baker, Martha’s nominator, writes, “There are great people behind the workings of a great school. One of those great people at PC North is Martha Christensen. As attendance secretary, she sometimes goes unnoticed and yet she is vital to the workings of our school. We depend on her. Martha enhances the workings of our school and enriches the education of our youth. She goes far beyond the duties of support staff personnel. She deserves this recognition.”
Linda DeGraffenreid
Health Aide, D.D. Kirkland Elementary School
Ron Christy, principal at D.D. Kirkland and Linda’s nominator, writes that “Linda not only does a wonderful job as the school’s Health Aide, she also helps in the office as the school only has one full-time secretary. From taking care of dressing skinned knees and soothing hurt feelings to calling home to remind parents to bring field trip permission slips, she does it all with a true servant’s heart and a gentle spirit. As she stands at the front door of the school each morning to welcome every student, parent and teacher, she happily tells each one to “have the best day of their lives”. It is rare to find people with so much love and tender devotion in their work. Linda does this every day of the school year.”
Roger Dodd
Custodian, Putnam City North High School
Jennifer Seal, Roger’s nominator, writes, “Roger goes far above what should be expected of a janitor. In a school of 2100, he has only one person with him during the day, yet he keeps the school looking great. He has personally solved many of my challenges of fixing clocks and other mechanical devices. He is deserving of this award.”
Additionally, a parent of a student at North wrote, “I was so touched to see Roger wearing the Panther mascot outfit at all the school’s football and basketball games last year. He even dressed up as a Panther and attended the basketball semifinals at OCU and the Lloyd Noble in Norman. That mascot outfit is very hot, and this is proof of Roger’s dedication to the school. He truly does support PC North!”
Patti Rains
Receptionist/Secretary, Putnam City North High School
Billie Holmes, Patti’s nominator, wrote, “Patti Rains exemplifies excellence in education; she makes a difference in our school community and certainly does “whatever it takes” to make it better. At the school’s annual Leadership Retreat, she is known as the “Cookie Lady.” She attends the weekend retreat and helps with the leadership groups and makes sure the campers have treats. In November, PC North hosted the State Student Council Convention and Patti was at the school all weekend helping with registration, food service and directing student council representatives. This award would be a true blessing for a dedicated “Cookie Lady” and secretary. Patti Rains truly deserves this award.”
Patti was also nominated by Randy Baker. He wrote, “In a single day, she directs, entertains, understands, comforts, questions, and consoles a multitude of people and each is treated as if he or she is the most important person in the world. Her service enhances the positive atmosphere of our school and serves to enrich the education of our youth.”
Patti Rains, the very definition of outstanding support staff!
Denise Spaeth
Secretary, Putnam City West High School
Kelli Fearing, Denise’s nominator, wrote, “Denise has been a secretary at PC West for 15 years, and since I’ve been here I have seen her wear many hats. She assists the 9th-grade students and also helps with attendance, checking out students, preparing class lists for ISR and assists the principals. She can be seen at many sporting events supporting our athletes. I admire her dedication in helping students as a Grief Support Counselor. She has really helped our school to cope these past two years with the deaths of two of our students from tragic accidents. She holds support groups often and assists students one-on-one who may be struggling. PC West students love Mrs. Spaeth and always know they can go to her whenever they have a problem or need. She is a prime example of an ‘outstanding support staff’ employee who goes above and beyond to make PC West the best!”
Outstanding Support Staff Award winner for 2008 were (seated, from left to right) Martha Christensen and Patti Rains and (standing, from left to right) Linda DeGraffenreid, Roger Dodd and Denise Spaeth.