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Superintendent's
Service Award Winners Honored at Plano ISD's 40th
Annual Employee Banquet
April 13, 2005
Four Plano ISD employees were honored with Superintendent's Service
Awards, presented by
Dr. Doug Otto at the school district's 40th
Annual Service and Retirement event held on Tuesday, April
12, at Southfork Ranch.
These exceptional support
staff members - recognized for going "above and beyond the call
of duty"
- have nearly 40 collective years of service in
helping to carry out the school district's mission
to "provide
an excellent education for all students."
Patti Edmondson
As an administrative assistant in the student
services department, Patti Edmondson
is "the calming voice when a counselor
or principal calls with frantic news of a crisis or
needs support for a fragile student or assistance
for a desperate parent," said Nancy Boyd, director
of guidance.
A member of the student services team for the past 15 years, Ms.
Edmondson says that she has observed "the triumphs
and tragedies of today's youth, and she has seen the
difference one person can make in the life of a child
or teenager."
Her personal care and concern for
the needs of others extends into
the greater Plano community. Not long after joining
the Plano ISD staff, she organized a first annual "Central
Office Food Fight" in which departments competed
for recognition by donating food items for local families
in need.
She enjoys interacting with community
agencies to help build successful relationships
with students, parents and staff, most notably: CITY
House (runaway youth shelter), Journey of Hope (for
families grieving the loss of a loved one) and the
Hendrick Academy of Honor, "because these agencies provide
for the needs of our most precious resource - children," she
said.
A gifted writer, Ms. Edmondson's"Did! Did Not!," a story
of how conflict mediation works in schools, was selected
by MAR*CO Publishing to be included in its "Special
Situations Guidance Activities" publication. She also
serves as editor of the student services department
Web pages.
Colleagues remark about her inspiring personal qualities and inward
strength. "She has taught us how to handle
tragedy with optimism, endurance, hope and wisdom,"
said Ms. Boyd. "Seeing her respond to life situations
with control and dignity has contributed to the well being of all
of us."
E-mail congratulations to pedmond@pisd.edu
Wallace Elliott
Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to improving the textbook program
for Plano ISD, Wallace Elliott supports the district's
goal of offering programs that challenge each student
to achieve his/her academic potential.
"Without Wallace's dedication to and knowledge of textbooks,
students and teachers would find it difficult to get
instructional materials for such programs," noted his supervisor
Susan Lenox, manager of distribution services. "Wallace
interacts with the curriculum coordinators and the
publishers to make sure all students have their learning
materials each year."
Mr. Elliott, a 15-year member of the textbook department, helped
create the district's new textbook software program,
which will soon allow campuses to access inventory.
He oversees summer audits and the deliveries of new
adoptions each summer.
He is a member of the North Texas Textbook Coordinators Association
and the Textbook Coordinator Association of Texas,
serving on the membership committee for the latter.
This past year, he was among the textbook coordinator
association's members to discuss textbook funding with
the Texas State Board of Education.
In his spare time, Mr. Elliott works on his bachelor of arts degree
in business, is a motivational speaker for a self-help
group, enjoys astronomy and spends time with his grandsons.
E-mail congratulations to welliot@pisd.edu
Marie Adele Hayes
As a special education assistant in the ACE (Alternative Classroom
Education) Room at Wilson Middle School, Marie Adele
Hayes says that her proudest moments are, "when students
have taken their challenges and turned them into opportunities
to learn and to grow."
Complimenting the consistency, care, love and
long suffering, structure and serenity with which
Ms. Hayes manages the emotional needs of students,
Wilson Middle School Principal George King compares
her to such historical figures as Mother Theresa, Susan
B. Anthony and Florence Nightingale.
"On the surface, co-workers characterize Adele's service in
the ACE room as enduring forbearance," he said. "We marvel
at her ability to remain a sea of calm in the face
of juvenile storm. Even after the most difficult days
at work, I have heard Adele comment, 'It's okay-I will
get another chance to help these students tomorrow.'
Such passion inspires us all."
Ms. Hayes' passion for her students is apparent throughout her written
award nomination. "One of my first special memories
occurred when I received a card from one of my sixth
grade students,"
she notes. "He was failing. He wrote in the card, 'Thank
you for making me focus, now I think I will pass.'
He did. We were both ecstatic!"
Another student, new to her study group and the school, who hardly
ever spoke, would rarely look at her or have much to
do with his class assignments, grew to trust Ms. Hayes,
sharing his concerns about family issues and seeking
her guidance. "I honestly don't know how things
turned out (for him and his family)," she said. "I
do know that the student who came to Wilson Middle
School was a very sad boy but the student who graduated
in May of that year was a happy young man. That was
what really mattered."
E-mail congratulations to ahayes@pisd.edu
Sandy Wilson
"I am one of the few people who can actually say, 'I love my
job,'"
said Barksdale Elementary School campus technology
assistant. "I attribute this to the wonderful Barksdale
staff that has embraced me since my first day in March,
2003. "Teachers and staff know that, if their technology
is not functioning in the classroom, I will drop what
I am doing to come to their aid."
Ms. Wilson's training and support has given her colleagues the confidence
to use all of the technology provided to them and the
never-ending desire to request more. Since she arrived,
the school has greatly expanded its use of technology
for instructional and other uses.
Principal
Mary Ann Bargmann commented, "Sandy's unique melding
of personal and professional qualities has enabled
her to support our staff and students with seamless
technology integration. She is always available, patient
and approachable. She consistently encourages us
to explore new technology."
Ms. Wilson noted that, during her tenure, Barksdale has acquired
Smart Boards for every grade level, and she has worked
to obtain 22 Elmos (video input devices), with the
goal of providing one for every classroom. She also
notes that the school's wireless lab is used in grades
1-5 on a regular basis.
Since her arrival at Barksdale, she has taken a once
pre-recorded, one-day-a-week morning video announcement
to a new level by taking
advantage of the school's mobile broadcast cart.
Barksdale now has a live daily news broadcast - "Good
Morning Barksdale" - in which she works with fifth
graders who serve as hosts, meteorologists, video camera
operators, music directors, writers and digital camera
operators.
She also coordinates a "Read Across America" videoconference broadcast
each year and helped write the school's application
for a 21st Century Schools of Distinction Award in
the category of "Technology Excellence."
E-mail congratulations to swilson2@pisd.edu
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Dr. Doug Otto, superintendent of
schools, congratulated award winners (l-r) Sandy
Wilson, Adele Marie Hayes, Wallace Elliott and Patti
Edmondson.
"To support the counselors in the
schools and administrators at central office makes
me proud to be a Plano ISD employee. We are doing
the good work that needs to be done - taking care
of the educational needs of children is the highest
calling."
-Patti Edmondson
Administrative Assistant
Counseling & Student Services Department
"Wallace has worked for the textbook department for 15 years.
Without his knowledge of textbooks, students and
teachers would find it difficult to get instructional
materials for programs."
-Susan Lenox, Distribution Services Manager, about
colleague Wallace Elliott, Textbook Foreman
"My proudest moments are when my students have taken their challenges
and turned them into opportunities to learn and to
grow."
-Marie Adele Hayes
Wilson Middle School
Special Education
Assistant
"I feel fortunate not only to have a job I love but a staff that
embraces technology and appreciates everything I do, no matter
how small or large."
-
Sandy Wilson
Barksdale Elementary School Campus Technology Assistant
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