Board members and administrators gather to salute amazing volunteers

Dulaney High Principal Lyle Patzkowsky (background) describes the special contributions of two school volunteers.

“Willing to do anything and everything”
Board members and administrators gather to salute amazing volunteers

They arrived at Cockeysville Middle School with arms, gift bags, and baskets filled with colorful spring flowers. Then one after another, 39 Baltimore County Public Schools principals and assistant principals came to the podium to tell amazing stories about the intended recipients of their bouquets – the women and men (and students) who generously volunteer their time, talents, and wisdom to support successful teaching and learning in the schools.

Over and over again the school leaders attempted to list the many ways that their top volunteers contribute to their schools, only to conclude that these individuals were willing to do anything and everything to support school success.

The occasion was the April 24th 1,000 Hour Volunteer Recognition Reception. Held annually, this ceremony honors those Baltimore County Public Schools volunteers who have contributed 1,000 hours of service or more over the past five years.

At the event, volunteers heard inspirational remarks from Superintendent Joe A. Hairston,

Board President Thomas Grzymski, and Molly Shock (a former volunteer who established a scholarship fund for the kindergarteners she and her mother-in-law read to each week).

Board President Tom Grzymski and Board Member Fran Harris present gifts to a volunteer.

After these presentations, principals introduced and lauded their volunteers as these

volunteers received service pins, certificates, and gifts from President Grzymski and Board Members Fran Harris and Gabrielle Wyatt. In addition, Board Members John Hayden, Rodger Janssen, and Joseph Pallozzi were present to extend their congratulations.

While each introduction was as individual as the volunteer, numerous themes about these volunteers emerged throughout the evening. Many of them: continued serving at particular schools long after their children had moved on to other schools or graduated; were earning their second, third, fourth, or fifth 1,000 Hour Awards; volunteer for other organizations, too; take their commitment to the schools as seriously as a job, putting in regular days and hours; have built enduring relationships with administrators, teachers, students, and parents; and continually generate new ideas to support learning and secure resources.

Following are just a few highlights:

Walking, writing, and China

Christine Warner, principal of Stoneleigh Elementary School, describes one volunteer who created a new initiative and another who resurrected a once dormant school project. “Beth Miller,” Warner says, “created Walking Wednesday to encourage students to walk to school as a way to promote their health and to encourage them to think about the world. The goal is to walk enough miles to school to equal a walk across China. Mrs. Miller, with the help of yet another parent volunteer, created passports for each student, and every Wednesday she prepares announcements for students to share regarding the new total number of miles and talks to the students about where they ‘are’ in China. What’s really fortunate for our students is that Beth is going to China in May and plans to produce a PowerPoint to share with them before the end of the school year – so they can see where they have ‘been.’”

Stoneleigh volunteer Shelley Roseborough has resurrected Gold, Blue, and Creative, Too. “Through this writing project,” Warner explains, “every child has an opportunity to be published. The PTA absorbs the cost of the publication, which will be ready during the last week of school. This year, with Shelley’s enthusiastic coordination, we are planning a big assembly to celebrate the final product.”

Jewels – with a passion for math

Principal Edith Howard of Woodmoor Elementary School describes volunteers Mary Brown and James Carroll as the school’s “jewels and our best kept secrets.” Carroll has children in the fourth and fifth grade at Woodmoor as well as a host of nieces and nephews at the school. “He has a full-time job and is a wonderful husband and father,” Howard notes, “but he also, somehow, manages to volunteer in the school every day. While he works with all of the children in the school, he focuses on one class, providing individual assistance and tutoring, especially with math skills.”

Volunteer Brown also has a passion for math, according to Howard. “Mary is a retired Baltimore County teacher,” says Howard, “and her children attended Woodmoor many, many years ago. What is remarkable about Mary is that she comes to work every day – just like an employee. She even comes with her lunch box.

“She starts the day giving out late passes and reminding the students about the importance of good attendance and being here on time every day. Then she helps out in the office; she’s a phenomenal organizer. She also works in the classroom with a kindergarten teacher.”

All means all: focus on every child

Victory Villa volunteers Chris Peterson and Nita Hatcher

At Victory Villa Elementary, volunteers Nita Hatcher and Chris Peterson became involved with the school at the same time that Kathleen East became its principal. “Nita and Chris each have one child at the school and one child who has moved onto middle school, “ East says. “They are always thinking, however, about what is best for all children, not just their own. It is so obvious in their thinking and their actions; they want to be sure that every child has every opportunity to participate and to excel.

“This is the second time that each of them has received a 1,000 hour award. They volunteer so many hours that I know that we aren’t counting them all. Both have been PTA officers, and both are running for office again. They run the bookstore daily. I can count on them to be here at 7:30 a.m. to help in the school office. They also have received rave reviews for the yearbooks they produce for the school.

“I am so proud,” East adds, “to praise them as outstanding volunteers and to count them among my personal friends.”

Always there to help

At the conclusion of the event, the audience enjoyed gourmet cookies and cake prepared by Eastern Tech culinary arts students. Just before that, the emcee for the evening, Director of Communications Brice Freeman, shared with the audience what a job description would sound like for these extraordinary volunteers – tutor, office assistant, bookstore manager, landscaper, personal shopper, attendance worker, hall monitor, event planner…

Just after the desserts, two of these top volunteers – Gia Magliano-Hendley and Andrea Mann, both from Riderwood Elementary – demonstrated the generosity and thoughtfulness described all evening – by volunteering to assist with event clean-up.

Congratulations and thank you to all of Baltimore County Public Schools 1,000 Hour Volunteers for the 2005-2006 School Year!

Arbutus Elementary Cindy Adams Georgina Harris Michele Meseke	Oakleigh Elementary Helen Grauer Betty Mathers Anne Sterlock
Battle Grove Elementary Roxanne DuVal Patty Flack Jennifer Vogt	Perry Hall Elementary Pat Mitchell Al Schindler Renee Seufert
Battle Monument William Sullivan	Pine Grove Elementary Susan Chaudron Elaina Thomas
Bear Creek Elementary Wanda Glaze Lynn Haase	Pinewood Elementary Polly Saywell
Carroll Manor Elementary Dotty Biser Mary Davis Tamara DeHaven	Pot Spring Elementary Michelle Bell Patty Christina Denise Frobes March Klein Gwen Mahoney Emily Miller Emily Pac Monica Rafferty Trish Turlington Sue Walters
Charlesmont Elementary Jackie Brewer	Red House Run Elementary Maureen Cave Linda DeJong Marlene Shirey
Dulaney High Jan Brinch Lynne Cramer Ro Curran Terese Robinson	Relay Elementary Kristin Sturiale
Dumbarton Middle Carole McDade	Riderwood Elementary Robin Carlson Ellen Edrington Karen Granzier Kelly Kraft Gia Magliano-Hendley Andrea Mann Ellen Schneider Marci Treece Sallie Warren Evie Wright
Elmwood Elementary Pat Lee Kelly Mead Joan Vaught Jo Ann Wingate	Ridge Ruxton School Brian Hooper Julie Hunter Laura Mullen Barry Nieburger Judy Weber Steve Weber Debbie Williams
Fifth District Elementary Kathy Fox Lisa Miller	Seven Oaks Elementary Susan Bengel Beth Esposito
Franklin High Penny Gerlach Susan Heher Kathleen Herr Rick Wiscott Alyssa Woods	Seventh District Elementary Kelly Mays Helen Murphy Deborah Westwater
Fullerton Elementary Patty Devon Lisa Parr Brenda Reinhardt Melissa Simkins	Shady Spring Elementary Nancee Flynn Dolly Kemmerer Shirley Weiner Kerri Wilcox
Grange Elementary Terry Burkindine Brenda Marshall	Sparks Elementary Tammy Livingston
Gunpowder Elementary Lisa Garriques Terri Smith Tamee Taylor	Stoneleigh Elementary Beth Miller Phay Poliakoff-Chen Shelley Roseborough Vicki Schultz-Unger Jennifer Stoner
Harford Hills Elementary Robin Baker Karen Sokolis	Timber Grove Elementary Mary-Beth Koler Patricia Moy
Holabird Middle Sherma Quick	Towson High Dawn Converse Stephanie Foy David Mark Jo Marvan
Lansdowne Elementary Vickie Schultz	Victory Villa Elementary Nita Hatcher Chris Peterson
Loch Raven High Diane Handley John Handley Rich Hunter Rose Hunter Kathy Kyne Adela LeBrun Linda Moffett Renay Tyler	Villa Cresta Elementary Betty Marlow Tina Stettes Jo Weisgal
Logan Elementary Laura Brown	Warren Elementary Patty Buck Karen Thomas
Middle River Middle Marge Forney Theresa Harry Nancy Hogan	Woodbridge Elementary Toby Eagle Phyllis King Sharon Loving
New Town Elementary Anne Badin Margaret Banks Claire Garroway-Hampton Ilsa Reiss Arvis Tucker	Woodmoor Elementary Mary Brown James Carroll
New Town High Jaz’min Nicole Daniels

Story and photos by Diana L. Spencer, communications officer.