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| New Town Elementary School Principal Beth Strauss, volunteers Anne Badin, Margaret Banks, and Claire Garroway-Hampton, Board Member JoAnn Murphy, and Board President Don Arnold. |
On the afternoon of April 30, more than 100 of Baltimore County Public Schools most devoted volunteers took a break – from making copies, laminating papers, designing bulletin boards, raising funds, managing concession stands, editing newsletters, monitoring cafeterias, assisting students with reading and math skills, leading PTAs, and many, many other tasks – to join Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston, members of the Baltimore County Board of Education, principals, and other administrators for the 1,000 Hour Volunteer Recognition Program.
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. This year, the 170 volunteers who qualified for this honor were feted at an afternoon tea, complete with tea sandwiches, cookies, and pastries, held in the Greenspring Ballroom of the Holiday Inn – Timonium. Centerpieces gracing each table were created by the floral arts students at Hereford High School.
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| Victory Villa Elementary School Principal Kathleen East, volunteers Janet Newman and Amy Witherington, Board Member JoAnn Murphy, and Board President Don Arnold |
After Superintendent Hairston shared his greetings, Don Arnold, president of the Baltimore County Board of Education spoke and acknowledged Board members in the audience, including JoAnn Murphy, Meg O’Hare, Joe Pallozzi, and Joy Shillman.
Then, one after another, 41 Baltimore County Public Schools principals and assistant principals came to the podium to tell amazing stories about their volunteers – the women and men who generously volunteer their time, talents, and wisdom to support successful teaching and learning in the schools.
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| Eastern Technical High School Principal Patrick McCusker, volunteers Cosette Nickles, Rick Smith, Linda Deise, Board President Don Arnold, Mary Catherine Jay, and Board Member JoAnn Murphy |
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:
- At Hereford High School, volunteer Gussie Price has started a costume club to support the school’s dramatic productions, and in the process has taught 12 girls to sew.
- Vinnie Hug is considered part of the family at Joppa View Elementary. The brother of a teacher, he does everything from helping to scrape glue off of work tables to assisting in the cafeteria and helping children practice their sight words.
- Kingsville Elementary is proud to announce that they have more than 150 volunteers to serve 320 students.
- Loch Raven Academy volunteer Ed Gizara, Jr., who works for Towson University, is so committed to the school there are reports of him doing touch-up painting in the evenings while still in the suit he wore to work.
- With the support of her employer, First Mariner Bank, Pattilynne Oliverio, a volunteer at Norwood Elementary School, has raised more than $3,000 this year by collecting used printer cartridges.
- Pine Grove Elementary School announced that their 149 volunteers this past school year have contributed more than 3,900 hours.
- At Pot Spring Elementary School, Nicole Huebler, the niece of a Pot Spring teacher, has been volunteering at the school since she was in the 7th grade.
- Former Baltimore Museum of Art staff member Jacquie Meyer is now a volunteer at Stoneleigh Elementary School, assisting in classrooms at least a half a day each week.
- Sue Seidman, has volunteered at Summit Park Elementary for 12 years, including serving for five years as PTA president. Among other successes, she is credited with her leadership in facilitating playground improvements and the creation of a climbing wall.
- Only four staff members at Warren Elementary School have been there longer than 12-year volunteer Donna Lee Goldstein. Through her successful leadership of the Scholastic Book Fair, every student at Warren receives a free book through the fair.
- Phyllis King, the grandparent of several students at Woodbridge Elementary School, knows the name of every student at the school and is an integral part of the school community.
- Woodholme Elementary School, just two years old, was proud to introduce its first ever 1,000 Hour Volunteer, Lonnie Basalyga. She began volunteering with the school before it opened and is known throughout the school as Ms. B.
For every volunteer, there was another great story of talents, wisdom, energy, and hours shared, and, always, the certainty that he or she will return again to continue supporting quality education in Baltimore County Public Schools.
Congratulations and thank you to all of Baltimore County Public Schools 1,000 Hour Volunteers for the 2006-2007 School Year!
Arbutus Elementary Berkshire Elementary Carroll Manor Elementary Carver Center for Arts & Technology Catonsville Middle Charlesmont Elementary Chesapeake High Colgate Elementary Deep Creek Middle Dumbarton Middle Eastern Technical High Eastwood Elementary Magnet Elmwood Elementary Essex Elementary |
Fifth District Elementary Fullerton Elementary Grange Elementary Halstead Academy Hereford High Jacksonville Elementary Joppa View Elementary Kingsville Elementary Lansdowne High Loch Raven Academy Logan Elementary Lutherville Laboratory Martin Boulevard Elementary Middleborough Elementary New Town Elementary Norwood Elementary |
Oakleigh Elementary Padonia International Elementary Perry Hall Elementary Pine Grove Elementary Pinewood Elementary Pleasant Plains Elementary Pot Spring Elementary Randallstown Elementary Seneca Elementary Stoneleigh Elementary Summit Park Elementary Timonium Elementary Towson High Victory Villa Elementary Villa Cresta Elementary Warren Elementary Westowne Elementary Woodbridge Elementary Woodholme Elementary |
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Story and photos by Diana L. Spencer, communications officer |
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