At last month’s Blytheville School Board meeting, curriculum director Sally Cooke started the meeting off by acknowledging some people who were very special and very appreciated by the Blytheville School District. Every year the district recognizes a volunteer from each campus for the good work that they do.
“Our teachers of the year are very valuable, but our teachers, and there are multiple teachers and educators in the audience tonight, will tell you that without our community support, without the volunteers who come then we just could not do what we do. It’s extremely important that we have those extra people out there to help our schools,” Cooke said.
From Blytheville Primary School, Penny Sims was recognized. Cooke read from a statement that came from those at the primary that stated that Sims was contributed to students across the school. Sims has volunteered with the football team, band, graduating classes, and with the “babies” at the primary and kindergarten. She has donated candy this year to the district for the trick-or-treat on Main Street and provided lunch for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Ms. Sims assured that no one in my classroom, this is from a teacher, left without a gift. She has volunteered to sit in for classes and attended staff events. Ms. Sims has built a rapport with the students and their families,” Cooke said.
Cindy Echols was recognized as the Elementary volunteer of the year. Cooke stated that when it comes to volunteer work if you can name it Echols has done it. She takes her work as a volunteer very seriously, and if you were to visit the school you would think that she works there because of how often she volunteers.
“She’s assisted in classrooms, she’s worked with individual students, she’s chaperoned on field trips, set up book fairs, fundraised, and volunteered for PTO. Her willingness to volunteer with a smile helps us all,” Cooke said.
Echols is respected by the students and is a recognized member of the Blytheville community. She has helped with many things throughout her volunteerism at the district, sometimes with no more foresight than the day before she was needed.
“If we call her she drops everything and shows up anyway,” Cooke said.
The Blytheville Middle School volunteer of the year, as well as the overall district volunteer of the year, is Melissa Logan.
“Melissa has been around doing this for a long time. This is not even the first rodeo for her to be recognized for this and we are excited about that. It is always nice to have someone that comes back even after you get an award. When you come back that is pretty cool,” Cooke said.
Logan is present for almost every activity that Blytheville Middle School puts on and she strives to encourage positive activities for students. She serves as PTO president and spearheaded this year’s PTO fundraiser that made more money than any other fundraiser they have had in previous years.
“She makes sure that our students have what they needed to be involved in extracurricular activities by providing everything from socks to paying for overnight hotel accommodations. She is involved with the cheerleading and OM teams. She serves as a role model for students and encourages teachers with small acts of kindness…She goes above and beyond what can be expected for a volunteer,” Cooke said.