Volunteer of the Year Recognitions
June 14 School Board Meeting
Shenandoah County Public Schools recognized the 2018 Volunteers of the Year at their June 14 School Board meeting.
“I always feel happy, and honored as well, to be a part of the annual volunteer recognitions,” said Susan Smith, Coordinator of Textbooks and Public Relations for Shenandoah County Public Schools. “I know how critical volunteers are to the success of our school division, ” she added.
Ms. Smith read the following quotes, which “helped to describe the essence of our volunteers.”
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
~Elizabeth Andrew
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
~Winston Churchill
“What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” — Aristotle
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Only a life lived for others is worth living.” — Albert Einstein
“I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another.” — Thomas Jefferson
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — William Shakespeare
From left: Mr. Steve Povlish, Principal of Ashby Lee Elementary School; Ms. Tena Showman, 2018 Elementary Volunteer of the Year; Dr. Mark Johnston, Superintendent of Schools
Steve Povlish, the principal of Ashby Lee Elementary School, introduced the 2018 Elementary Volunteer of the Year, Tena Showman. Ashby Lee’s Kindergarten, Grade 4, and Grade 5 Teams nominated Ms. Showman for this recognition. Team members, among their list of numerous volunteer efforts, noted that Ms. Showman serves “the entire school, not just one grade level. She goes out of her way to look for big ways and small ways to make EVERY staff member feel appreciated.” Mr. Povlish wrote, “Anyone you ask about Tena is sure to tell you at least two things: She ALWAYS has a smile on her face and she is one of the most genuinely kind, thoughtful and caring people you will ever meet, period! She constantly thinks of others and puts them before herself. Her generous spirit is a inspiration to us all at The HIVE! “
From left: Ms. Joanne Thompson, Bookkeeper at North Fork Middle School and supporter of music on the Southern Campus; Mr. Shane Ring, 2018 Middle and Secondary Volunteer of the Year; Mr. Scott Schlentner, Assistant Principal at Stonewall Jackson High School; Dr. Mark Johnston, Superintendent of Schools.
Joanne Thompson, bookkeeper at North Fork Middle School and long time supporter of music programs on the Southern Campus; Heidi King, choral director at both North Fork Middle School and Stonewall Jackson High School; and Scott Schlentner, Assistant Principal of Stonewall Jackson High School, nominated Shane Ring for both the Middle and Secondary Volunteer of the Year recognitions.
Ms. Thompson wrote in her nomination form, “Shane has spent countless hours at NF and SJ helping in various ways. He records concerts so the students can analyze their performances. He spends countless hours building sets and helping with all technical aspects for musical theater productions at SJ as well as various community theatres.With all that Shane has done to help over the years, this is a well deserved, long overdue recognition in my opinion.”
“I could not be more excited for Shane Ring to receive the SCPS Volunteer of the Year Award,” wrote Heidi King . “Shane is not just a dreamer - he knows how to get things done. Whenever I ask him if it would be possible to do something, he always says ‘I’ll make it work.’ Shane’s energy and expertise have been crucial to our musical theatre program and what we’ve been able to accomplish in the past few years. The students have come to love him and especially appreciate his passion for theatre.”
From left: Dr. Mark Johnston, Superintendent of Schools; Annabelle Palmer, 2018 Student Volunteer of the Year; Ms. Melissa Hensley, Principal of Central High School
Melissa Hensley, the principal of Central High School, introduced the 2018 Student Volunteer of the Year, Annabelle Palmer. Nicole Yoder, guidance counselor at Central High School had nominated Annabelle for this recognition. Ms. Hensley began her presentation reading from Annabelle’s own speech to her classmates as valedictorian of Central High School’s Class of 2018:
As we move on to bigger and greater things, whatever your plans may be, please continue to be leaders that serve others. People need us, not just in Woodstock, or Shenandoah County. They need us to care everywhere. So, please, serve. Serve others not only to feel better and happier, but to help others find happiness as well. I’m talking going beyond occasionally volunteering. I mean serving others over yourself. Ruthlessly pursue your goals, but don’t just pursue a job. Dedicate your career towards helping others. There are so many opportunities to serve in any occupation, you just have to look. Yes, keep those ambitions that you started high school with, but don’t ever let your talents go to waste by only focusing on income or personal achievement. It would be the biggest injustice for us not to dedicate our strengths to those in need. -- Annabelle Palmer
Ms. Hensley listed many of Annebelle’s volunteer efforts including Friendly Giants, Empty Stocking Fund, Rise Against Hunger, and National Honor Society Tree Planting. Probably her biggest project in 2018 was the Volunteer Fair. Annabelle invited local nonprofit and other organizations in need of volunteers to Central to meet with students in an environment similar to a career or college fair. Her goal for this event was to connect students with the community and encourage students to volunteer.
Dr. Mark Johnston, Superintendent of Schools; Mrs. Jane and Mr. Bob Perry, 2018 Volunteers of the Year.
Dr. Mark Johnston, Superintendent of Schools, introduced Volunteers of the Year, Jane and Bob Perry, who founded Spring Forward ten years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Perry were surprised to receive this recognition. They thought they were at the meeting to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Spring Forward, an organized, after-school tutoring program.
The Spring Forward program is the result of the combined efforts of Zion Lutheran Church and the Hamburg Ruritan Club, who collaborate with Shenandoah County Public Schools. Ten years ago when Spring Forward began, Mrs. Perry wrote, “The kernel of the idea [for Spring Forward] began when a new social hall was completed at Zion Lutheran Church. The congregation explored how they might serve their community. Ideas worked and people worked, and this synergy created a successful program.”
Through arrangement with the transportation department of the school division, two buses from the central and southern campuses of Shenandoah County deliver students to the church on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Often we work as a one-room school where older scholars buddy with younger scholars,” wrote Mrs. Perry. “Meeting in small groups, degreed teachers (most of whom are retired), along with paraprofessionals, provide homework assistance and prepare students for the state-mandated Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which are administered each spring in the Commonwealth.”
Mr. and Mrs.Perry are the driving force behind Spring Forward. Mrs. Perry, who is a native of Shenandoah County, graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School. She has been a classroom teacher, a reading resource teacher, a reading specialist, and an assistant principal. When she chose to retire, she returned to Shenandoah County.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry’s positive, upbeat attitude and energy have helped ensure the continued success of Spring Forward.
Karen Whetzel, Chairperson of the Shenandoah County School Board, congratulated the 2018 Volunteers of the Year.