A head custodian and three teachers are among Oakland County’s best, according to nominations to two different award programs.
All four were honored at the Monday, April 14 meeting of the Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education, as family and coworkers filled the meeting room with cheers and standing ovations.
Pam Trim, head custodian at Springfield Plains Elementary School, was named one of three recipients of the Betty Campion Award, given by the Oakland County School Boards Association for outstanding support staff from the 28 school districts in Oakland County.
This is the third consecutive year a Clarkston nominee has been among the three county winners, according to Anita Banach, director of communications and marketing.
In nominating Trim, Principal Sharon Devereaux said ‘above and beyond? was the only way to describe her. In addition to excelling in her job duties, Trim was cited for her willingness to help with off-duty activities such as adjusting equipment for special needs students, building and special stepstool for preschoolers and dropping off food donations for the student council at the county Lighthouse Center.
‘Pam has a way of making everyone feel very special,? Devereaux wrote. ‘Our staff speaks of her genuine caring nature and. . .parents and visitors to our building also comment on Pam’s helpful and positive attitude.?
Each district in the county is allowed three nominations for the annual Oakland County Teacher of the Year award. This year’s nominees are Barb Gramann, third grade teacher at Andersonville Elementary; Kelly Avernall, math teacher at Sashabaw Middle School and Nancy Mahoney, math teacher at Clarkston High School.
Oakland Schools will determine one teacher each from elementary, middle/junior high and high school levels and award a $2,000 cash prize to each on Wednesday, April 30.
Gramman’s nomination included praise for ‘developmentally appropriate assessments,? ‘countless hours? of summer research when asked to ‘loop? her second grade students into third grade, keeping her classroom under control at all times and, ‘first and foremost,? treating staff members and parents with respect.
Avenall was cited for finding educational activities that take students out of the classroom, articulating strengths and weaknesses of individual students, setting and modeling high expectations for her students and earning the respect of the school community.
Among Mahoney’s nomination praises were her ‘interaction style that exudes enthusiasm for mathematics,? time spent mentoring students outside of class hours, an ability to ‘explain difficult concepts in an easily understandable way? and leadership both as a faculty member in mathematics and as sponsor of the Wolves Renaissance Club.