Upon being announced as the Bartlesville Public School District's 2008 Classified Person of the Year on March 11, Debbie Leming was somewhat in shock. She smiled, accepted congratulations from her fellow finalists and calmly made her way to the podium for her acceptance speech.
But after returning home that evening, Leming began to reflect on her reaction. The 18 th Annual Classified Person of the Year Reception, which was held at the Bartlesville Community Center, featured a casino theme, complete with faux dice, chips and money.
“Since they had the casino theme, if I would have been in my right mind, I would have yelled, ‘I'm a winner!'” laughs Leming.
“I also thought about all of the people who I should have thanked.”
Leming is in her fourth year working as an administrative assistant in the district warehouse. Operating out of an office near the Bus Barn, she works on the budget and handles the payroll for the custodial and maintenance staffs.
“Our office stays busy,” says Leming. “People are in and out all the time. The phones are always ringing. But, I really enjoy it.”
There was plenty to enjoy at the 18 th Annual Classified Person of the Year Reception. The event featured snack foods and drinks as well as multiple prize drawings. Service pins were awarded to those classified employees who had reached milestone career spans, including five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years. David Kitchens was honored for his four decades of service – 38 years of which have been at Hoover Elementary School – while Madison Middle School's Sandie Fields was noted for her 30 years of work.
Finalists from six different categories vied for the 2008 Classified Person of the Year title including Glenda McGill (Madison, School Assistant); Rick Keen (Will Rogers Early Childhood Center, Custodial/Maintenance); Cathie Schmidt (Bus Barn, Transportation); Sammye Samson (Wayside Elementary School, Media/Tech/Heath Services), Carolyn Vincent (Jane Phillips Elementary School, Child Nutrition) and Leming.
As part of her reward for winning, Leming was presented with a check for $1,600 from an anonymous donor through the Bartlesville Community Foundation.
“I think that's wonderful,” says Leming of the monetary award which accompanies the honor. “Someone is obviously thinking about us.”
Linda Jo Jones, the attendance secretary at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, served as the master of ceremonies at the reception. As the chairman of the organizing effort behind the annual event, she coordinated it along with members of the Reception Committee Teresa Gaines, Karen Short, Jennifer Kindley and Linda Paxson.
After a year's absence, a tradition returned to the Classified Person of the Year Reception, the presenting of the Patoot Award. This year's winner was Mary Ponder, the district's payroll coordinator.
“At the end of the reception last year, I had several people ask me why we didn't have the Patoot Award,” says Jones.
“Actually, it's a nice compliment in its own way. It's kind of a roast to say some silly things about people we really like.”
As always is the case, the 18 th Annual Classified Employee of the Year Reception was put on strictly through donations. No school district money was spent on the event. Eighty-five door prizes and five grade prizes were handed out, all of them courtesy of donations from area businesses.
“The local businesses are very supportive of us,” says Jones. “We really appreciate them.”
After Tuesday's event reached its conclusion, Leming began locating people throughout the reception hall to thank them for their support. She thanked Jones – as well as the other four members of the Reception Committee – among many others.
“I'm very grateful to get to work with all of the maintenance guys,” says Leming. “They're a great bunch of guys to work with.”
She was still taking in the fact that she was the 2008 Classified Person of the Year.
“I guess I really didn't expect to win,” she says. “I was up against some really good people.”
Leming is obviously a standout herself. She's a winner.
Shortly after being named the Bartlesville Public School District's 2008 Classified Person of the Year, Debbie Leming (left) is congratulated by fellow finalist Glenda McGill on the evening of March 11 at the Bartlesville Community Center.
Mary Ponder, the Bartlesville Public School District's payroll coordinator, was the winner of the Patoot Award at the 18th Annual Classified Person of the Year Reception held March 11 in the Bartlesville Community Center.