Service Person of the Year
Mission Statement
The West Virginia Board of Education’s (WVBE) School Service Personnel Employee of the Year (SPOY) recognizes outstanding education support personnel for their contributions to their schools and communities. The program honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in the performance of their jobs, thereby earning them the respect and admiration of students, teachers, administrators, coworkers and parents.
Background
The WVBE established the annual awards program to recognize outstanding school service personnel employees. Each year the program honors one person, chosen from aides, bus operators, cooks, custodians, maintenance workers, office workers and other school service personnel, for his/her contribution to the school and community.
The program is designed to work similarly to the state’s Teacher of the Year program, which honors a classroom teacher who inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn, have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues and play an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school.
Privacy Policy
The principal purpose for collecting this information is to provide the data necessary to make determinations of qualifications for School Service Personnel Employee of the Year. This information may be shared with local and state education agencies.
Service Personnel Eligibility
Each year the State of West Virginia identifies outstanding service personnel to be the West Virginia School Service Personnel Employee of the Year. Please read the following information carefully and be sure that you are eligible for consideration.
The candidate should be an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled service personnel in any state-approved or accredited school pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.
The service personnel must:
- hold any required certification in area(s) of assignment;
- be a current full-time service personnel employee; and
- have local county board consent to participate
The service personnel should:
- extend himself/herself beyond basic required duties by displaying initiative and creativity;
- enhances student learning through exemplary service in his/her position;
- creates positive relationships with parents, students, coworkers, and community members;
- makes schools safer, healthier, and more attractive;
- earns respect and admiration of colleagues and the community;
- demonstrates exceptional skill and dedication on the job;
- displays exemplary leadership abilities through active participation in school or district and community activities, and/or by making decisions and delegating effectively and diplomatically;
- exhibits good interpersonal skills;
- utilizes in-service and /or training to consistently improve and develop skills; and
- demonstrates exemplary interpersonal skills in communicating with students, families, and community members, as well as collaboration with professionals
Personnel of the Year
Gary Brydie
Cabell County
Gary Brydie is a school bus operator for Cabell County Schools, a position he has held for more than 12 years. His colleagues consider him a model employee who takes pride in providing safe transportation for his students and serving as a role model for youth. In addition to the positive relationship Brydie has with the students, he is a member of the Neighboring Initiative Charitable Trust Board, serves as chairman of the Positive People Association Board, works as the manager of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Community Service, is a member of the Huntington Black Pastor’s Ministerial Alliance, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Shepard’s House Recovery Program and the Salt of the World Ministries. He is also a member of the Alliance’s Quick Response Team where he meets with community members, paramedics and other agency representatives to address the drug overdose problems facing the community.
Kathrine Miller
Wayne County
Katherine Miller, the state’s Service Personnel of the Year winner, is a cafeteria manager at Wayne High School in Wayne County. A pillar of support for her students and community, she has been in her current role for 19 years. Miller’s consistent dedication is displayed by her involvement in the development and implementation of her school’s meal pick-up program, school improvement days and cooking pre-game meals for the football team. Additionally, she participates in fundraising dinners for Hospice of Huntington and is involved with the Wayne County Special Olympics.
Susie Kirkpatrick
Gilmer County
Susie Kirkpatrick is a bus operator for Gilmer County Schools. She began her career at Gilmer County Schools as a substitute bus operator and came to love the job and the students who relied on her. This year marks 36 years as a full-time bus operator for Kirkpatrick, who drives her day run, morning/afternoon career center run, and an evening activity bus every day. To make all of these trips without any accidents during her career speaks highly of her performance over the past three-plus decades. As an EMT in Gilmer County, Kirkpatrick also finds time to teach first aid and CPR to all school staff. She enjoys her roles as an athletic trainer for Gilmer County’s sports teams and a safety presenter to elementary school children with “Buster the School Bus.” Throughout the pandemic, Kirkpatrick has driven her school bus routes to help feed students and make home visits. Because of her concern, she often called students if they failed to pick up their meals just to make sure they were okay.