Union Groundskeeper Honored For Green Thumb

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- It's not just the teachers and students who keep a school system up and running. The support staff spend countless hours filing paperwork, fixing facility problems and – in the case of Union Public Schools' Support Employee of the Year – making the environment conducive to learning.

Terry Reeves, landscaping supervisor at the Union Public Schools, was named the Support Employee of the Year for his dedication to keeping the school system grounds and its athletic fields in top shape.

"We are pleased to honor groundsman Terry Reeves as Union's Support Employee of the Year," said Doug Meadows, chairman of the Support Employee Peer Recognition Committee.

"Not only does Reeves make all of his grounds look good, thanks to his hard work, dedication, and personal character, he makes Union look good."

Reeves is very knowledgeable about his position, says baseball coach Shawn Newkirk, who nominated him.

"He knows when to put the rye grass down, how to fix the broken tools and machines, how and when to mow, takes care of the weeds and when and when not to water," Newkirk said.

"Terry believes in doing the work he is asked to do to the best of his ability. He is trustworthy, dependable and very likeable. He performs any extra duty he is asked to do without hesitation and enjoys doing it because he is helping someone out."

Newkirk said Reeves had worked closely with his baseball staff for six years to keep the baseball and softball fields at Union Intermediate High School looking great, from painting the "U" logo on the field or dragging the infield dirt with a tractor. 

"Terry was asked all the time to leave his field work and help somebody else at another field, stadium or building because of his expertise. He hated to leave – not because he didn't want to help but because he loved his work – but he understood the importance to help others," the coach said.

The other Employees of the Month for the past year represent everyone from Operations to Teaching and Learning. They include:

• 6th/7th grade English Language Learner paraprofessional Julia Burns
• Intermediate High School custodian Roy Morris
• Warehouseman/bus driver Charles Newkirk
• Peters Special Services aide Kathy Plunkett
• McAuliffe receptionist Stacy Liedel
• Rosa Parks Early Childhood Center building engineer Mary Najera
• 6th/7th grade registrar Kay Howard
• Rosa Parks building engineer Jane Morrison
• Senior administrative assistant Jo Ann Bodenstab
• 6th/7th grade computer technician Chris Sharpe
• McAuliffe child nutrition manager Jeanna Edwards
• 6th/7th grade paraprofessional Tammy Deisenroth
• Former accounting supervisor Celia Armstrong
• Operations director's secretary Carol Wyzard
• 8th grade teacher's aide Kevin Marcum
• HVAC maintenance technician Steve Stilly
• Darnaby 4-Year-Old aide Ellie Nelligan
• Andersen secretary Martha Mosier
• Clark Child Nutrition assistant manager Marla Royer
• Peters receptionist Mary Jo Meziere
• Andersen lead custodian Hilda Hercules
• Cedar Ridge building engineer Margaret Wagoner