Wicomico County Public Schools is proud to announce the October 2023 recipients of the Extra Mile Award, the school system’s employee recognition program. Nominations are accepted each month of the school year for any of the school system’s nearly 3,000 full- and part-time employees who have gone the extra mile that month. Three honorees are chosen each month to receive the Extra Mile Award, given to employees who go above and beyond their normal job requirements to assist students and staff and to enhance the school system.
For their extraordinary work in the month of October, each of the following employees was awarded an Extra Mile plaque and certificate at the Nov. 14 Board meeting:
Krista Perdue, Fine Arts New Teacher Trainer, serving multiple schools and nominated by Pittsville Elementary and Middle (Academics & Instruction)
Julie Garner, School Counselor, Beaver Run Elementary (Student & Family Services)
Jaenell Downes, Food Service Worker, Parkside High (Business & Operations). Jaenell’s wife and his daughter received the award to honor his memory; he passed away on Oct. 22)
If you see these outstanding employees or their family members in your travels, please thank them for going the extra mile for Wicomico County Public Schools.
October 2023 Extra Mile Award Winners Krista Perdue, Fine Arts New Teacher Trainer, nominated by Pittsville Elementary and Middle; Julie Garner, School Counselor, Beaver Run Elementary; and, on behalf of the late Jaenell Downes, Food Service Worker, Parkside High, his wife, Kathy Downes. They are pictured with Gene Malone, Chairman of the Board of Education, and Dr. Micah Stauffer, Superintendent of Schools during their recognition at the Nov. 14 meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education.
Learn more about these Extra Mile Winners:
Krista Perdue serves multiple schools as the Fine Arts New Teacher Trainer. She was nominated for this award by Pittsville Elementary and Middle, where since before the start of the school year she went above and beyond to help the school’s newly hired music teacher, often coming in early and staying late. Mrs. Perdue spent time in August, prior to the start of the school year, moving materials and setting up the new classroom, to ease some of the burden on the new teacher. In mid-September, unfortunately, that teacher resigned, and the music and choir position was filled with various substitutes. Mrs. Perdue not only helped with creating sub plans, she also stepped in and took responsibility for supporting students in preparing for and participating in All County Choir. She came in daily to rehearse with the choir students, volunteering many of those hours. Without Mrs. Perdue, Pittsville students would not have had the opportunity to sing in this amazing ensemble on Oct. 13th with the other choir students in the county. Pittsville School can’t thank her enough for all the hard work and hours she has put into the school and its students this year.
Julie Garner is the School Counselor at Beaver Run Elementary and her nominator said that it's high time she's recognized for her many contributions to her school and community. Not only does she strive to be a presence in every classroom by coming in for guidance lessons, but she also makes herself available to teachers to assist with parent communication and offer solutions for the myriad of issues teachers face with students every day. She is endlessly patient, kind and positive. You’ll find her each day on duty in the cafeteria. She greets students at the door, reminds them how to behave, use their manners, clean up after themselves, and generally keeps lunch running in an orderly way. She consistently lays out expectations in a part of the school that is always potentially chaotic. Julie manages Beaver Run’s Student Service Team (SST) extremely well. She works with teachers to ensure that proper documentation and communication with families is maintained. She strives to achieve results for each individual student, even when the road is long and complicated. Beaver Run’s SST meetings are finally a place where teachers’ concerns are heard, parents are informed, and positive results for academics and student learning are at the heart of the conversations. Julie's hard work and dedication to families and this community don't stop after the school bell rings each day. She offers counseling outside of school hours and continues to use her gifts to support those in need. Julie's positive energy and friendly attitude make her an absolute gem. Beaver Run feels so lucky to have her as an advocate for students and families and as a link between various departments within its building.
Jaenell Downes was a Food Service Worker at Parkside High until his passing on Oct. 22nd. Jaenell may be gone from Parkside, but he will forever be remembered as a member of the Parkside High RAMFAM who always went the Extra Mile more than almost any other Parkside staff member. He loved being at Parkside, loved cooking at Parkside, and most importantly, he loved his RAMFAM students. Principal Brian Briggs said he has never seen any individual who cared as much about children as Jaenell, and the students knew it. They would walk into the cafeteria and go straight to Jaenell’s line. He brought a smile to students and staff, and would walk around the cafeteria to show love and interest in the students. He would especially take the time to walk over and check on Special Education students in the cafeteria. Everyone at Parkside loved Jaenell. He brought positivity and love to anyone who was around him. If you were having a bad day and you saw Jaenell, your day was going to get better, and you would smile before you finished you conversation. Jaenell showed up at sporting events, band and chorus events, any event where students were doing their thing. He wanted to be there to support them. It’s doubtful that any staff member made it to more football and basketball games than Jaenell. Those student athletes were his student athletes, and they would glow with pride when they did something good on the playing field and Jaenell was there to see it. He would make sure to let them know how proud he was of them the next time he saw them. Parkside misses Jaenell every day, but the school is confident that he is looking down on Parkside even now, telling staff and students that it will be all right, to keep moving, and to show love to students the way he always did. That way, Parkside will still shine brightly, thanks to Jaenell. (His wife, Kathy Downes, and his daughter, Jade, received the plaque and certificate in honor of his memory. A number of other family members attended the meeting as well.)
Wicomico County Public Schools has many amazing employees, including these other 17 October nominees for the Extra Mile:
Instruction: Erin Burke (Parkside CTE), Johanna Duncan (Bennett Middle), Greg Mallory (Parkside High), Dr. Undrea Blake (Wicomico High), Louise Fitz-Coy (Pemberton Elementary), Hogeana Spence (West Salisbury Elementary), Dura Aqil (Wicomico Middle), Kirsten Biddle (North Salisbury Elementary), Nicole Nesbitt (Pinehurst Elementary)
Student & Family Services: Jelisa Payton (Choices Academy), Melissa Marcum (Mardela Middle and High), Jessica Terrell (Wicomico Middle), Dr. Cynthia Waters (Salisbury Middle), Rebecca Pavic (Willards Elementary)
Business & Operations: Casey Fitzsimmons (Fruitland Intermediate), Barbara Jenkins (Transportation Services), Erika Davis (North Salisbury Elementary)
Congratulations to all, and thanks for everything you do.