Professional of the Year
Here are the nominees for the 2013 HBMS POTY
Jimmy Adams
What made you seek employment at a school?
My wife has worked for Fulton County in the past. She really liked it. She thought I would like it as well. She and I thought it would be a great move for me as well. I have been here since October and I really do enjoy working as a Custodian at Fulton County.
School and Community Involvement
I am here for the students as for anyone else here at the school for any of their social events.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
The staff and the children they are the main concerns here at the school. I’m here to help as much as I can.
Jayna Brosmer
What made you seek employment at a school?
Maya Angelou said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. In our world, we have so many children who feel invisible. We have children who feel they don’t matter. I strive daily to make sure that at least for today, they know that is not true; that they are seen and heard, and that they matter. And if I can change how they feel today, then I can change how they feel tomorrow, and the next day etc., and soon they will be able to see for themselves how amazing they are.
School and Community Involvement
I was on the Northwood Elementary PTA last year and I am actively involved with the Centennial Jr Knights Football team, as well as the two travel baseball teams my boys are a part of.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
My favorite part of working in this field? I can make a difference! We have a small community here, both children and staff, whom I am able to see daily. I get so many opportunities to teach them about themselves and their health. I love how their faces light up when they learn something new. It is important to me that every time anyone steps into the clinic, they leave with one more piece of knowledge, or one less anxiety, or one more mint…
Melissa Carballo
What made you seek employment at a school?
I think that whether you have children or not, your lifestyle has to be a factor. The plus for me of working in a school is the schedule and flexibility. But, with 8 years’ experience in a Data/Administrative related field, I feel that working at Haynes Bridge has been the most rewarding and enlightening of all my settings.
School and Community Involvement
School leadership, student related activities or clubs, community service, etc.
1. Haynes Bridge Middle School Cheerleading Coach
2. Check & Connect Mentor
3. Faculty & Staff Activities Coordinator
4. Volunteer School Translator
5. Business Partner Liaison
6. After School Activities Coordinator
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
Working in the school system allows me to be a positive role model to students who might not have anyone that is a positive influence. I love our students and genuinely care about all of them. I feel that I can help make a difference in their lives by being here and showing them that I care enough to work with them and support them.
Nita Coloma
What made you seek employment at a school?
It started out to have the same time off as my children, my commute being less than five minutes to all of the schools to which my children would attend, and summers off! I had always enjoyed volunteering, but then the principal at, Northwood suggested that I apply to FCBOE and get paid for what I was already doing! A beautiful relationship began started right then and remained until 2009. To be picked up again in 2011.
School and Community Involvement
1996 – 1999 PTA Executive Board at Northwood -VP
1999-2001 PTA Executive Board at Northwood - President
2001 Asked to join Haynes Bridge MS staff – part-time for front desk coverage
2001-2011 Volunteered at Haynes Bridge and Centennial HS – Various PTA assistance, Head Swim Team Parent, Head Cheerleading Parent (2 squads), Head Soccer Parent, Front Office Volunteer (weekly)
2004 – 2012 Head Swim Team Representative for Country Club of Roswell
2011 – present Counseling Department Secretary
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
I like the variety of the days, the activities and the students. You never know what is going to happen or where you might be needed, able to work together with parents and staff and assist with whatever event detail needed and loving the connection to my neighbors and my local schools.
Oh, yeah, summers off!
Sabrina Dean
What made you seek employment at a school?
Well I grew up around school employment. My Grandparents both worked as custodians. My grandfather was the head custodian at Roswell North Elementary for 30 years. My grandmother worked in the cafeteria for ten before she became a custodian as well they both retired with thirty years. Now my Mother is a custodian for Fulton County as well. She has been for 22 years. I used to go to work with my grandma in the summer time. I have been with Fulton County for 13 years I started in the Cafeteria and now I’m a Custodian. I guess you can say I followed in my Grandma’s footsteps. I love my job with Fulton County I wouldn’t have it any other way.
School and Community Involvement
I am always here to set up and break down the events and if the PTA needs me. I’m always here if they need.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
The children are my favorite thing. Because you are always around them and you get to watch them grow into young adults.
Sharon Etris
What made you seek employment at a school?
I have been interested in education since high school and actually got my first degree in music education. When that didn’t turn out exactly as planned and after I was getting back into the job market after taking time off to start my family, I shifted my focus to special education. My son has some challenges and was eventually identified with a Learning Disability, and so that led me to seek certification in Learning Disabilities. When I moved back to Georgia in 1989, I had already applied with several counties. I happened to ask if they had any special education opening at my son’s new school, Crabapple Middle School. They did! That started my teaching career in the field of special education in Georgia.
School and Community Involvement
I am the go to person for questions about special education by virtue of my position. I feel that I am easily accessible and provide support to anyone who asks, including staff and parents. I am a Check & Connect mentor which I think brings another level of support and trust to my mentee outside of the classroom. I am involved every year in the planning for Exceptional Children’s Week.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
I enjoy being around students, and I like the camaraderie with the staff. Those who chose to be in the field are those who want to make a difference in students’ lives. It feels good to be a part of that positive spirit.
Susan Harper
What made you seek employment at a school?
My first career was in the corporate world working in the field of marketing research. I took several years off work while my children were young. As a strong believer in the importance of free public schools, I volunteered extensively in the schools my children attended, particularly in the media centers. During that time, I grew to love the schools in this community. When my youngest was heading into middle school, I was ready to go back to work. After spending years volunteering in Fulton County Schools, I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. I was fortunate to be able to find a position at Fulton Science Academy High School and even more fortunate to be able to join Haynes Bridge Middle School last year.
School and Community Involvement
Currently, my greatest time commitment outside of school is working with the Missions committee of Northminster Presbyterian Church. In particular, I work with Family Promise of North Fulton/Dekalb which consists of a network of religious congregations in the area to provide emergency shelter for homeless families with children. I co-coordinate this program which shelters up to 4 families from our area in our facilities on a rotating basis 4 – 5 times a year.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
It is a pleasure working with the students and teachers at HBMS! In the media center, I enjoy having the opportunity to get to know many different students and hopefully, to help them in some way. I am inspired every day by the dedication of our faculty and staff as they encourage our students to learn and reach their full potential.
Jessica Karp
What made you seek employment at a school?
I always wanted to be a teacher! I taught kindergarten, first grade, and fifth grade before getting my masters in School Library Media. My love of reading, children’s literature, and informational literacy inspired me to move from classroom teacher to media specialist. I found it very motivational to move from the classroom to the media center and from elementary to middle school. Working in a school is the only thing I’ve ever done and was the right choice for me.
School and Community Involvement
I am involved in the following activities at Haynes Bridge:
Reading Bowl Team
HBTV Broadcast Crew
CRCT Tutoring
Leadership Team
Co-Chair of the Media/Technology Committee
Sunshine Committee
PD 360 Contact for the school
Textbook Coordinator
iPad Pilot Project Co-manager
Staff Development
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
Hands down it is the students! When you see the “light bulb go off” or that “ah ha” moment in a student it makes it all worthwhile. Guiding students with research skills, finding a good book, or using technology is my favorite thing to do each day. It is important to me to have an inviting environment in the media center that encourages thinking and creating. There are other parts of my job that I love as well but the students are my favorite.
Ann Kyle
What made you seek employment at a school?
Had a friend to tell me it’s a good place to work
School and Community Involvement
Helps students with their activities ,set ups etc.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
Helping the students
Carol Stuhltrager
What made you seek employment at a school?
My interest in working at a school began when my first child entered school so many years ago. I volunteered much of my time both in the classroom and in the school. I enjoyed working with students, whether it was tutoring, helping to study for a test or completing homework. I became involved with the PTA at their schools to support the mission of the administration and the staff. It was shortly after the time that my youngest entered school I was offered a part-time position working in the Front Office of his elementary school. It was so great to be able to see and greet students and community members each day and hopefully, able to answer their questions or assist them with whatever concerns they may have.
School and Community Involvement
I have been a VP on a PTA Board or Chairperson of a PTA Committee since 1995 at one or more schools that my children have attended. I have volunteered on the STARS program here at Haynes Bridge for the past 2 years. I have sold carnations, worked Games Day, Picture Day, Career Day and any other days we have had scheduled here at the school. I have tutored students in math from Centennial High School for the last 3 years and volunteered at their Front Office and Attendance Office. I volunteer through my church, with my family, on programs to bring meals to shut-ins, and help pack donated supplies and needed items to missions in South America. I also volunteer 1 day a month at the Atlanta Humane Society.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
There are many things I enjoy about working here at this school and in the education field, but my favorite is just seeing and talking with the kids (students) and community members every day. I love and enjoy the unique exposure we get during these middle school years when we watch them (students) enter as “babies” and leave so changed and grown up in only three short years!
Gena Tatum
What made you seek employment at a school?
I really enjoy working with children. To see their expressions when you know they have grasped something new. It just warms my heart to know that I make a difference
School and Community Involvement
I started as a nutrition employee and decided if I were going to be here for the long haul I wanted to be in management. I manage a staff of 8, enjoy classroom education with the students, and try to keep the students excited about school meals by doing promotions that promote healthy eating habits. Employees need to know they are appreciated and that working together as a team makes a Happy Environment in which reflects back to our customers.
I have served on the MAC (Menu Advisory Committee) committee, served as a home base for training new roaming employees, and have employees that now manager their own school. I volunteer my time to do extended learning so the students get a snack.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
Working in School Nutrition allows me the opportunity to see that NO child goes hunger. If I see that children are feed they have a better chance of staying focused and learning.
Having a past student come back to me and say… Do you remember me? You cooked the best food of any school I attended. I remember your cookies and rolls and you always told me Good Morning. Every child needs to know they are a valued.
Gerald Ward
What made you seek employment at a school?
I have worked in a number of fields from radio broadcasting to television production to customer service for a health club to sanitation in a food plant, but it was always the passion of working with kids that has always brought me back to the school systems.
School and Community Involvement
Within the school systems I’ve served as a para-pro trying to prevent students from going down the wrong path with poor choices. I’ve served as a substitute teacher, coach of various sports and also covered intramural sports. Outside of the school systems I have worked in several day camps. For seven straight summers I worked and volunteered in a five year leadership program for rising eight graders to show how they can lead their communities. In the past I also conducted a rites of passage workshop for at-risk boys. I have also worked with the United Methodist Youth Fellowship in churches in Arkansas and Michigan.
What is your favorite thing about working in the education field?
I really enjoy building and uplifting and encouraging students who may need that extra push. As much as I enjoy sports I have always believed in getting a good education and letting students know that it is very important specifically to those who want to pursue a professional sport.