The Association of Greece Central Educational Professionals Heart and Hands Award honors an AGCEP member who has contributed outstanding accomplishments to the Greece Central School District and the community.
The 2010-2011 winner is someone who is kind, compassionate and dedicated to improving the lives of all children. This individual makes every child feel important. She never sits still, is always ready to jump in and do whatever needs to be done from teaching a lesson, copying or helping someone change their clothes.
She never expects anything in return nor is she too busy or too tired to listen to a co-worker and then support them in anyway she can.
She does bus duty, morning announcements, Sunshine Club and plans Staff Social events and has previously done Safe School Ambassadors and Staff/Student Buddies.
She has been a Building Representative, worked at the Clothing Closet, and rings the bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas.
She was also involved in the care of her elderly mother and father, both of whom unfortunately passed in the last year.
Over the years she has been a Girl Scout Leader, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, helps teach at the Childbirth Association, and is a Eucharistic Minister at Mother of Sorrows Church.
In 2007 she and her neighbors held a community meeting to get donations to help a neighbor family that lost their house in a fire.
She has worked for Greece Central for 22 years. The last 6 years have been in the 8:1:1 Autism program.
AnneMarie Firmstone, nominated our winner and describes her as a wonderful friend, teacher and colleague.
Our 2011 winner is: Mary Jo Sawyko
(Mary Jo Sawyko is a member of the Association of Greece Central Educational Professionals, her story was submitted by Maureen Close)