Tulsa Public Schools announced the district’s 2020-2021 Support Employee of the Year. Superintendent Deborah A. Gist surprised Hawthorne Elementary Principal’s Secretary Marilyn Ezell at her school to name her as the 2020-2021 Tulsa Public Schools Support Employee of the Year. American Federation of Teachers President Nancy Leonard, Hawthorne Interim Principal Dana Kalbe, and District 3 Board Member Jennettie Marshall also attended the surprise announcement.
“We are thrilled for Marilyn to represent our district as the 2020-2021 Support Employee of the Year,” said Gist. “She embodies excellence and goes above and beyond every day in service of Tulsa teachers, children, and families. Our support employees serve as the backbone of our district.”
Four Support Employee of the Year finalists were also surprised by their school leader, board member, or site director at their home, school, or district site on Wednesday.
The five finalists were:
- Marilyn Ezell, Hawthorne Elementary;
- Sharlene Johnson, Unity Learning Academy;
- Dee Landrum, Tulsa MET High School;
- Jayne Powers, Maintenance & Plant Operations; and
- Susan Waldie, Eliot Elementary.
“These five finalists have demonstrated a relentless focus on ensuring that every child, family, teacher, school leader, and team member of Tulsa Public Schools has the tools and supports that he or she needs to be successful,” said American Federation of Teachers President Nancy Leonard. “Even in distance learning, our teams will go above and beyond to serve the Tulsa Public Schools family, and we are so proud.”
The Support Employee of the Year award is the culmination of a process that began in the fall of 2019 when a support employee is selected from each school and some district office departments. The Tulsa Public Schools Support Employee of the Year is a non-certified team member who exemplifies excellence.
The district presented Ezell with a $1,000 award and each finalist with a $500 award sponsored by the Foundation for Tulsa Schools.
Watch the announcement here, check out Marilyn’s surprise on Facebook, and view photos of all the finalists here.
