Outstanding Rural Support Staff Member
Bev Ollison
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBeverly 'Bev' Ollison has been described as a person with a pleasant personality who does not know a stranger. Mrs. Ollison has served as a support staff member in the Green Ridge district for the last twenty years. Her assignment, during those years, has always been to work with severely handicapped students, who need a one-on-one paraprofessional.
Behind every successful school district are those individuals that greet and end each day the same and in this case it is known as the 'Ollison Smile'. Daily, Bev displays patience with students who are functioning or behaving outside the acceptable norms of the classroom. She is capable of changing a students inappropriate behavior with a quite word or diversion; seldom is the classroom disturbed by a student she is assisting. With her assistance students have successfully reached and are reaching their educational potential.
A staff member shares that when the school day is finished, you will often observe Mrs. Ollison staying late and assisting teachers with making copies, typing forms, laminating papers all in preparation for the next day. The rapport that Mrs. Ollison has developed throughout the Green Ridge community is because of the impact she has had on students, their parents and the school staff. It is a tribute to her devotion to students that she has remained in the school setting for so many years.
Described by a fellow employee, Beverly is not only an asset in the classroom, but has volunteered in may other ways to support our school system. For many years, she took gate duty for ballgames when staff members would not. She has called lines for volleyball games, provided cakes for cake shoots, and makes a wonderful fruit team for the workroom that is enjoyed by all.
Beverly Ollisons great compassion makes her a wonderful member of the team. She wins the respect of others through her integrity and unwavering desire to bring about the best in those around her. A calm, caring demeanor to support students makes it fitting for Bev's selection as the Missouri Outstanding Rural Support Staff member for 2008.