Now in its 20th year, the Bartlesville Public School District’s annual Classified Person of the Year Reception has certainly evolved.
During the first year of the event, around 50 people were in attendance and approximately a dozen door prizes were given away.
This year, around 200 people are expected and approximately half of them can expect to take home a door prize.
“This event has gotten to be really big,” says Linda Jo Jones, the attendance secretary at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School who is in her 10th year as the chairperson of the reception. “But we’re very happy about that.
“It’s a good thing.”
The BPSD’s 20th Annual Classified Person of the Year Reception is scheduled to take place on the evening of Tuesday, March 30 – from 5-6:30 p.m. – in the main community room of the Bartlesville Community Center. A free event, it will feature food and plenty of fun.
Jones serves as the master of ceremonies for the event and always likes to keep the atmosphere light. Thus, it’s no surprise when a few zingers find their way from the podium. Laughs come often.
“I think people like that atmosphere,” says Jones. “I want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable.”
As is tradition, the Tuesday’s reception will culminate with the unveiling of the district’s 2010 Classified Person of the Year. Six candidates were nominated and then voted on by classified staff members. The candidates – each of who represents a respective category – are the Will Rogers Early Childhood Center’s Trish Packard (Administrative Assistant category), the Bartlesville Mid-High School’s Tiffany Palmer (Custodial/Maintenance), Hoover Elementary School’s Dawn Dickson (School Assistant), Jane Phillips Elementary School’s Jenson Smith (School Age Care), Bartlesville High School’s Ricky Newkirk (Tech Media/Health Services) and the BPSD Transportation Department’s Lois Keene (Transportation).
The Bartlesville Public School District boasts approximately 1,000 employees, around 425 of whom are classified. Whereas teachers and administrators are certified employees, classified employees employ service roles within the district such as administrative assistants, bus drivers and custodians.
All of the food and giveaways at the reception are offered thanks to generous donations from area businesses, parent support groups and individuals. No district money is spent on the event.
During the reception, service pins will be awarded to classified employees who have worked specific numbers of years, such as five, 10 or 15.
After the district’s 2010 Classified Person of the Year is revealed, the reception will conclude with the presentation of the Patoot Award. An annual tradition since 1997, the Patoot Award is a tongue-in-cheek honor which goes to a classified employee who has a quick wit and a thick skin and isn’t afraid to speak their mind. Last year, BPSD student systems coordinator Beth Berryhill took home the Patoot Award. As is tradition, she will name her successor and present the award – which is a small, carved wooden statue of a horse’s backside – to the new winner on Tuesday evening.
“We’ve had some good Patoots in the past,” laughs Jones. “We’ll have to see who this year’s winner is.”
The Bartlesville Public School District’s 2009 Classified Person of the Year, Margaret Puckett receives a congratulatory hug from Debbie Leming as (from left) Tom Golden, Orville Burksand Val Albritton look on during the BPSD’s 19th Annual Classified Person of the Year Reception last year at the Bartlesville Community Center.