Kids & Family
WATCH: Pam Burgeson's Reaction as She's Recognized for Outstanding Work at D304
Burgeson is the recipient of the Illinois Association of School Boards' 2013 Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award.
In the day-to-day goings on at any school or school district, there are people who work behind the scenes, never getting a lot of recognition but doing wonderful work and making everyone else's day just a little bit better or a little bit easier.
Pam Burgeson is one of those people.
She's worked as an administrative assistant to the School District 304 superintendent for 25 years now, and she's been with the district for 32 years.
That's why it was fun to see her reaction when School Board President Mark Grosso announced at the Oct. 28 School Board meeting that Burgeson is the recipient of the Illinois Association of School Boards’ 2013 Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award.
Watch the video that's attached to this article to see what we saw and hear her well-deserved applause. What you don't see in the video is the first 30 seconds or so, when she is furiously taking notes, as she does at every meeting, until she realizes that pretty much everybody in the room is looking her way.
Thirty-five individuals from across Illinois were nominated for this honor, which was created in 2009 to recognize the extraordinary work and service provided by secretaries who serve and assist their local Boards of Education. The award is named in honor of a long-time IASB administrative assistant, Holly Jack, who died in 2008. Burgeson is the sole recipient of the 2013 award.
“We have always known that Mrs. Burgeson does an excellent job, and I couldn’t be more pleased that she has received this recognition,” said Superintendent Dr. Kent Mutchler. “She brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to her work and is efficient, effective, and caring in working with everyone.”
Burgeson plans to retire at the end of this school year.
She was nominated by Mutchler and the Geneva School District Board of Education. According to IASB documents, recipients of the Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award demonstrate several characteristics: performance, initiative, innovation, staff development, self-improvement, passion and dedication.
“All of the nominees were outstanding individuals,” wrote Anna Lovern, director of Policy Services for ISBE in Burgeson’s letter of award. “I believe one of the things that set Pam apart from the others in the eyes of the committee was the support she received from other staff members and community members as well as from her superintendent and board.”
Burgeson will receive her award at the 2013 Joint Annual Conference in November.
Additional information about the Holly Jack Outstanding Service Award can be found at http://www.iasb.com/jac10/HollyJackAward.pdf
SOURCE: School District 304 press release
