Instead of choosing one nominee in January and one in February for the Vikings: Above & Beyond Award, two are being honored in February, because they work together daily in the same office and they were nominated as a dynamic duo.
Parsons Middle School Financial Secretary Tyler Hurt and Secretary Tina Dodd were nominated jointly to receive this honor.
Their nominator said this of them:
“Both of these exceptional people are integral to the daily workings of our school. They often wear several hats throughout the day, including, but not limited to nurse, therapist, counselor, teacher, and life coach. They are a warm heart for a homesick sixth grader and they are ready to lend an ear to a venting teacher. Through the constant wave of phone calls, they still manage to handle daily delivery, scraped knees, lost Chromebooks and forgotten basketball shoes. They always go the extra mile to ensure our school office is a warm and inviting place for visitors and students alike. They know every student by name and can often tell you their schedule without having to look. Their work is often behind the scenes and sometimes overlooked, but they are an essential part of keeping our school running like a well oiled machine, Thank you for everything you do Tina Dodd and Tyler Hurt.”
Hurt has been with the district five years in her current position. Prior to taking the position with Parsons Middle School, she ran a part time business that provided remote-based administrative professional services.
“I am very appreciative of the outward show of appreciation, but I have been blessed in that the staff at PMS has always made me feel appreciated and cared for,” Hurt said. “This job has been my absolute favorite, even on the hardest of days. The near constant disruption keeps me on my toes and can be a lot to manage sometimes, but building connections with the kids and seeing the difference that we can make in their lives is the best reward”
“This job has literally changed my life in more ways than I can express,” Hurt continued. “My coworkers have spoken life into me and helped rebuild a confidence once lost, encouraging me to go back to school. Thanks to that, I now have two associate's degrees, one in business administration and one in accounting. I am currently working towards completion of an accounting degree program to become a CPA. I would never have known both my strengths in and fondness of accounting and business admin were it not for this job and the amazing people that I work with”
Dodd worked at Labette Health for 19 years before coming to Parsons Middle School. The last 10 of those 19 years she worked at Labette Health Advanced Ob/Gyn. She has been at Parsons Middle School for six years now.
“I was excited to find out that I was nominated,” Dodd said of receiving the award. “It's such a good feeling to be recognized and appreciated for what we do.
“The most rewarding part (of my job) is knowing I'm often the first safe place a student comes to when they're overwhelmed, nervous or just need someone to listen. I feel like I have a purpose here.”