David Vandagriff and Leslie Crabtree were selected as the school system’s employees of the month.
At the Warren County School Board meeting this month, a classified and certified employee of the month were selected. Employees of the month are nominated by their peers.
The School Board recognized David Vandagriff as classified employee of the month. He was nominated by Dr. Courtney Bennett for his above-and-beyond maintenance performance for Warren County Connect at the Warren County Middle School. His devotion and teamwork were highly praised by Dr. Bennett.
“My staff and I kind of got to see David off-and-on over the course of the summer while the paving was going on at the middle school. We would see him out there in 100-plus-degree weather. It was either Sahara Desert hot or it was raining straight down. David was always out there making sure everything was going really well and he stayed on top of everything. We just saw him working so hard, so we wanted to do something to honor him and say thank you in a small way,” said Bennett.
She mentioned a time when Warren Connect had a water leak and they were unable to use the water, including using the bathroom. Vandagriff went out of his way to make sure the students were taken care of.
“He took it upon himself to talk to WCMS principal Mrs. Rice so the kids could go over there and use the bathroom if they needed to. We get told so many times what leadership looks like and that is what leadership looks like. He took the reins by himself and went out of his way to make sure the students came first,” said Bennett.
Vandagriff was given a certificate by Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows.
Crabtree was selected as this month’s certified employee of the month. She is a fifth- and sixth-grade history teacher at Centertown Elementary School and was recently recognized by VFW Post 5064 and given the VFW National Citizenship Education Citation Teacher of the Year Award.
Each year the national VFW selects teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher Teacher Program. This year they allowed each post to submit one candidate in each grade level for its district. Based on the local nomination, the VFW National Citation went to Ms. Crabtree and her school. Post Commander Christopher O’Connor nominated her for certified employee of the month.
In his nomination, he said, “She was selected as she is dedicated to fostering patriotism, recognizing veterans through her history club Veteran’s Day program and for organizing historical research field trips and activities related to the history club.”
“In a time when we badly need this taught, Mrs. Crabtree takes it very seriously and does a great job,” added Swallows.
Crabtree also received a certificate.
