The strength of Parsons USD 503 public schools lies in the dedicated individuals who serve our students and community each day.
While classrooms are often the most visible part of education, the district’s success is made possible by a broad team of professionals whose work supports learning in countless ways.
Our educational support staff—including food service workers, custodians, maintenance personnel, paraprofessionals, Title staff, bus drivers, nurses, clerical and secretarial professionals, information technology (IT) personnel, school resource officers, counselors, district office staff, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and many others—play an essential role in creating safe, welcoming, and effective learning environments. Through their expertise, reliability, and commitment to students, they help ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Much of this important work happens behind the scenes and often without public recognition. However, these contributions are vital to the district’s mission and to the daily operations of our schools.
To honor and celebrate the meaningful impact of these team members, Parsons USD 503 has established the “You Make a Difference” Award. Each month, nominations are accepted to recognize two outstanding educational support staff members whose service and dedication exemplify excellence. Nominations may be submitted by any district employee, ensuring that colleagues across all roles have the opportunity to highlight those who make a difference every day.
The April recipients of this award are Parsons Middle School Paraeducator Barb Harlow, Garfield School Food Service worker Gloria Alvarez.
Harlow was nominated by Parsons Middle School teacher Lizzy Smith, who had this to say:
“Miss. Barb (Grandma) is the most amazing para. She cares about the students, but also holds them accountable. She is always very helpful and a joy to be around. I absolutely love having her in my class and the students do too.”
Alvarez was nominated by Child Nutrition staff member Connie Zenk, who stated this about Alvarez:
“She always has a smile on her face, and is always willing to help. She always has lunch ready to go when the kids arrive. She's also kind and courteous to all the staffing at Garfield.”
We congratulate these two ladies for their commitment to excellence that truly embodies the core values of Parsons USD 503. They exemplify what it means to be a team member.