“It means a lot – there are a lot of people that would be very deserving of this and it just means a lot to be considered,” South Decatur Elementary School instructional assistant Joyce Fogle said of being named one of two RISE (Recognizing Inspiring School Employees) award recipients for Indiana.
“The RISE recognition allows states to nominate two individuals that are classified staff members supporting all of our work in education in K-12 spaces,” Dr. Rebecca Estes, Senior Director of Education Talent for the Indiana Department of Education, explained. The award is connected with the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act of 2019, an act passed by Congress with bipartisan support, and is the first award designed to honor exemplary classified school employees. A classified school employee is an employee providing valuable essential services e.g. transportation, facilities maintenance, food service, safety and healthcare. Classified employees include paraeducators, employees providing clerical, administrative, transportation, custodial, maintenance, food and nutrition, health, student, technical or security services, as well as those involved in a skilled trade. Beyond recognizing extraordinary employees, the award’s other purpose has been to educate the public on important, often invisible, support given to schools by those who work as a classified employee. Nominees are selected by a committee in their state and then approved by the governor of that state.
Fogle was recognized by the Indiana Department of Education in a surprise ceremony held at South Decatur Elementary School on December 5. Her family was invited to the ceremony and a party was held in the teacher’s lounge with light refreshments served. Fogle has worked in education for over 30 years.
Photo: Joyce Fogle receives her RISE Award from Rebecca Estes at SDES
Article submitted by Noelle Maxwell
