Susan Ashworth is an Administrative Assistant with the Department of Finance. She has worked for Boone County Schools for 19 years. When employees get their paycheck they probably don't think about the layers of work that goes into making sure that the numbers are correct. That's one of the many duties Susan has as she assists Finance Director Linda Schild.  Linda Schild is Susan's boss.  Susan helps the finance department make sure  the federal and state payroll taxes are paid and she reconciles other deductions taken from paychecks and remits those funds.    Linda says Susan has been a tremendous help to the Finance Department by streamlining some processes for efficiency.  Linda says, "Susan is deadline oriented, it's her strong suit, and every good finance department needs a Susan Ashworth."  "Susan makes sure the money gets to where it needs to be at the right time especially when it comes to employees pay," says Schild.  Susan enjoys working for Boone County Schools but remains humble in her work. Susan says, "It truly takes everyone in every position to help Boone County Schools to be the very best for the students, parents and staff of our district!"   

Helen Cottongim is a big part of the reason Boone County Schools has a reputation for Transportation Safety.  She has been working for the district for 43 years.  She teachers Kentucky State School Bus certification and the Commercial Drivers License Program.  She also coordinates 7 other driver trainers and In-School Safety Driver Training.  In October they completed National School Bus Safety month, a training specifically for students.  They take several buses and driver trainers to all BCS elementary schools and educate every child in the school on bus safety and danger zones.  Helen says its important to her that every child gets the experience of knowing something about school bus safety and now to evacuate a bus in an emergency.

Helen served two terms on the Board of Directors of the National Education Association and is proud of the fact that she was there to support the decision to implement National Educational Support Professionals Day inside the week we celebrate American Education Week.  She says, "Education cannot happen without all those people that make education work.  They support the districts goal to prepare every student to be college, career and life ready."  Director of Transportation Heather Roth is Helen's boss and she says, "Transportation is an award winning department because we are filled with employees like Helen." 

Helen says she loves her job because no two days are the same and you never know how you might touch a person's life.   One of those former support professionals that Helen taught and certified to become a Boone County School bus driver eventually worked his way up to become Superintendent of the district.  Dr. Randy Poe was driving buses long before he became Superintendent.

Karen Johnson has worked in the district for 15 years.  As the Child Nutrition Coordinator she makes sure our students dietary needs are met.  It's not an easy job as that includes children with food allergies, gluten free requirements and other health issues requiring a closely monitored diet. Karen also develops the menus for all the schools and she does nutrient analysis so they are in line with USDA requirements.  What she likes most about her job is that in everything she does she knows she is positively impacting students.  

She oversees day to day operations in all Boone County School cafeterias and does site reviews. Her boss is Food Service Director Barbara Kincaid who says of Karen, "she is a dynamic part of what we do, she works most closely with the special dietary needs of students and  has a compassionate heart for our students."

Pam Luehrmann is a school nurse at both Burlington and Kelly Elementary Schools and has been working in Boone County Schools for 11 years.

She sees everything from simple sniffles, to the playground cuts and scrapes to fractured limbs.  In some cases school nurses are the only health care professional some students see on a regular basis.  

Child health issues continue to grow as do the need for nurses in schools.  One of the best things about this district Pam says is our Superintendent, Dr. Randy Poe.  She says he "gets it." She said when Dr. Poe was approached with the need to increase the number of nurses in our schools he followed through adding more nurses.

Kevin Macke is in one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S.  As Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning foreman of Boone County Schools he is responsible for the equipment that keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Kevin has worked in the district for 36 years and loves a challenge. He works with 4 HVAC techs and 2 preventative maintenance workers on building automation control system problems and mechanical problems.  

As the weather changes so to do his duties.  Right now with winter around the corner Kevin has been dealing with boiler issues in some of the schools.  The issues can be anywhere from a 5 minute fix to a two week repair depending on the severity of the problem.    Kevin says there is no idle time and the work is never done.  "We are constantly monitoring all schools but work orders come in everyday on a mechanical failure or a control issue, we do our best to stay on top of all of them." 

Sometimes the work of an HVAC specialist is a thankless job.  We don't think about them until the furnace breaks or the air conditioning isn't working properly.  Dan Razor, Director of Facilities Management for Boone County Schools is Kevin's boss. Dan says of Kevin, "He is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about HVAC.  He is a great asset to the District and puts the needs of the student first."