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| Foster grandparents host recognition dinner |
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| News | |||
| Written by Aaron Cedeño and Brian McCauley | |||
| Wednesday, 21 October 2009 08:00 | |||
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Clara Vallacqua and Margaret Lawrence are just two of more than 60 foster grandparents in Miami County who were honored for their varying years of service in the program during a recognition dinner Oct. 13 in Paola. Paola USD 368 Assistant Superintendent Judy Welter was the guest speaker. Sherry Duer, who has been the director of the program since its inception, said the Foster Grandparent Program has brought in thousands of dollars of grant money into the local community during the past 32 years, and it has impacted thousands of local children. “Grandparents should love and encourage children into their goals. That’s what grandparents are all about,” Duer said. “Our goal is to change the world one child at a time, with a touch of love.” Vallacqua has been involved with the program in Louisburg for 12 years now, most recently at Rockville Elementary School. After spending 35 years running a drapery business out of her home, she was ready for a new challenge. A friend suggested the foster grandparents program, and Vallacqua has never looked back. “It’s the best cheap paying job I’ve ever had,” she said, laughing. “I love it. I love being the with the kids.” Along with Lawrence, the duo work with some of the youngest students in Louisburg USD 416, helping them with their school work and providing an additional smiling face with whom to speak. The teachers working in the classrooms do a fabulous job, Lawrence said, which only made their work as foster grandparents that much more enjoyable. “They’re our next generation,” she said of why working with youth is so important. “And it’s so much fun.” The current foster grandparents and their years of service are: Cottonwood Elementary Juanita Reed (13), Margaret Cook (10), Shirley Damron (10), Betty Smith (8), Lois Clark (7), Susan Auten (4), Dorothy Erickson (4), Mary Smith (4), Mary Jo Gibson (4) and Alice Elms (3) Sunflower Elementary Edith Williams (10) and JoAnn Hamlin (2) Paola Adult Education Center Marge Cowman (14) and Barbara Howard (7) Paola Headstart Rose Miller (12) Lakemary Center, Inc. & Industries Verona Doman (17), Marie Cashman (16), Evelyn Whitley (14), Sue Scherman (11), Leona Luckey (7) and Judi Martin (new) Morning Out For Mothers Carol Ayres (9), Bernadean “Babs” Gonser (7), Agnes Green (6), Shirley Mayo (5) and Diana Wright (1) Orientation Judy Lyons, Betty Osborn and Julane Williams Spring Hill Elementary Richard Hay (2), Dorothy Hunter (2), Mary Jacobson (2) and Avis Armentrout (1) Fontana Elementary Virginia “Jingle” Dougan (9) Trojan Elementary Betty Lyons (10), Marjorie Roberts (10), Janice Courtney (5), Ann Hauber (5) Tri-Ko Maxine Roy (20), Scottie Kerns (10), Anna Tschantz (4) and Nancy Green (1) Swenson Early Childhood Learning Center Ruth Wrench (29), Betty Craig (5), Patsy Gladfelder (6), Carolee O’Brien (6), Donna Burkhart (3), Shirley McQuay (ret) and Dorothy Lucas (ret) Osawatomie Headstart Shirley Mayo (5) and Sharon Fisher (ret) Osawatomie Community Learning Center Earleen Packard (9) Wellsville Elementary Beverly Knapp (10) Parker Elementary Roxie McKillip (3) La Cygne Elementary Mary Jane Able (9), Shirley Bardwell (6), Pat Pennington (6), Donna Wolfe (4) and Roxie McKillip (3) Broadmoor Elementary Betty Cook (13) and Annette Kueser (1) Rockville Elementary Clara Vallacqua (12) and Margaret Lawrence (5) Havencroft Elementary Patricia Schultz (ret) and RV Schultz (ret)
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