Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation announces Jennifer Goble as 2021 Helen Mitteer Remembrance Employee of the Year Award recipient
by Laura Whitaker
At the start of each school year the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation helps welcome school staff back to school with the presentation of the Helen Mitteer Remembrance Employee of the Year Award. The recipient of the award receives $1,500 to put towards an educational program of their choosing. As a former educator in the Stockbridge School district, Mrs. Mitteer’s dedication is remembered by providing financial support to employees who reflect her unselfish commitment to the students of Stockbridge schools.
This past school year was unlike anything anyone had ever encountered. With the introduction of a hybrid-style learning environment, quarantines, and positive Covid cases throughout the district, the staff at Stockbridge Community Schools hurdled more obstacles than a normal school year usually presents. Staff members worked hard to make everything work as best they could. Not just in classrooms, buses, or cafeterias, but also ensuring the district could still function successfully. One such person stood out in administration by making sure everyone had what they needed, even working through a positive Covid case and having the internet go down throughout the district. The SAEF is proud to announce this year’s recipient for Employee of the Year is Jennifer Goble, Payroll extraordinaire. Ms. Goble is someone that, quite literally, everyone across the district needs. She works tirelessly to make sure each and every employee is taken care of, no matter the circumstances.
Ms. Goble received two nominations, and while deserving, this is quite rare for staff members. Many people may not know that Ms. Goble is the one and only payroll clerk for the district. Every two weeks, she makes sure that 148 employees are taken care of; and checks that each and every one has their specific needs met with different accounts, codes, retirement plans, deductions, adjustments, etc.. Bruce Wm. Brown, former Superintendent of Stockbridge Schools, nominated Ms. Goble and describes payroll as “a 52-week commitment. There is no payroll summer vacation. …everything is subordinate to the responsibility of making sure every paycheck is on time and accurate. Even after receiving a positive Covid test and feeling quite ill, Ms. Goble requested the necessary equipment she needed be delivered to her home to complete payroll. The successful pay deposits “seemed routine to those receiving them, but I wanted to give Jennifer a medal”, states Mr. Brown in his nomination letter. “She had completed payroll from home despite suffering from the terrible hurt of the Covid-19 virus.”
A second nomination came for Ms. Goble from Kristin Vedder-Clark, Business Office Accountant, who said “it is an understatement to say she (Ms. Goble) takes her job very seriously. She takes great pride in being accurate, helpful and attentive to detail.” This is an important quality for someone with such a big responsibility to have. Ms. Vedder-Clark continues by saying, “People know they can come into her office with an issue, and she will listen to them, help them, and treat them with the utmost respect and dignity. I don’t think we always realize how very, very lucky we are to have her as one of our fellow employees. I think, sometimes, as a society, we undervalue certain skills and people, especially when they are in the background. But I can guarantee you, without Jennifer, our school (district) would not run as well as it does.”
This year, the SAEF board received five nominations; more than any previous year and we are proud to see so many of our employees recognized for their hard work and dedication to our schools, students and families. Congratulations, Jennifer, for being recognized as the 2021 Employee of the Year!
