Donna Pompilius, a special needs aide at Three Fires Elementary, has been named the 2021-2022 Howell Public Schools Support Person of the Year. Pompilius was surprised with the award by Erin J. MacGregor, Howell Public Schools superintendent, and Robert Starkey, Three Fires Elementary principal. Many of Pompilius’s current and former co-workers and her husband were also present for the surprise.
Several Three Fires Elementary staff members nominated Pompilius for the Support Person of the Year Award. The nominations focused on her dedication and commitment to the students she works with and all students at Three Fires. The nominations also shared that Pompilius is always willing to step in to help out and that she will do whatever it takes to help her students reach their full potential.
“Donna has a gift in the way that she is able to relate with people. She has the ability to make everyone around her feel important. She takes a keen interest in all of her students and communicates well with the staff she works with,” said Three Fires teacher Andi Syrett in her nomination. “She is especially good at noticing the fine details in the things her students do.”
“Donna is an incredible support to her students and an asset to the whole school. She provides her students with the tools they need to be successful, and she builds on each of their unique abilities to help them reach their full potential,” Starkey said. “Working with students with different abilities can be challenging, but Donna always remains positive regardless of the circumstances.”
A committee of 24 district stakeholders comprised of teachers, support staff, parents, a central office administrator, a principal, an assistant principal, and a school board member was tasked with selecting this year’s Support Person of the Year. Individually, committee members reviewed the support materials for the 43 support staff members nominated for this year’s award. Each committee member then voted for their top five nominees. On Tuesday, Feb. 8, the committee met virtually to review the top five Support Person of the Year nominees resulting from the initial vote. After reviewing these outstanding staff nominations, the committee voted for their top three choices. Following the vote, Pompilius was selected as this year’s winner.
The Support Person of the Year award honors an outstanding paraprofessional, general education aide, copy clerk, mentor, hall monitor, food service employee, maintenance worker, secretary, main office clerk, library services coordinator, bookkeeper, or computer technician.
The Howell Public Schools Board of Education will honor Pompilius at its March meeting.
