Lacey School District Pauses to Thank Volunteers

Toniann Pyle’s mother was the president of the Parent Teacher Organization at the First Avenue School in Newark for 25 years. Kim Broome’s father served on the Lacey Township Board of Education.

To Pyle and Broome, spending hours helping out at is second nature.

“It’s in our blood,” Pyle said Wednesday night at . And it's people such as Pyle and Broome who are the lifeblood of the school district, Assistant Superintendent Vanessa Clark said.

“You make our schools better,” Clark said, as the Lacey Township School District honored its volunteers – parents, teachers, grandparents – at its annual celebration of their efforts. The volunteer recognition night has existed for more than 19 years, according to Susan Hutler, a district supervisor who’s been in the Lacey schools that long. “It was going on before I got here,” she said.

Nearly 200 names were read off Wednesday night, representing volunteers from all four of the district’s elementary schools, as well as the middle and high schools.

“You share your passion, your talents, your time. We know that when we need you, you’re there,” said Dr. Sandra Brower, the district’s superintendent. “You make a difference like no others can.”

The volunteers were treated to a performance of the high school’s jazz band, then each school’s principal saluted the volunteers at his or her school, with each volunteer who was present receiving a certificate and a small gift.

School Board President Jack Martenak, who helped present the gifts and certificates, added his thanks to the praise heaped on the volunteers.

“It’s amazing to see what our parent organizations do for our schools,” said Martenak, who served on the PTA 14 years ago. “What’s even more amazing is seeing faces I remember seeing 14 years ago.”

“You walk into the schools and they (the volunteers) are all over,” Clark said after the ceremony. “We couldn’t do what we do without them.”

“To be appreciated for something you like doing is wonderful,” Broome said. “A thank-you goes a long way.”

And it keeps people like Broome and Tina Swain coming back, year after year. Swain, whose daughter will be finishing her stay at Lanoka Harbor Elementary School this June, has already been asked about helping out at the elementary school next year.

“Mrs. Carhart, the librarian, will kill her if she tries to leave,” Broome joked, and Swain blushed.

“I don’t want you to leave my school,” Swain’s daughter said. “I want you to stay forever.”

“You get sucked in,” Swain said.

A complete list of the volunteers honored will be published separately.