 Kirk Owens, head custodian at Reitz High School, is the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s January Cause for Applause winner. EVSC’s Cause for Applause award is given monthly to an EVSC employee who goes above and beyond his/her normal job responsibilities.
According to Rachel Ordower, a teacher at Reitz, Owens does so much for the students, faculty and staff at Reitz that it’s hard to keep track.
Ordower wrote in her nomination letter that Owens sometimes uses his own money to make sure students have food at lunch and often comes in early and stays late to help students and teachers with special projects. Ordower also wrote that Owens takes “students under his wing†and has helped get them involved in school activities and other functions.
“I have seen Kirk’s caring personality first hand,†Ordower wrote. “Kirk spend his own time and money to build a large wooden cage that would easily fit in my classroom and brought his snakes to school for my students to study. It took him several weeks outside of school to complete the cage, but he happily did it!â€
Heather Bailey said that students in her Life Skills classes have definitely benefited from Kirk’s engaging personality, and his ability to draw students in to help him with a project he is working on. “He has definitely gone above and beyond for my class,†she said.
Anyone can nominate an employee of the EVSC for the award. Deadline for nominations is the third Friday of each month. Go to http://www.evscschools.com/community/nominate-evsc-employees-exemplary-work for the nomination form. Paper forms are available at the schools for those without access to the Internet.
