By Liz Craker | [email protected] 

Three Granite School District staff were recently honored by the Utah School Employees Association. They are Jessica McClintic, Stephanie Mcomie, and Janet Vorwaller.

McClintic, who has worked at the school system police department as a dispatcher for the past 15 years, received an Outstanding Education Support Professional award. She dispatches district officers as needed, and “we are there 24/7, 365 days a year,” she said.

“I started in the district in janitorial at 15 years old. Then tried some other work, but then I returned to serve on the lunch staff and as an attendance clerk,” she said.

McClintic added, “I didn’t feel like I deserved the award. There’s a lot of other people who do a lot more than I ever could, but I do my best to help when I can.”

She said that she enjoys working with the district officers and her role in keeping the schools and students safe. “We have an important part in the district. We know our schools in and out and are familiar with their locations to respond quickly and efficiently. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.

Janet Vorwaller, who works in Nutrition Services, was awarded Outstanding Education Support Professional and USEA Outstanding Support Professional of the Year. Vorwaller has worked for the Granite School system for 30 years, first at Academy Park Elementary School as the lunch manager and now at the district office café.

 

When she was informed about the awards, she thought the phone call was a scam. “I was in total shock! I didn’t even know I was up for the awards,” she said. “I was honored and surprised.”

Through the years, Vorwaller has supported the Granite Education Foundation by collecting hats and gloves for students in need. She shared that one year she was buying a whole bin of gloves, and the cashier asked what they were for. When Vorwaller explained, the cashier shared that she had been a recipient of that program, and she thanked Vorwaller.

Vorwaller also coordinates Santa baskets for employees and their families. During the pandemic she even sewed masks for coworkers and other who needed them.

“I try to do good and help when I can. I feel like I make a difference. I am surrounded by wonderful people. Everyone at the district who has been there awhile is there for the right reasons. They are there for the kids,” she said.

Stephanie Mcomie, who works in the Transportation Department, also received the Outstanding Education Support Professional award.

The Utah School Employee Association is the largest public employee association representing Education Support Professional employees in the state of Utah. The association advocates for programs that benefit classified employees. Among these are maintaining state retirement funding, wages, hours, and improved working conditions for Utah’s classified employees. The association was founded in 1929. The association’s mission is to empower, support and elevate school support professional careers to positively impact student success.