Missi Harold, secretary at Winfield Middle School, has been named Putnam County Schools Service Employee of the Year for 2009-10. She was chosen from among service employees representing all classifications and all locations in the Putnam school system.

Harold, who imaintains a 4.0 average in her studies at Mountain State University, has been a Putnam County Schools employee since 1998, when she began her career as a sign language interpreter for students with auditory impairments. At that time, she worked in various schools, depending upon the needs of her students. Harold has since served as a classroom aide for exceptional education and since 2005, as secretary at Winfield Middle School.

Harold believes one of her greatest assets is the level of comfort her professionalism brings to those with whom she works. "I work constantly to keep diligent records and reports, build communication through daily office memos, and put the needs of the building as a top priority in my daily duties," she states. Trying to bring cohesion to a school fractured by the facility itself, with two-thirds of the students housed in portable classrooms - is a challenge Harold has willingly met. "Communication is essential in helping us operate in a focused, unified, cohesive manner," she says. "Through the office, we keep our staff and students well-informed with minimal classroom interruptions." "It is my hope that when someone walks through the door of Winfield Middle School, one of the first impressions that he or she will have is of a building that is managed well, nurtured well, and cared for by professional and diligent service personnel," states Harold. Such dedication to the needs of students, staff, and parents has gained Missi Harold the honor of being Putnam County Schools Service Employee of the Year for 2009-2010.