“Above and Beyond the Call of Duty”

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Mr. Don Cooper, recognized Lisa Stephens, media specialist at Richards Middle School, as the ABCD award winner for May at the May Board Meeting. 

Although Lisa Stephens has only been Richards Middle School’s Media specialist for one year, her impact on the school has been tremendous. Her energy has transformed the media center and the love for children has changed the lives of the students. She has made the library a refuge, a center of exploration and learning, and a wonderful resource for the faculty and students alike. Her technical knowledge aids the faculty in delivering state-of-the-art lessons to students. She works tirelessly to find resources for students and faculty and develops units of instruction that complement and support Georgia Performance Standards. She is an extremely important part of the instruction delivery team.

Her day begins by opening the library before school for the students. They flock to her and the safe and happy environment she has created. She nurtures and mentors students on a daily basis and the library has become an important part of many of their lives. Richards’ IB students must perform community service which is difficult for many of them due to family limitations. Ms. Stephens has taken it upon herself to provide community service opportunities for them in the library. Richards’ students have been motivated by her attitude and encouragement to love reading, and the faculty relies on her expertise and supportive demeanor. The staff and students at Richards believe that she is a true blessing to all and most deserving of the ABCD Award.