2005-2006 Volunteer of the Year Named SMITHFIELD-- Dr. Anthony Parker, Superintendent, has announced that Debbie Monroe, a parent volunteer at Cooper Elementary School for five years, was unanimously voted as the district's 2005-2006 Volunteer of the Year. The announcement was made at the Johnston County Schools PTA/PTO Parent Advisory Council annual meeting. Monroe is described by her nominators as "smart, caring and loves the concept of community. This person mobilizes parents to come to the school on weekends and in the afternoons to place shrubbery in the yard, pick up trash, and plant and weed." As an experienced horticulturalist, she also takes the time to tutor as well as teach students how to weed and plant. She organized a book sale and collected the money to donate it to the library to purchase new books, and single-handedly organized an ink cartridge collection to raise money for the PTA. She gives an average of 15 hours per week. Also recognized as first- and second-runners up were Debra Bertram of Polenta Elementary and Donnie Rae Hardy of Four Oaks Elementary, respectively. Honorable mentions were presented to Sandy Germann of East Clayton Elementary and T. Ruffin Johnson of South Smithfield Elementary.
