1/1

Collegiate Honors Clara Pettus for Excellence

8/26/2022

The 2022 Class of ’77 Anne Jones Staff Award is presented to Clara Pettus.

The Class of 1977 established this endowment fund in celebration of their 25th Reunion and in appreciation of the Collegiate staff who contribute to this School’s daily operations and mission. The award is named in memory of longtime Upper School receptionist Anne Jones, the first recipient.

The following remarks were made by Head of Lower School Debbie Miller at the Opening of School Meeting, held August 2022.

Professional, hardworking, organized and pleasant are a few of the words that come to mind for this year’s Anne Jones Staff Award recipient. The hard work and dedication she displays are noticed by her colleagues, parents and guests on campus. Never seeking attention, her kind manner, warm smile and comforting voice combine to create a sense of belonging in our Collegiate community.

Our award recipient’s commitment to detail and to doing things well is a hallmark of who she is. She will take on a role or a task to be completed, whether small or monumental, with a quick and confident step. In every situation, the work will be accomplished with the utmost care; she is dedicated and dependable. She keeps confidence and cares for our faculty and staff all while helping them solve a problem. While no one can truly multitask, the number of things she manages in a day with many interruptions to provide just-in-time support for anyone asking is amazing. She demonstrates respect for her colleagues throughout the campus by valuing and appreciating the work that each person does to support our students.

We are accustomed to a level of responsiveness as we interact with each other at Collegiate. Kindness is present in every breath that Clara Pettus takes. Whether she takes the lead in organizing the new furniture replacement in the Lower School, answers the phone, takes a teacher’s question or a child’s call for help, she does everything with kindness. We all depend on and appreciate the expertise Clara brings to her work. Please join me in congratulating our 2022 Class of ’77 Anne Jones Staff Award recipient, Clara Pettus.

Back