Selected from nominees from five counties for her outstanding service to her community, Shirley Rambo received the Foster Grandparent Program Volunteer of the Year award at the program’s annual award banquet held last December.
“She is very deserving of this award,” said Jessica Latham, director of the Foster Grandparent Program. “She works non-stop to help the children with their academics. She’s very loving and caring. She helps out with all the children, not just the child she is assigned to. She is a God-send.”
Rambo, who retired from the Franklin County School System after working with the Child Nutrition Program, has been a part of the Franklin County Foster Grandparent Program for nine years.
“I have always enjoyed being around children,” Rambo said. “I had two grandchildren going into school. I had started volunteering at the school some. I had a friend in the Foster Grandparent Program, so that’s how I found out about it. It’s a good program. It really is a help to the teachers. I enjoy it.”
Since then, Rambo has volunteered a few days a week in Tracey Potter’s kindergarten class at East Franklin Junior High School.
“The teachers nominate the candidates,” said Latham. “They write a letter, which we send to an outside agency who judges it. Then they select a winner.”
Potter actually nominated Rambo for the award.
“Mrs. Rambo is a lady who has, and continues to, exhibit high moral principles and standards,” wrote Potter in her letter for Rambo’s nomination. “She is a role model that so many of our children need. Through her positive attitude and pleasant personality, she is constantly encouraging our students to be and do their best.”
Potter further wrote that she has overheard Rambo talking to the children in a “soft, nurturing voice” about friendship, fairness, manners, politeness, neatness and positive behavior.
“I enjoy seeing the students happy and enjoying learning,” said Rambo. “They get excited when they accomplished something they’ve tried. It’s great being a part of the little ones’ lives.”
Rambo helps out Potter and her students by gathering and preparing student materials for lessons, filing and organizing papers, and preparing and maintaining parent communication binders. She cleans and straightens the classroom. During the lessons, Rambo helps students focus on their tasks and tutors and assists the students with their daily work.
“Every year that Mrs. Rambo has been in my classroom, a few of the students have confused her name and referred to her as ‘Mrs. Rainbow,’ wrote Potter. “I rarely correct them on it, because if you stop and think about her, she is what you think of when you think of a rainbow…perfect harmony of beauty and enlightenment.”
