There are outstanding individuals in each community who go above and beyond the norm to assist and promote local schools and other educational agencies. The Chattahoochee-Flint RESA Champions for Education program was created to identify and recognize these individuals throughout the region. One Champion from each school district, university, college, and the regional library may be selected. Since all of the honorees are Champions, there will not be an overall winner. Each recipient will be recognized and presented a Champions trophy.
We would like to Congratulate Ms. Frankie Crawford as our Champion. She has devoted her career to Marion County. She always goes beyond the call of duty. Thank you, Ms. Frankie, for everything you have done for Marion County! You are a True EAGLE and our Champion!
Ms. Frankie began her career with the Marion County School System in 1999 as a substitute in the lunchroom and a custodian. In 2000, she transitioned into the role of a one-on-one paraprofessional and a bus driver. By 2003, she began working with severe and profound disabilities, a position that has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Throughout her 26-year career, she has encountered many challenges; however, she firmly believes that she was placed in this role for a purpose. She takes great pride in the work she does, and she is grateful to the Marion County School System for entrusting her with the care and education of its students. She loves being around the kids and all of her coworkers are like family to her.
I have had to pleasure to work with Ms. Frankie as her Principal and her Superintendent. She starts her day every morning driving a bus full of elementary students. She is the first adult most of them see to start the day and she is always smiling. She has a way of making the students feel safe. After dropping the students off at a school, she jumps in our school vehicle and takes two students to Macon so they can receive their education. Those two students are deaf and need to go to a special school. When she gets back to school, she works with a self-contained class of autistic children. She then gets back on the bus and drives her students home. Ms. Frankie has served as cafeteria worker, custodian, para, bus driver and car driver for our school system in Marion County, but she does so much more. I would describe her as one of the most dependable workers that I have ever seen. She comes to work every day with so much joy even when she may be dealing with difficult situations outside of school. She loves what she does. She is caring. She shows so much love and support to our students and builds relationships that will last a lifetime. She will do anything in the world for you. She has provided stability and consistency throughout her career. She is the voice of reason when her co-workers may not be having their best days. The one thing I can tell you about Ms. Frankie is, she is going to say good morning to you every day and you had better say good morning back or there is going to be trouble. Ms. Frankie makes people around her better. I also need to say this as well. She plans on enrolling to get her 4-year degree so that she can finish her career as a teacher. Let me ask this question. Do you have a Ms. Frankie at your school? Most schools do not but if you do, you are one of the lucky ones and you had better take care of her. She is amazing and I truly cannot imagine our school without Ms. Frankie.
With all of that being said, the best quality that Ms. Frankie has, is her love for kids. She finds true joy in helping students that are struggling by giving them a hug and making them laugh and feel good about themselves. It is amazing to see how close the students are to her. Ms. Frankie makes such a positive impact on our students’ lives each day which will last forever. She is truly one of a kind. She loves her job, never seems to have a bad day, she loves people and takes pride in everything she does. She has left her mark on our school system and all of the students that have come through the Marion County School System. I am honored to say that Ms. Frankie is our Champion of Education and a TRUE MARION COUUNTY EAGLE!
-Jamie Penoncello