News : Faces of Benton County Nominee: Carol Callahan

By Ruby Bodeker

Meet Carol Callahan, a force for good in her role as secretary at Center Point-Urbana Intermediate School where she works to create nurturing environments for both students and staff.

Carol is the tenth nomination to the Family Nurturing Council's Faces of Benton County campaign. Carol was nominated by Jill Fair, school counselor at CPU Intermediate School in Urbana.

"I am nominating Carol…because I couldn't do my job without her. I am new to working in the CPU school district…Mrs. Callahan has been a big part of that. From the moment I started, I could tell that she cares for the students and staff at Center Point-Urbana Intermediate School more than would be expected. She takes her job very seriously and goes above and beyond for these kiddos on a daily basis."

"I'm not good at tooting my own horn," Mrs. Callahan said with a chuckle when asked about her nomination. "We just try to hook people up with resources…I've lived in the [CPU] community for thirty-five years. Some of the kids who are here, I knew their parents when they were in school…If families are going through a hard time-like a sick parent or a divorce-we try to give them a little extra TLC."

Mrs. Callahan's mentoring of new Intermediate School staff is just a natural inclination on her part, she said, before further explaining, "I like to connect with my coworkers. I enjoy the staff tremendously. I'm happy to be a part of it."

"[Mrs. Callahan] welcomed me instantly [to the district]," Jill wrote, "and has worked collaboratively alongside me as I learn more about the community and families we work with. From helping distribute school supplies and backpacks, to delivering food baskets, from giving me insight into what students need extra support, to all the organization she has in place, I can truly say our school wouldn't be the same without her."

Mrs. Callahan first started working for the CPU Community School District as a paraeducator when her son was in elementary school. Fast-forward twenty years and today she's the constant, amiable face welcoming students, staff, parents, and visitors alike to the Urbana school's front office.

Jill also wrote about how much she appreciates Mrs. Callahan's morning announcements-"Our days just wouldn't be as good without her and her good morning announcements! We are so lucky to have her."

"I just want to be peppy, to get them [students and staff] excited for their day ahead," Mrs. Callahan said in response to Jill's words.

"We have to do what we can to be a light to others."

Thank you, Mrs. Callahan, for being an everyday hero

and a force for good in our community!