‘She’s like an institution at our school’
Lamar named Classified Employee of the Year honor
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Kaye Lamar is rarely at a loss for words.
But for a few minutes on the afternoon of May 26, 2023, the Alma Middle School employee most people refer to as “Ms. Kaye” nearly fell to her knees.
Lamar was chosen as the Alma School District Classified Employee of the Year for 2022-23.
“Whenever they announced this at my building, I really thought someone else would get it, and when they said my name I was surprised,” Lamar said. “Just like today, when they called my name, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Lamar was among five ‘Classified’ employee finalists from four different Alma campuses and one district-level building nominated for the award.
“Folks in her role and her job, that influence the whole school, they mean a lot to kids,” Alma Superintendent Dr. Bryan Duffie said. “They mean a lot to kids and to our schools. She has lots of relationships with kids and is a go-to for kids. She is a consistent presence all over the school. She just has a positive impact.”
“She’s like an institution at our school,” Alma Middle School principal Bob Wolfe said. ” She knows everybody, she’s always chipper, and she loves giving me a hard time. She keeps our school running.”
Lamar is a jack of all trades at AMS, from taking care of janitorial duties to helping greet students in the morning drop-off line, to taking tickets for basketball and volleyball games.
“I’m very honored,” Lamar said. “I’ve worked for Alma schools for 20 years, and it’s always about the kids. I’m surprised; I’m shocked, but I’m very honored.”
It’s not unusual, Lamar said, to have former students seek her out at sporting events.
“It surprises me that they remember who I am, it really does,” she said. “It really touches my heart that I made a difference in their lives … that they do remember who I am.”