Employee of the Month (July 2005)

Nathanael Greene Principal Sandy Sikes, Mamie Long and Sam’s Club representative Steve Drewry pose together shortly after Long was named Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for July 2005

Students, teachers and staff who were on summer vacation were among more than 50 people who returned to Nathanael Greene Elementary on June 23 to honor Mamie Louise Long, who was named Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for July 2005.

Long has been a custodian at the school for the past 37 years. It was her passion for her job and commitment to the school’s staff and students that prompted Dr. Sandy Sikes, Nathanael Greene’s principal, to nominate Long for the employee recognition.

”I can never get Mamie to go home,” Sikes wrote in her Employee of the Month program nomination. “She punches out and then just keeps on working until it [the school] is clean by her standards.”

In fact, Long was supposed to retire from Guilford County Schools in early June, but delayed her retirement to help the school perform its annual summer floor maintenance.

As Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month, Long received a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, who has partnered with GCS to execute the employee recognition program. Sam’s Club also presented Long with a gift bag at a ceremony held at Nathanael Greene Elementary on June 23. The Guilford County Board of Education will recognize Long at its July meeting.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that Mamie’s efforts are being recognized,” said Sikes. “We’ve always known how wonderful she is; now our entire school district will know it as well.”

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 70,000 students at 116 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are college/work ready.

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship.  For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.