Silent Servant Winner – Abigail Rodgers

Abigail Rodgers’ teachers at Baldwin High School in Pittsburg, PA say Abby (as she is called) is a wonderful representation of what Baldwin High School students are. She goes above and beyond in all aspects of her life and her selflessness is unparalleled.

Abby tirelessly volunteers at an annual week long event, named the Rollettes Experience, for women that are wheelchair users. She has multiple responsibilities, works the merchandise table, and helps set up the ballroom for the different events everyday. She is also available for anyone who needs assistance with picking something up, going to the bathroom, or being pushed across the room in their chairs. In addition, she prepares gift bags and helps organize the sponsor tables.

Abby is also an active member of the Best Buddies and Special Olympics Clubs and ran both of those booths at the Activities Fair this school year. She recruited new members, informed all curious students and is truly a role model to those around her.

Recently she helped facilitate a free dress exchange to help those in need in our community. Abby collected dresses, shoes, ties, jewelry, shirts, and pants and helped display all of the available items. She not only helped customers find the perfect pieces for them but also advertised and encouraged students to find something just right, so that they felt confident and excited to attend the school dances in the fall.

Abby volunteers her time tutoring as well, helping students to stay organized with their schoolwork and understanding difficult concepts. She also participated in Baldwin’s annual costume fundraiser and collected donations for the KDKA Turkey Fund to help provide holiday meals for families in need.

Abby is incredibly amazing to all of her peers and goes out of her way to make sure they all feel included, cared for, and appreciated on a daily basis. She has a positive impact on not just her school, but in her community as well. @BHSActivities, @BWSDNHS, @BWSDsuper, @BWSDNews

About Jim Warford

Jim Warford is the author of, The Chemistry of Culture: Strategies You Can Use to Create a Culture of Learning. For 15 years Jim Warford was Senior Advisor and Keynote Speaker for the International Center for Leadership in Education. Jim is an author, speaker, Leadership and Instructional Coach. He was named in March 2003 as Florida’s first Chancellor of K12 Public Schools. He stepped down in September, 2005 to become Executive Director of the Florida Association of School Administrators, representing over 10,000 Florida school leaders. As a Senior Advisor for the International Center for Leadership in Education, he works with states, districts and schools to provide coaching and executive training and support to school leaders and their staffs. As Florida’s Chancellor, he led the creation and state-wide implementation of Florida’s Continuous Improvement Model, FCIM, which resulted in that state’s dramatic gains in student achievement and an 80% reduction in the number low-performing schools. FCIM remains Florida’s required intervention for all low-performing schools. As Superintendent of the Marion County, Florida Public Schools, he first implemented the Continuous Improvement Model district-wide. As a result, school grades went from three “F”, eight “D” and only one “A” school in 1999 to twenty “A”, 16 “B” and no “F” schools in 2003. Under his leadership the high school dropout rate was cut in half. He taught applied technology courses at the high school level for 17 years and created a Computer Graphics/Video Production program that won many national and state awards. He was named Vanguard High School Teacher of the Year three separate times.

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