Linda Katchmar was nominated by her principal, Stacy Tennenbaum.
Ms. Katchmar became the building secretary at Pickerington High School Central during the 2016-2017 school year. She immediately jumped in and began to learn her new role and responsibilities while getting to know 175 staff members and nearly 1800 students. Ms. Katchmar is a professional in every sense of the word. She remains calm in high stress situations, and she is not fearful of speaking up when needed. She builds a positive rapport with students while being comfortable enough to address students who are making poor choices. Ms. Katchmar has added a positive and confident atmosphere for the administration and the office staff. She has taken on leadership roles within the support staff union, and she works positively with the district office and building leadership for the good of the union.
Ms. Katchmar is able to take on any task, and she has been able to make some significant and positive changes to how her school processes things. She is very knowledgeable in policy and procedures and she follows the guidelines set for her work. Mrs. Katchmar exhibits high moral and ethical standards when dealing with confidentiality and student information. She is prompt to work, and she has a very strong work ethic as she completes her tasks efficiently and effectively.
"I have never had to follow up on her work to ensure it is complete," Tennebaum said. "She has definitely changed my life as a building Principal."
There are no words to adequately express the depth of Linda's character, integrity, and compassion. She genuinely cares for everyone from the youngest child, to a colleague, to a boss, or to anyone she would meet randomly at the grocery. She consistently puts others before herself, sees their individual need and does everything in her power to meet those needs, most often on her own initiative. I am honored to know Linda and am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with such a life changing, positive woman.
Linda always greets others with a smile on her face. She is always warm and inviting and that helps to establish the culture in the building. Linda is extremely professional and confident in her position. Thank you Linda for your contribution to our district!
Linda is a true professional and you are always confident in her ability to handle any situation. Thanks Linda!
Linda is a "lifechanger". As the principal's secretary, she often had to deal with students who were waiting on other personnel. She was a sound voice, directive, compassionate, and advise-giving - all when appropriate and necessary. She changed the lives of many children as they sat under her direction in the office. She has been known to move the most difficult student while comforting the most docile. Her mere presence changes the lives of others.
I have know Linda Katchmar for many years. First, as a parent to two active boys, then as a substitute teacher in my classroom, and finally as a lead building secretary at the middle school. Linda is such a positive person. No matter what is happening in her personal life, Linda never lets it show. She is always there for any person that approaches her with any request large or small. Linda greets everyone with a smile and makes you feel that whatever you need or ask for is her number one, most important priority. Linda always spends several hours at work after her work day has ended because she has taken on other people's tasks/requests. Linda meets every deadline in such a way that you wonder how she did it and if indeed she is super-human! Linda is so approachable. Anyone can approach her while she is busy doing her own job/work. Linda always stops and listens. For teachers, this is so very important. They often have thankless jobs that sap everything from them. Stopping by Linda's desk for a brief "counseling" session and maybe a piece of chocolate always helps them go back to their classrooms to be superheros for their own students. Speaking of students, Linda is also their number one supporter. Linda knows each and every student by name and what they most need to feel loved and valued. Students often find any excuse they can to get to the office just to stop by Mrs. Katchmar's desk and feel important and loved. Linda is one of those persons who works quietly behind the scenes, but who is so integrally important to the day-today lives of so many people. Linda deserves to be honored and given this Life Changers Award because that is exactly what she does each and every day!
Linda can do it all- with poise and positivity. She can keep a school running smoothly while juggling any request made of her from staff, parents, or students. Even though she makes her job look easy, everyone around her knows differently. Linda truly is one of a kind.
Linda made a huge difference, learned and adapted quickly to her new role in the High School for the 16/17 school year. She is always friendly and willing to pitch in and get the job at hand done and with a smile on her face. It's been an honor to work with her.
Linda plays a very positive and supporting role in the school setting. She works well with staff members and better yet with the students and that is what it is all about:)
You are awesome. You make. Difference every day!!!! Thanks for making th world a better place
Linda has the power to ensure that the school day is running smoothly and has the ability to delegate during stressful situations. She has great communication skills in letting the staff aware of upcoming events and weekly bulletins. She is an asset to our school and the people she works with.
Linda has a quiet strength that lends a sense of calm and stability to the school setting. She is committed, reliable, and diplomatic. I greatly appreciate her presence and cheerful helpfulness.
Linda has been a great asset to our building. She is positive,hard-working and calm in all situations. She is friendly and supportive. She is also great at multi-tasking which she has to do on a daily basis. I feel so fortunate to work with her.
Linda has been a wonderful addition to Central's office staff. She does an amazing job working with the administrators, staff, students and parents and always with a big smile!
Linda is the best! Linda is very professional and knows how to get things done. She is great with staff and students.
My mom told me how amazing and awesome she was when she worked at her school, and she lived up to that and was even better than my mother described. She is compassionate, organized, and most importantly, she does her job with a smile on her face regardless of the challenges that life throws at her. We are all better for working with her on a daily basis.
I fully support the comments made so far! Linda is an amazing, hard-working, intelligent, and friendly influence to everyone around her. Managing the people and the ever-changing expectations of her position must be extremely stressful and difficult to handle, but Linda makes it all seem like a breeze. She is always willing to help in any way, always maintaining a gracious and positive attitude.
I've known Linda personally and professionally for almost 15 years. Linda does everything she can to make sure that students and staff have what they need. Linda will get answers to questions and will help in any way that she can. She will answer emails, phone calls, and talk to someone at her desk all in the span of a few minutes. She has been a wonderful addition to our Tiger family.
Linda is amazing! My first year of teaching she helped me in so many ways! Linda is organized, caring, and a team player. She makes sure she gets the job done with a psotive attitude.
Leader, fire fighter, go-getter, team player, strong work ethic, compassionate, funny and friend. Linda is all these things and more. She has been a wonderful addition to Pickerington Central. We are lucky to have her!
Linda is a very compassionate person. She truly has a deep care and concern for everyone in the school. Linda would do anything to help someone. She is awesome!
Ms. Katchmar is friendly, efficient, responsible, and supportive. She multi-tasks while solving one problem after another for students, staff, and community members. She is professional, but approachable. She is effective, while meeting the needs (and most requests) of the many people who depend on her. She is a great asset to our school and to our community.
Linda has made such a nice addition to Central. We are so fortunate to have someone that looks after everyone. Thanks for joining our Tiger family!
Linda serves as an eye in a storm of hectic. She welcomes students easily, whether they are having a great day or one less outstanding than we hope. She bridges the world of administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, and the occasional outside visitor that is there for help on a topic that no one seems to understand.
On a daily basis, she may juggle between students speaking a native tongue that isn't English, try to find a place for a student to worship within their beliefs, and still somehow manage to help me figure out where my papers went. While trying to herd her flock of cats, she still manages to smile and offer nothing other than absolute kindness. She's ever-present in the moment and completely dedicated to the mission of making a school work for kids, despite us adults.
She's wholly invaluable, completely indispensable, and mercifully indefatigable.
Wonderful, friendly, compassionate and helpful are all words that come to mind when I think of Linda. She is always smiling, even on the roughest of days and will do anything she can to help you. Linda has made a positive difference at Central.
Linda has been such a great addition to Central's office staff. Every morning I try to walk around and say good morning to the staff and every morning Linda greets me with a smile. Linda always takes a few moments to stop what she is doing to ask how I am and we discuss the events of the day ahead. I know if I need something she will do her best to help me in any way she can!
To be honest when graduation rolled around I was afraid we may lose her since the job is very demanding. I would ask if I could help her out she would smile and say no. It seems she had everything under control and our graduation was a success!
I am very thankful for Linda, she is an amazing co-worker and I am blessed to call her friend.
Linda is a wonderful person and secretary. She is caring, compassionate, warm, and friendly, these are just some of the attributes that I would use to describe Mrs. Katchmar. She always maintains a positive attitude, even when under stress. Whenever I need anything, she is always the first person to make it happen. My mother passed away recently, and she was one of the first people to reach out to me after her passing.
I am grateful that we have Linda at Central, and I consider he a wonderful colleague and friend who is more than deserving of this award.
Gary Barstow
Linda is warm and welcoming, which is so important when you first walk into a building. She ALWAYS has a smile on her face :)
Linda is an awesome person! She stepped into a very busy position and handled the responsibility with grace, professionalism and a smile. I sincerely enjoy working with her!
My first experience with Ms.Linda was a lasting one! She positioned herself as though she had been the secretary for years, being new to the Pickerington Central family myself, I would not have known she had just gotten there herself. When I enter the office area usually in total confusion:)..I pause at Ms. Linda's desk & proceed to start my statement (normally about a Purchase Order:)... by "Do you think I can.....or I should....????" She will make the biggest attempt in providing me with an answer...& if she doesn't have one.....She'll at least look up at me & SMILE!! Thanks Ms. Linda for making my first year at central a little bit easier!!
Ms. Katchmar is an invaluable asset to the success of Pickerington Central High School. She completes every task presented to her with a smile on her face. Her biggest strength is her ability to juggle a tremendous amount of work while still being able to supportive and friendly to the staff and students of Pickerington Central High School.