04/20/2022
Mrs Jones is one of the many educators we work with each year in our Shop with a Trooper program. Each year she is always working tirelessly behind the scenes in helping us select children that need our help. On behalf of the Kentucky State Police Professional Association Chapter 1 - we salute and congratulate you on this nomination.
Congratulations to Tana Jones! We wish her the best at the WKCTC Regional Educator Awards Ceremony, Thursday, April 21st.
Tana Jones has been employed with Graves County Schools for 32 years. After graduating from Murray State University with a degree in secondary education, she was hired as a teaching assistant at Wingo Elementary, waiting for a teaching position in her field to open. In the summer of 1995, she was informed of a new grant program for the district called Family Resource Youth Services Center which was hiring a coordinator. Not knowing much about the program, and taking a huge step of faith, she applied and was hired as the FRYSC Coordinator at Wingo. She has served in this position for the past 27 years. Mrs. Jones says, she quite honestly can't see herself doing anything else.
“I love the uniqueness of the family resource center. Not only do I get the opportunity to cater programs and services to the specific needs of the Wingo community, there are no two days alike in respect to the tasks I carry out. I am blessed to interact with all of our students and feel fortunate to get to know a lot of families on a deeper level. This position blesses me with the opportunity to connect our school with businesses and organizations, and keeps me involved in a variety of ways to serve our students,” she adds.
She believes a career in education was always the path intended for her. Remembering her first day of school vividly and loving everything about school as she grew up. When deciding on education as a career, she said it just seemed a natural fit. Those that have been fortunate enough to work with her through the years could not agree more.
In response to her nomination, Tana states, “The award I'm nominated for is called the Cornelia Reece Unsung Hero Administrative Staff Award. Ms. Reece was a family resource center coordinator in the Paducah School System when I began my career. I am humbled at the nomination, but am grateful that someone recognizes the work I do as something valuable to my school and our district. It is truly a privilege to serve students, families and my community. As I told the selection committee in my essay, my calling is to encourage others, in whatever capacity that looks like.”
