Secretary shows compassion, wins award

COVINGTON, Ind. (WLFI) - Jeannie Allen sits at her desk every morning and welcomes students and faculty members to another day at Covington High School.

Senior Ashley Paddock said she visits the school secretary every morning and every morning Jeannie's always willing to lend a listening ear.

"We can talk about boyfriend stuff, talk college, anything I have to talk about she's always there," said Paddock.

Jeannie doesn't just interact with students at school. Every Wednesday night, she hosts a Bible study group. Senior Damon Hegg said Jeannie helped him embrace Christianity.

"Going to a Bible study at her house made me feel comfortable with my lack of knowledge about Christianity," said Hegg.

But that's not all. There's one more way in which Jeannie gets to interact with kids. She's the junior class sponsor which means she helps with homecoming floats and plans prom every year.

"You work with them a lot, getting them to work together. You get to know them real well when you work one on one with them," said Allen.

For these reasons and more, Principal Adam Welchans nominated Jeannie for the Compassion Award from the Indiana Association of School Principals.

He's not surprised she won.

"I believe as an educator and just as a person, that a kid's not going to care unless they know how much you care for them. And Jeannie obviously cares about every kid in this building," said Welchans.

Jeannie will receive her award Friday at IASP Secretaries Conference. She said the award ceremony will come and go but her compassion for the students of Covington High School will last a lifetime.