Professional Partner of the Month: October 2007
Jean Runge
"Jean is extremely dedicated to her job. She has a great personality and works very well with students, parents and teachers. And her philosophy? She puts the needs of the child first."
- Steve Schaaf, Principal, Lewistown Elementary School
"Jean’s been instrumental in referring children to our Friend and Challenge Programs for years, and she helps at every step of the process to make sure the children get there."
- Karen Zawitkowski, Director of Programs, The Second Mile
"Working with Jean was a true pleasure, partly because of her willingness to take on challenging parents or teachers, if necessary, in order to advocate for the best interests of our students."
- Marybeth Irvin, Federal Programs Coordinator, Mifflin County School District
Jean Runge has worked the past seven years as a counselor in several Mifflin County elementary schools, and this year begins a new challenge as a counselor at Lewistown Middle School in the same district. If you ask the educators with whom she works to describe Jean and her style, they’ll tell you she’s an open person, easily accessible, and very positive. Further, she is acutely aware of available local resources, and works tirelessly to connect children and families to these resources. The word “dedicated” is one that often comes up. Jean herself shares that she is creating and implementing a positive, school-wide behavior support program, so we might also add the words “innovative” and “progressive.” For her outstanding work, The Second Mile is proud to recognize Jean Runge as its Professional Partner of the Month for October.
When our honoree was asked what gives her the most satisfaction in her job, she responded, “I really enjoy providing individual and group support to the kids in my building. It gives me great satisfaction to know that students feel comfortable walking into my office at any time when they have a problem, a concern, or when they just need to see a friendly face.” While many Americans today report being unhappy in their jobs, Jean seems to be energized by hers: “Knowing that for some kids, the school counselor is the one person that they feel that they can trust with anything is a great motivator to be here each day. Kids know that they can come to me about anything and they will not get in trouble and will not be judged. Each day is different and brings forth a new set of challenges and adventures. There is never a dull moment!” Steve Schaaf, Principal at Lewistown Elementary School, agrees, adding, “I think just seeing kids smile is enough satisfaction for Jean.”
The smiles must come often – for both the children and for Jean. In one instance, she learned of a student who had a limited amount of clothing. Mrs. Runge took the initiative to write a request to the local Kiwanis organization so she could get the child some appropriate items. Once the request was approved, Jean accompanied the student and parent to the store so they could pick out the clothes, and both the child and parent were very appreciative. There are many other similar stories in which Jean has helped local families either directly or collaboratively via other resources, including through a handful of The Second Mile’s nine programs.
Programs such as ones offered by The Second Mile have become especially crucial to Jean as her district has recently eliminated the position of elementary school counselors. Jean elaborates: “Many of the children with whom I work have never taken a trip out of the county. The Second Mile not only offers them a chance to experience new activities and destinations, but it is a great exercise in socialization and building interpersonal skills. For many children who participate, the activities and events are the highlight of their weekends and summers. They build lasting friendships and lifelong memories. The support that The Second Mile provides with regard to the goals that we set with each child is a great aspect of the program. The chance to go to summer camp is a great motivator for kids to work hard and meet their goals.”
Jean believes in finding the good in all children, and this is evident both in the way she carries herself at school, and in some of her philosophies: “I think that we need to work a little harder to recognize the kids with whom we are working for their accomplishments and positive interaction, especially our at-risk kids!” Regarding the positive school-wide behavior support program mentioned above, Jean states that it’s important to have a proactive approach to discipline and interaction with students in order to help promote appropriate behavior and increased learning.
Jean’s positive energy and outlook must be contagious, evident not only from the praise of colleagues, but also by her own words and sentiments: “I feel blessed professionally with the kids, staff and community members with whom I work, but I am also blessed at home. I look forward to returning home each day to spend time with my husband, Tim, and my two year old daughters, Julia and Sophie.”
Whether utilizing a Second Mile program like Nittany Lion Tips, referring students to the Challenge or Friend Program, or advocating in a myriad of ways for her students and families, Jean Runge is making a positive impact on the lives she touches in Mifflin County. The Second Mile salutes her for her excellent work!
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