Parkrose Chapter 44 member John McIntyre is Oregon’s Education Support Professional (ESP) of the year!
John is the Lead Custodian at Sacramento Elementary School, where he is called “Mr. Mac” by students and staff alike. He is the “heart of Sacramento Elementary School” because of his positivity, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond without being asked. He connects with kids who might otherwise fly under the radar, has an eye for the little details that make the school run better and always does his job with a smile, according to his coworkers.
“I have known John for over a decade. I consider myself lucky to have him as both a friend and co-worker,” said Parkrose Chapter 44 President Gary Collins. “John brings compassion and pride to the workplace, not only in his duties but in his interactions with staff and students alike. The thing I admire the most about "Johnny Mac" is his ability to bring shy students out of their shells and help develop them into leaders of their school. He truly is one of the best of us.”
“We are thrilled to see John’s outstanding contributions to his school recognized with this award,” said OSEA State President Sarah Wofford. “He is the type of classified worker we all aspire to be and his school shines bright because he is there to support the students and staff.”
John said he was completely surprised to receive the award last week in an assembly at his school, but he’s proud of the work he does because of the positive impact he can make on the students. Sacramento Elementary is like his second home.
“What I love about my job is that I can help keep people happy, I can make the kids happy. And the rest of the staff here make my job easy,” John said. “I'm kind of demanding, I want things to be done well, and they all put in extra effort. And the students are great. I feel like I am coaching them all day long, and seeing their smiling faces makes it all worth it. I fell in love with Sacramento Elementary and I can't imagine working anywhere else.”
John was nominated for the award by his district, where he’s worked for more than 10 years. The Oregon ESP award was founded in 2019 to recognize the extraordinary contributions of school support staff to our education system. The award is given by the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Lottery. John will receive $5,000 and a commemorative plaque.
“I'm a farm boy, I got a hard work ethic from my family and I take pride in everything I do. But winning this award has been amazing, and emotional. It's overwhelming in a great way,” John said.