Patch Pick: Arnold Elementary's Tami Galloway

Today is Administrative Professionals Day so Broadneck Patch went on a search for someone whose presence and work efforts make a difference in this community.

We didn’t have to search long to see the deep love and appreciation for Tami Galloway, the principal's secretary at . In fact, in just 24 hours, we had more than 65 parents and staff members share their support for her win.

It was tough to choose just some of the comments from those who appreciate Galloway’s friendliness, her extraordinary ability to know all students’ names and the names of their family members, and her awareness of what staff members need and when they need it.

Galloway has been with the school nearly 10 years, but many can’t imagine how the school ever ran without her.

Here is just a sample of the comments Broadneck Patch received in support of her win:

Tami is the epitome of the perfect school secretary: efficient, warm, thoughtful and dedicated. Everyone who enters the school is made to feel welcome and important. She makes the principal’s job easier by anticipating needs and filling them. As the bookkeeper, she is responsible for all monies, including purchasing, field trips, and school-wide needs as they occur throughout the year. It is rare to find someone who juggles all roles as well as Mrs. Galloway. –Rosemary Biggart, principal

She is truly dedicated to students and helps me provide rewards for good behavior, etc., by allowing them to visit with her. The students stop in to see her daily. She assists me with many guidance counseling tasks, helps the PTA by being a helpful school liaison, works from home setting up substitutes for faculty and texts with the school to help out even on her days off. She single-handedly makes every student in this school feel welcome and they will often go to her for help before anyone else. She makes working here a wonderful experience. –Dana Smith, guidance counselor

She knows all of the children, greets each by name, comforts them, laughs with them and helps them whenever she can. Tami is a positive force when you enter the building. All who come to the office feel welcome. She is resourceful and professional in all aspects of her job. Tami is the best! –Peggie Rainbow, reading teacher

We are a military family and have been to several schools in many states and never have we felt more at home than we do at Arnold Elementary, and Ms. Galloway is a big reason for this. She not only takes good care of our children but also cares about the entire family and community. During my cancer treatments, she went above and beyond the call of duty. She is truly an asset to this school. –Tina Quigley, parent

Our family joined Arnold Elementary in the fall of 2009. Ms. Galloway immediately committed our names to memory–a talent that amazes me every time I stop by the office considering how many children attend our school. She knows the names of the children, the parents and their siblings. She can immediately tell you a child's primary teacher, what class they are in at any given moment, and their after-school procedure (bus, walker, childcare, etc.). She is always kind and has limitless patience. I have never seen her out of sorts and the children absolutely adore her. I can't imagine what the school would be like without her, and I am thankful each day that we don't have to find out! Ms. Galloway is like our very own Mary Poppins. –Caroline D. Ciraolo, parent

I would like to nominate Tami Galloway for recognition as "The Best Secretary Ever." She never says that she can't help or find out an answer. If she doesn't know the answer to any teachers' questions, she goes above and beyond to find it out. Tami takes a personal interest in all of her co-workers and orders supplies that she may overhear that we need, provides support in our classroom and for our students (she has several students that she has developed a personal relationship with and helps them socially and academically). –Kathleen Smith, teacher

Ms. Galloway is on top of everything, runs a tight ship, and has a wonderful disposition! –Nanette Schieke, parent

She is an amazing person and cares for the kids as if she were their own mom. My daughter ate lunch with her almost every day when she was in third grade. –Rodica Townshend, parent

Our school would not function as well as it does if Tami were not the driven, organized, welcoming and energetic person she is. She does the work of 10 people all at one time. She is the true definition of a multi-tasker while being positively friendly everyday. I feel privileged to have her in our front office. –Tracy Edwards, art teacher

She is a tremendous support to me as a classroom teacher, and is very responsive in what I need to help make my classroom run smoothly. She helps with finding substitutes, makes sure you have the necessary supplies, makes phone calls when planning field trips, and is always willing to find answers for you when you need help. –Catherine Hayo, teacher

Whenever I have any question regarding school-related matter, I send an e-mail to Tami, and she responds within MINUTES! I can’t imagine how she manages them all when there are hundreds and hundreds of parents doing the same as what I do. –Ying-Ling Lin, parent

Mrs. Galloway not only keeps on top of all of our principal's needs, but also handles numerous teacher, parent, volunteer and student requests with finesse all day long. I have no doubt that she knows every one of our school's students by name, and they all love her for that familiarity as well as for her sense of humor in her dealings with them. –Claire Zarrilli, PTA coordinator of instructional volunteers