Joplin Schools announces Support Staff of the Year Winner
Annual award highlights exceptional efforts, service . . .
JOPLIN, Mo. – School Resource Officer Jason Barchak has been named Support Staff of the Year at Joplin Schools for 2022. Officer Barchak is an employee of the Joplin Police Department and is the current School Resource Officer at Joplin High School.
Staff and administrators at JHS earlier this year nominated Barchak for the award, noting his servant leadership, universal friendliness, and skill at diffusing tense situations. Nominations for Support Staff of the Year were accepted by a district committee charged with choosing a final winner this month.
Barchak received the surprise award today at a school-wide assembly at JHS. Also on hand to celebrate were several employees of the Joplin Police Department and Joplin Board of Education members.
As part of his award, Barchak will receive a $500 prize from the Joplin Schools Foundation, alongside Fred Laas Teacher of the Year award-winner for 2022, Julie Pagan.
Pagan’s award ceremony was held last week. Temporary banners for the two winners will be in place announcing their respective schools – JHS and Soaring Heights Elementary – as the homes of Support Staff and Teacher of the Year winners.