By Staff
Melissa Cason
Carol Poss was surprised to hear her named called last week at the Community Intensive Treatment for Youth Skills Training Consortium conference last week.
Poss, a teacher's aid at the Russellville center, was named the state employee of the year.
Poss has been employed by the CITY program for six years and implements the failure-free reading program. Prior to coming to the program, she served as a teacher's aid for 17 years in Mississippi and feels like finding the program was a Godsend.
"The Lord saved the best for last for me," Poss said. "I worked with elementary students in Mississippi but always had the desire to work with the older students."
Everyday she enjoys coming to work and helping the students at the program reach their goals.
"They just need love so I love them," Poss said. "These students are what keeps me going."
Program Director Ramona Roberson said that she nominated Poss for the award and knew that she had been selected prior to the start of the conference.
"It was hard keeping such an honor quiet," Roberson said.
She said that Poss has had a positive influence on the students and they know she loves them and they respond to her.
"She's not always easy on them, but they know she loves them and they really work hard for her," Roberson said.
She added that the students in the program are really in need of relationships with adults now more than ever.
"She has a sincere desire to build relationships with these kids and that's what they need and respond to," Roberson said.
Poss was selected as the employee of the year for the entire state, and there are 11 CITY programs statewide with approximately 20 employees at each program, Roberson said.