She’s a multitasker extraordinaire and a top notch professional regarding school finances, and now Brenda Sides is the winner of the Non-Certified/Support Professional Merit Award presented by the Professional Oklahoma Educators Foundation.
The statewide honor was presented at the foundation’s Excellence in Education Awards banquet on April 30 in Oklahoma City.
Sides serves as business manager at both Walters Public Schools and Temple Public Schools, with nearly 20 years of service at Walters and 10 years at Temple.
At Walters, she also takes on the roles of treasurer, payroll officer, personnel officer, co-activity fund custodian and federal programs coordinator. At Temple, she is also the encumbrance clerk, payroll officer, personnel officer and insurance coordinator.
“You would be hard pressed to find anyone that understands school finance better than Ms. Sides,” said Jimmie Dedmon, superintendent of Walters Public Schools. “She has extensive experience in federal program operations, investments and human resources. I am able to sleep easier at night knowing she is handling our district finances.”
For the past six years, Sides has worked with six other area superintendents helping their districts with financial operations. In addition, she has mentored and trained staff members from two districts in the area of school finance covering everything from payroll to budgeting.
Sides is a member of Professional Oklahoma Educators and volunteers at Children’s Church at Lawton First Assembly.
The Excellence in Education Awards banquet recognizes and rewards Oklahoma educators who demonstrate a commitment to their students in teaching strength of character and excellence in the school or classroom. Award nominees must go through a rigorous application and evaluation process.
According to POE Foundation Executive Director Ginger Tinney, “These awards serve as an encouragement to not only Oklahoma educators, but also to the many businesses, organizations, and communities that have a stake in the character building and intellectual development of the children who will shape our state in the future.”
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About POE Foundation: The Professional Oklahoma Educators Foundation is a nonprofit that serves as the charitable arm of Professional Oklahoma Educators. The Foundation serves as a support organization for POE and provides valuable educational training and services to teachers and students across the state. The POE Foundation is dedicated to promoting a world-class education for all Oklahoma students.
About POE: Professional Oklahoma Educators is the fastest-growing education association in Oklahoma. POE is a non-union, nonpartisan professional association for all school personnel. POE members receive professional liability insurance, legal services, and lobbying representation. It is our commitment to these valuable services that make POE a positive and unmatched option for education employees in today’s teaching environment.