Schools name police, fire 'Friends of Educators'

The Lebanon Special School District Family Resource Center recently awarded the Lebanon Police Department and Lebanon Fire Department with "Friends of Education" awards.

The Lebanon Police Department has worked with the school system for many years to help present free parent workshops to Wilson and surrounding county residents.

"This year, Chief Scott Bowen wanted to be even more involved in keeping students and their families healthy. In November, he secured more than half the funding for us to present our second year of Rachel's Challenge. In addition, he assigned Officer P.J. Hardy to work with our middle school students each month. Part of Rachel's Challenge is for students to join the Friends of Rachel's Club. Winfree Bryant and Walter J.
Baird students meet each week and discuss ways they can keep the momentum of the program going. Officer Hardy meets with them once a month and presents on topics that align with the philosophies of program. Without their involvement, both financially and as ongoing mentors to our students, we would not have been able to bring this program
back to our system," said LSSD Family Resource Center Coordinator Beth Petty.
 
She said at this time of year, the Lebanon Fire Department can readily be seen at various sites throughout Wilson County collecting toys and accepting financial donations to benefit families who need assistance with Christmas.

"This is my 13th year with LSSD. Prior to that, I knew very little about Christmas for All. Until working with this school system, I did not know about how much work and dedication went in behind the scenes of CFA. I fondly remember the first year I was working at Christmas for All and about 30 rowdy, infectiously happy firemen came bustling into the building with more basketballs and footballs than I have ever seen in my life," Petty said. "They were armed with a huge variety of toys and they were ready to make Christmas merry. Since then, they continue to rally our community to open our hearts and purses to those who might not otherwise get gifts. Chief Chris Dowell was among the firemen working with me at Christmas for All my first year. He continues to lead his co-workers as they provide gifts, not only for Lebanon Special School District students, but any who reside in Wilson County."

Petty and the entire LSSD is grateful that Lebanon has not one, but two departments that work for the good of the community beyond the work they do on the job to keep citizens safe.  
 
"We are truly blessed by our friends in the community. Just this morning, I told my staff members that I have the best job in Tennessee. Wilson County is such a great place to be. Our students and their families are very lucky to have the extended support that organizations such as the Lebanon Police Department and Lebanon Fire Department provide," said LSSD Director Scott Benson.
 
 
 
 
 

LSSD 1 Photo: Submitted to The Democrat

Lebanon police Chief Scott Bowen (right) and Officer P.J. Hardy are pictured with the 'Friends of Education' award from the Lebanon Special School District.

LSSD 2 Photo: Submitted to The Democrat

Lt. Pat O'Brien (left) and Lebanon fire Chief Chris Dowell are pictured with the award for their assistance to the Lebanon Special School District.