Golden Eagle's campus mom a fan of students, patriotism

Rosemarie Reed helps students care for troops

By Stephanie Thorne / Special For The Independent Friday, May. 30, 2008

Rosemarie Reed's official title is student activities specialist II, but she's actually a campus mom, adviser, friend and cheerleader.

For 22 years, Reed, 61, has worn many hats at Clovis West High School. From helping out in the Special Education department to staffing the print shop in the front office, Reed has filled each role with a genuine love for what she was doing.

It's apparent to the students and employees around her.

"As long as she is helping someone, she gets satisfaction out of her job," said Jennifer Hunter, a graduate of the 2006 class. "She always had this glow around her. When she smiled or laughed, it just made us feel good."

Reed said she draws strength and cheer from her students.

"I love working with the kids," Reed said. "They are truly entertaining. With them, there is never a dull moment."

Reed now works in Clovis West's counseling center and spends her time helping students find jobs, scholarship opportunities and career paths. She enjoys watching students succeed and says it doesn't take much to make her love her job.

"I don't need many perks from my employers," she said. "It's really your job to do things. The reward is knowing that you are doing the right thing, and the response you get from the kids just validates that."

Smiles and hugs are the reward she gets when running into students at places like the grocery store. "They say 'Hi, Mrs. Reed!' It's just great," she said.

"I love it when a student comes back to visit years later. I just had one graduate two years ago, and she came back to show me her new car and take me for a spin in it. I think that is just fantastic."

That student was Hunter, now 19. Hunter said she keeps in touch with Reed over the phone and holds their relationship in high regards. "She's just a fun person to talk to and catch up with. She is so caring about her students and their progress in life."

Those who know Reed or those who are barely acquainted, all are aware she has one undeniable passion -- she cares deeply for the men and women serving in Iraq.

"Every year since 9/11, I have tried to do something to let them know that they are not forgotten and to let the kids here know that they need to remember," she said. "Every day that passes, they start to forget a little more, and they need to remember what happened and what is happening."

Reed's office area is filled with American flags and other symbols of American pride and virtue.

"When I was a little girl," she said, "the TV used to go off at midnight and play the national anthem. I would stand up and salute. I think we need to bring our children up to be more patriotic. We are losing that."

After hearing about Shoeboxes for Soldiers on the radio, Reed decided that was something she had to do, and she wanted to get the whole school involved.

The idea of Shoeboxes for Soldiers, also called Operation Shoebox in some states, was to gather shoe boxes filled with commonly requested items from the troops. Items such as simple bathroom necessities to Girl Scout cookies were in high demand.

The program spread across the United States in 2002 and continues today in some schools and cities. Often with the help of local radio stations, the town doing the drive collects hundreds, sometimes thousands, of shoe boxes and ships them to the eager soldiers in Iraq.

Clovis West principal Ben Drati was behind the idea all the way. "She is one person that always reminds us to think of the soldiers," he said."Whether overseas in Iraq or fallen soldiers in our community, sometimes we forget, but she is the one who could never."

With the support of the administration, Reed began her first collection of items for shoe boxes. Nonperishables such as shaving cream and razors, toothbrushes and paste and any non-perishable food items were in high demand.

The next idea was to gather a collection of new and used DVDs to send to the soldiers. After that project was finished, however, Reed still didn't feel she had done enough. Next on the agenda was Christmas cards for the troops.

"Last year we collected over 5,000 cards," she said. The whole school got involved and the drive quickly spread to other Clovis schools as well. The students would write cards to a soldier and bring them to the office where Reed collected them in a big box before sending them off a few weeks before Christmas.

Reed's boss, Patricia Gilbert, said the project spread like fire. "When she lights a spark, it takes off," she said. "The kids love it. Voluntarily they come forward because of her passion."

Gilbert, the school's head counselor, said Reed doesn't beat around the bush when she decides to get people involved. "She'll just bowl you right over," she said. "She just has a big spot in her heart for those soldiers. She would literally give you the shirt off her back. She is just that generous in everything she does."

It was Reed's love and passion for her students that led to her getting a Crystal Award in 2006-07. The award honors teachers and faculty who exemplify the Clovis school system's core values. Reed was honored by friends and family at a large dinner.

"Rosie is one of those behind-the-scenes employees that go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure everybody is happy and the job is well done," Gilbert said. "She is an amazing, compassionate and caring woman. She bleeds cardinal and gold," she said.

Friendly Faces is an occasional series about people who make Clovis a great place to live. To nominate someone to be profiled in this series, please e-mail Patti J. Lippert at plippert@clovisindependent.com. An archived collection of already published Friendly Faces profiles can be found online at www.clovisindependent.com. Click on 'Friendly Faces.'