Patty Thoresen Philipson receives Betty Campion Award

Patty Thoresen Phillipson, emotional support paraeducator at Wixom Elementary has been selected to receive the Walled Lake Consolidated School District Betty Campion Distinguished Support Service Award for the 2022-23 school year. “Miss Patty”, as the students and families at Wixom Elementary have come to call her, will be formally recognized at the April 13 Board of Education meeting.

Patty was nominated by Cathy Russel, principal at Wixom Elementary because Patty has a heart of gold and cares deeply about everyone at Wixom. Patty is observant and helps throughout our school whenever and wherever she is needed. No matter what it is.

In her nomination letter, Mrs. Russel included: “Patty sees the whole child and makes connections so that she can help students identify their feelings, make a plan, and handle whatever comes their way. She makes everyone feel special, important, and seen (students and staff alike).”

Patty will represent the District in the Oakland Schools Education Foundation’s Support Person of the Year awards contest coming up later this spring.

Watch the moment Miss Patty found out she was the Betty Campion Distinguished Support Service Award winner