Putnam County School System has received a $60,200 mini grant from Utrust to promote employee recognition and appreciation. Angie Knight, HR Director for Putnam County Schools requested the funds from Utrust to provide $30,000 to promote employee appreciation system wide and an additional $30,200 to be divided among all Putnam County schools to fund appreciation activities in each school.

Dr. Dan Tollett, Utrust administrator said, “We are pleased to fund this project because Putnam County values every school employee and wants to recognize their contribution to a school or the school district.  This project involves students in Putnam County Schools being intentional about expressing appreciation to school employees who do things for them each day,” Tollett continued, “Appreciation is certainly one of the most important lessons our schools can teach.”

Knight said, “Our employees are valuable beyond measure.  They don’t get the recognition they deserve for the job they do every day. This grant gives us another way to let them know how special they are.”

Superintendent Corby King said, “Every employee of Putnam County Schools is important to the operation of our school system. We want them to know that we value every one of them. We deeply appreciate Utrust making these funds available to our schools to allow us to recognize and express appreciation to our dedicated employees in a tangible way.”

Utrust is an organization that assists school systems in Tennessee with unemployment issues and in recognizing, supporting and appreciating school employees. It sponsors the Utrust Appreciation Program, a student leadership program that seeks to help students recognize and express appreciation to people who make their lives better each day.

Putnam County is one of 51 school systems in Tennessee that will collectively receive $1 million in mini- grants from Utrust.

Dawn Fry, a Putnam County School Board Member, is one of seven trustees who govern Utrust.