WH’s Mullet honored by OSBA
West Holmes Schools Superintendent Eric Jurkovic, left, joins district treasurer Jamie Mullet after Mullet was honored as the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Treasurer for the Northeast Region.
The Ohio School Board Association fall conference took place Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Galaxy Restaurant in Wadsworth. As part of the meeting, one of West Holmes’ own was honored with an award.
Jamie Mullet, West Holmes School District treasurer, was named the 2023 Outstanding Treasurer for the Northeast Region.
“I had no idea this was coming,” Mullet said.
In receiving the award, Mullet said she was humbled and honored because the award doesn’t just reflect on her, but also the entire district’s efforts to benefit the students.
“I’m just doing my job, and it takes everyone to make our school district a success,” Mullet said. “I’m only one part of it. This award is really about the people around me in the district who are doing their jobs too.”
She said having hard-working people who care about their jobs working around and with her frees her up to do the work she believes is necessary to benefit the district’s students and staff members.
Recently, Mullet helped spearhead the district’s search to investigate the possible benefits of creating an entire campus where the high school and middle school currently reside.
While Mullet said it took the work of many people, she was heavily involved with the financial part of the discovery process, and she ended up finding a way to save the district millions of dollars in the long run without the district creating a financial burden on taxpayers.
West Holmes School Board member Tina Zickefoose had the pleasure of introducing Mullet and said honoring her was easy because the board recognizes the dedication and service she has displayed in leading the school district in a financial capacity.
Eric Jurkovic, West Holmes Schools superintendent, said in a letter to the selection committee that Mullet has exhibited outstanding financial management skills and has been instrumental in maintaining the fiscal integrity of the school district.
“She has fostered a culture of transparency and accountability,” Jurkovic said in the letter.
He said Mullet continues to be an asset not only to the district, but also to many treasurers around the state. Mullet has participated in professional development sessions while providing guidance and inspiration to others in her field.
“I enjoy that aspect, and I like passing on my knowledge because I know there is a shortage of treasurers in the state and it is a demanding job, especially for younger people coming in without a ton of experience,” Mullet said. “We may compete against one another in sports, but we are all public education, and in that sense, we are all on the same team, so I do find it gratifying to collaborate with other treasurers.
“We lean on each other a lot to make all of our districts better, and in the end it’s all about using the district’s finances to make the school experience as good as possible for both students and staff.”
Mullet said she can recall her early days when she stepped into the treasurer’s role and was grateful to those who helped guide her through tough times. She simply wants to pass that along to others.
Jurkovic also said Mullet has shown great character in supporting school administrators throughout the district, is part of a community outreach program team and continues to put students first in her work.
“Her dedication to the holistic development of our school community sets her apart from other treasurers,” Jurkovic said.
“Our teachers and staff members here in West Holmes do incredible work every day, and we are grateful that we have dedicated staff that cares about the future of our kids,” Mullet said.
John Thomas, who served as interim superintendent during the 2021-22 school year while West Holmes Schools searched for a permanent person to fill the role that eventually became Jurkovic, was pleased to provide the nominating committee with plenty of insight into the value Mullet brings to the table.
He said Mullet’s leadership was invaluable to him stepping into a difficult situation, noting her leadership continued throughout his tenure.
“Jamie’s concern for people and for relationships was evident from my first day on the job,” Thomas said in a letter to the committee. “As COVID-19 continued to affect the operation of school districts, Jamie anticipated the effects of the new rules and procedures and made suggestions to minimize the impact on the staff.”
Thomas went on to talk about the respect Mullet has garnered statewide from other treasurers and school leaders, noting Mullet is often hand-picked to serve as a mentor to first-year treasurers.
“Jamie has earned their respect based on both her knowledge about the school treasurer’s position and her enthusiasm for continuing to learn and grow,” Thomas wrote in his letter. “During my 51 years as an educational administrator and leader in the state of Ohio, I have had the privilege of working with many outstanding individuals. Jamie Mullet is one of the most deserving of that recognition.”