Betty Blanton Educational Office
Professional of the Year Award
SCAEOP affiliates may nominate a SCAEOP member based on their personal and professional accomplishments, membership activities, and contributions to education. The Betty Blanton Office Professional of the Year is presented to the membership at the annual conference each year.
Jill Ford, CEOE
2018 Educational Office Professional of the Year
Jill began her journey as an educational office professional in 2000 with Lexington Country School District One. She joined Lexington District One Educational Office Professional. She also joined NAEOP in 2006 and obtained her PSP and CEOE certifications. Since joining LDOEOP in 2005 Jill served on numerous committees prior to chairing the Administrator the Year Committee, the Scholarship Committee, and most recently, the Office Professional of the Year Committee. She went on to serve as Secretary, Vice President, and three terms as president of LDOEOP. Jill possesses intuitive forward thinking and creative leadership skills. She encourages her peers to participate in the local, state, and national EOP organizations. As a strong believer in professional development, Jill has advocated for more district in-service opportunities.
When Jill became an Educational Office Professional in 2000 her first assignment was as the Special Education Clerical Assistant at White Knoll Elementary School. After serving in this capacity for five years she accepted a position in the Counseling and Advisement office at White Knoll High School as the Records Clerk and then transferred to the Guidance Secretary position. As Guidance Secretary, among many other duties, she especially enjoyed assisting the students with college and scholarship applications.
In 2006 she was selected as the Executive Secretary at Carolina Springs Middle School and was
instrumental in the planning year while the school was under construction. Twelve years and two
principals later she is fondly known as the school’s mom.
Throughout her career, Jill has been a very active volunteer with various educational support
organizations. She served as PTA treasurer at White Knoll Elementary for five years. As a White Knoll
Middle School parent, she served on the Executive Board of the PTSA and was a member of the School
Improvement Council. During her children’s years at White Knoll High School, she was a member of
the School Improvement Council and was an avid supporter of the White Knoll High School Band
Boosters. For two years she served as the chairperson for the Silver Invitational marching competition.
Jill is currently in her twelfth year as a member of the Carolina Springs Middle School PTSA
Jill resides in Lexington and attends Calvary Chapel Fellowship. After 23 years of marriage, she lost her
husband, Michael, to ALS in 2012. She has two daughters, Nichole and Brittany. Nichole and her
husband, Kyle, have a son, Walker. Brittany and her husband, Michael, have two girls, Adalyn and
Amelia. In memory of her husband, Michael, the family participates in the Walk to Defeat ALS annually,
with Jill as the team captain. She and her family also participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise
funds for ALS research.
As a lifelong crafter, Jill enjoys using her talents to create gifts for family and friends. These gifts include
embroidered or vinyl personalized clothing and household items. Her woodworking skills were helpful
when LDOEOP assisted in building a wheelchair ramp as a service project with Emmauwheel.
Jill is humbled by being selected as SCAEOP’s 2018 Office Professional of the Year. She is thankful for
the support she has received from her administrators throughout her career and credits her professional
growth to her wonderful peer role models.
When Jill became an Educational Office Professional in 2000 her first assignment was as the Special Education Clerical Assistant at White Knoll Elementary School. After serving in this capacity for five years she accepted a position in the Counseling and Advisement office at White Knoll High School as the Records Clerk and then transferred to the Guidance Secretary position. As Guidance Secretary, among many other duties, she especially enjoyed assisting the students with college and scholarship applications.
In 2006 she was selected as the Executive Secretary at Carolina Springs Middle School and was
instrumental in the planning year while the school was under construction. Twelve years and two
principals later she is fondly known as the school’s mom.
Throughout her career, Jill has been a very active volunteer with various educational support
organizations. She served as PTA treasurer at White Knoll Elementary for five years. As a White Knoll
Middle School parent, she served on the Executive Board of the PTSA and was a member of the School
Improvement Council. During her children’s years at White Knoll High School, she was a member of
the School Improvement Council and was an avid supporter of the White Knoll High School Band
Boosters. For two years she served as the chairperson for the Silver Invitational marching competition.
Jill is currently in her twelfth year as a member of the Carolina Springs Middle School PTSA
Jill resides in Lexington and attends Calvary Chapel Fellowship. After 23 years of marriage, she lost her
husband, Michael, to ALS in 2012. She has two daughters, Nichole and Brittany. Nichole and her
husband, Kyle, have a son, Walker. Brittany and her husband, Michael, have two girls, Adalyn and
Amelia. In memory of her husband, Michael, the family participates in the Walk to Defeat ALS annually,
with Jill as the team captain. She and her family also participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise
funds for ALS research.
As a lifelong crafter, Jill enjoys using her talents to create gifts for family and friends. These gifts include
embroidered or vinyl personalized clothing and household items. Her woodworking skills were helpful
when LDOEOP assisted in building a wheelchair ramp as a service project with Emmauwheel.
Jill is humbled by being selected as SCAEOP’s 2018 Office Professional of the Year. She is thankful for
the support she has received from her administrators throughout her career and credits her professional
growth to her wonderful peer role models.
Contact Susan Bailey, CEOE for more details at scaeoparea11@gmail.com