Voyles is SHSU distinguished alumns

(This story was published in the Port Aransas South Jetty Newspaper on January 31.) 

Each year, the Sam Houston State University College of Education recognizes five distinguished alumni who have made a significant contribution to the field of education.

This year, Pamela Voyles is one of them. She will be honored as the 2013 SHSU College of Education Distinguished Support Personnel Educator of the Year.

Port Aransas High School librarian Pamela Voyles, right, gives an interview to a Sam Houston State University film crew member. Pamela Voyles will receive an award as the 2013 SHSU College of Education Distinguished Support Personnel of the Year at the university in Huntsville on Saturday, March. 2. Jim Dubois

She will receive the distinction at the university in Hunstville, during a ceremony on Saturday, March. 2.

Asked about it, Voyles said she was honored to receive this award.

“It’s the first time I’ve received an award for my work in education,” Voyles said. “I have been nominated for things before, but I’ve never won.”

Voyles has been working in education for 25 years, and she has served as the Port Aransas High School librarian since 2001. She is also the instruction material coordinator. Voyles obtained her masters in library science in August 2011, but before that, she completed coursework in 1996 to become a certified librarian in the State of Texas. She is pursuing an online degree in instructional technology.

“Online classes are great for people like me who live far away from the university,” she said. “I can work, cook and spend time with my family, and still get a degree.”

Voyles has one daughter who is in college in Anaheim in the industrial engineering program, and a son who is a junior at Port Aransas High School. 

She said she was shocked when she learned about the nomination a few weeks ago.

“Principal McKinney called me into her office,” she explained. “It is unusual for her to not call me in advance. So, I went in there and she had the woman from Sam Houston on the phone and they told me,” she explained. “They caught me off-guard.”

A film crew from SHSU came to Port Aransas to interview Voyles, her co-workers, and some students. Voyles participated in all interviews, and she said she was pleasantly surprised with everything people said about her.

But one might wonder why a librarian would earn such a prestigious award. We asked the same question of Principal Sharon McKinney, who responded without hesitation.

“Because she deserves it,” McKinney said. “She is so much more than a simple librarian.”

Indeed, in addition to her librarian status, Pamela Voyles wears multiple other hats. She also teaches a sewing class, helps students and teachers with new technologies, and sometimes she goes way beyond her duties, McKinney said.

According to McKinney, Voyles takes students under her wing, sometimes playing the role of a parent. McKinney said Voyles cares so much, and she is the kind of person she wants on her staff. “She does it all, and she does it well,” McKinney said.

“I remember an anecdote,” she said. “A few years ago, one of our new students got a big red stain on a bright white hoodie, and this hoodie meant a lot to the kid. I took it and showed it to Pam. She looked at it and said she’ll work on it. She Googled it, she went into the chemistry closet and found what she needed, and got rid of the stain. This new kid--who didn’t know anybody--was so happy, and he still wears the hoodie.”

McKinney said that this kind of work is not part of Voyles’s job description, but is what makes the difference.

And Voyles’s efforts are not limited to the high school. She is the only librarian for the entire school district, working with every teacher.

Dr. Sharon Doughty, superintendent of the Port Aransas school district, shares the same enthusiasm about Voyles’ work. Doughty has nominated Voyles for the past two years. She explained that when she arrived in Port Aransas, she looked around for unique talent, and Voyles caught her eye.

“She never subs and doesn’t need a lot of direction,” Doughty said. “She is just fabulous.”

Voyles is also working closely with Megan, an elementary teacher who also has a masters in library science, in order to help her become a better librarian and teacher.

“Pam is sharing her leadership and knowledge,” Doughty explained. 

Doughty confessed that Port Aransas is really blast to have an individual like Pamela Voyles, adding that nothing is ever too much for her. 

“She is a great person,” she said. “I hope she sticks around for many, many years.”