District Honors Inspiring Bilingual Parapro

bilingual paraprofessional Roxanne Mecham says she has the best job at . On Monday, that job got even better, as the district honored her with the Farmington Support Person of the Year award.

Mecham was shocked when the district's entourage – headed by Supt. Sue Zurvalec and school board member Priscilla Brouillette – showed up at her office with balloons and flowers. But everyone around her felt the award couldn't have gone to a better person.

"Roxanne is so deserving of this award," friend Andrea Ferriss said. "She works so well with her students, she's always there for them. I've been to her house on weekends, and many times, her students are there."

Kim Hodges, who nominated Mecham, said she has admired her co-worker's strength, particularly in the face of a personal health crisis. Mecham was diagnosed with cancer last year, and never missed a step in her work with foreign students, as well as her leadership of the school's largest extra-curricular group, the 100-plus-member .

"You bring so much ... you inspire all of us," Hodges said through tears. "You showed us what true courage and strength is."

Mecham, whose 15-year-old daughter Stephanie is a Farmington High student, has been with the district for six years, first at . She has seen other people receive the award and said, "It's nice to be recognized for your hard work."

"Even before, but especially since (her cancer diagnosis), I'm grateful to be able to get up each day, and I'm motivated to come in and work with the people here," she said. "There's never a day when I'm not excited to be here."

"It shows in everything you do," Zurvalec said.

Correction: The award Roxanne Mecham received is the Farmington Support Person of the Year award. The Oakland County 2011 Betty Campion Distinguished Support Person award winner has not yet been selected.