BRAD PHELPS Nominee

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What is a Fred?

According to the staff and students at T.C. Cherry Elementary School, Brad Phelps, the school’s custodian, is the epitome of a Fred.

The school system’s administrators, teachers and staff were given the challenge to be “Freds” after Superintendent Joe Tinius recommended to all employees that they read the “Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn. The idea to be a “Fred” is based on the bestseller, which is about a mailman named Fred who went above and beyond what was expected.

But the idea wasn’t just on a local level. Soon the idea of being a Fred spread, and with its popularity came an award exclusive to being Fred. Phelps will be the first in the district to be nominated for a Fred Award, given by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

“This is quite an achievement,” said Judy Whitson, T.C. Cherry Elementary principal.

Phelps, a native of Bowling Green, has worked for Bowling Green City Schools for eight years, five of them at T.C. Cherry.

“I got lucky,” he said.

Phelps had been working nights at Bowling Green High School for three years. He said his boss asked if he wanted to switch to a day job, which he said he wanted.

“This new building keeps me busy,” he said.

Phelps has been nominated for the district’s “Beyond the Call” recognition three times. The local recognition identifies employees of going “Beyond the Call” to provide services to students and colleagues.

The first of Phelps’ nominations came from the school as a whole for the “beyond and over” things he did to help get the new school in order, Whitson said. The second came from someone at Bowling Green High School for helping with their homecoming events, she said.

The third nomination came from Carrie Koedyker, the school’s project challenge teacher for the gifted and talented program. She nominated Phelps for his help during the Kentucky FIRST LEGO League State Robotics Championship.

“When I was told, I said, ‘what?’ ” he said. “You know, it’s my job.”

Leslie Peek, public information officer for the district, announced during the school board meeting earlier in the month that because of his third beyond the call nomination, he would be nominated for the state’s Fred award.

“I was surprised,” Phelps said. “I wasn’t looking to get one. I was just tickled they’d do this. I’ve never had something like this happen before. It’s awesome.”

Phelps said the highlight was when Tinius showed up to the school the day after the board meeting to present him with his “Beyond the Call” award and to notify him of his Fred nomination.

“This shows the appreciation the teachers here have,” Phelps said.

According to the KASA Web site, noncertified staff, students or volunteers are eligible for the Fred Award, including classified support staff, students, parents, community volunteers, teachers, etc. Award nominees should possess a trademark spirit of service, innovation and commitment to others, impacting the lives of those in the school community.

Three Fred finalists will be selected and announced in February by a statewide judging panel representative of all KASA members, the Web site stated. A film crew will visit each finalist in March to observe how the candidate is Fred-like in the school district each day. The video will be shown at the annual conference prior to the winner being announced. Finalists will be recognized at KASA’s annual conference in July at the Galt House in Louisville. According to the Web site, the winner will receive a distinguished plaque and a $250 scholarship to apply to the school program of their choice.

Nomination deadline is Feb. 15.

“This school has helped me, helped my family get through,” he said speaking of the hard times after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer last summer. “I couldn’t ask for better people to work for and work with. It’s like a family around here.”

Tinius once said the “The Fred Factor” hit home because it spoke to what the school system was really all about - going above and beyond, being exceptional and making lives better.

And Whitson said that describes Phelps.

“He is a people person, mainly a kid person, and he has a lot of pride, too, in his job,” she said. “I am thrilled to death of his nomination. I think he is a wonderful candidate. He is already a Fred in our building, and I think the state will realize he is worthy of recognition as a Fred, too.”