Oak Harbor Elementary School principal Dorothy Day awarded two of her staff for the little things they do, which often go unrecognized or unthanked.

Chris Perkins is a nurse at Oak Harbor Elementary, Oak Harbor High School’s North Campus and Midway High School.

“Chris works with all her schools to ensure all medical plans are in place and medical needs are being met,” Day said.

Perkins assists students who have asthma, diabetes, life-threatening allergies and heart diseases.

At the elementary school, she works with a student with a tracheotomy. This includes tube feeding, training a one-on-one nurse for the student and assisting with the parent with communication with the doctor and hospital appointments.

Award-winner Lenita Forster is an instructional assistant in the all-day Title I Kindergarten program. She’s worked in the district for 19 years.

“Lenita brings literature alive to our preschool, kindergarten and first grade students,” Day said.

Each Friday, she “tells” a story to the students. She dresses up as the characters in the book or uses live props, such as donning a Dr. Seuss costume.

In 2008, Forster took her stories international. She brought 50 books, donated by first grade students, to Uganda, Africa and shared them with Watoto orphans.

The staff members were honored with awards at the Oak Harbor school board meeting.

“These students are very fortunate to have you,” board member Pete Hunt said.