Janet C. Wetzel
Enquirer contributor

Sue Fish is a staunch advocate of people helping people, and she's a firm believer in the value of education. She's managed to successfully merge the two.

Fish, of Maineville, has been a regular volunteer at Kings Mills Local School District for about eight years, with few limits on what she's willing and able to do. Whether it's helping in the classroom, baking treats for a class or the office staff, or helping with a major fund-raiser, she's quick to volunteer.

Sue Fish volunteers at Kings Junior High School. (Michael E. Keating photo)

For the past three years, she's also served as a chaperone for the high school's Columbia Ski Club.

At Heritage Presbyterian Church, which she attends with her husband, Greg, Fish helps with Vacation Bible School and special programs, serves on committees and is learning how to ring the bells.

She became a school volunteer to be more of a part of the education of her son, Geoff.

"I love working with children," said Fish, a district substitute teacher. "I offer to help anytime they need me - for projects, fund-raisers, anything. I've helped with the Holiday Work Shop, DARE programs, or I'll just show up in the office and ask what needs done."

Lee Leist, a fellow volunteer and ski club coordinator, said Fish goes the extra mile without fanfare.

"Whenever there's a job that needs to be done, you can always giver her a call, and she will be there to help," including the "huge responsibility of ski club," Leist said.

One of the biggest school projects Fish has ever tackled began in 2001. She's creating a documentary for the district on the history of J.F. Burns Elementary School's namesake, with video work by Renee Everling, a fourth-grade teacher.

It began when Fish asked who Burns was. No one knew. Intrigued, she began investigating.

As facts emerged - with help from local historian Harold Bradford - Fish decided to make the documentary for the school archives. She tracked down a picture of the late Burns, the school's first superintendent when it opened in 1968, and presented it to the district in 2002. She's spent many hours finding and interviewing people about Burns, including his son, Dr. Donald Burns, and the first principal, Dan Shul.

"It will be worth all the work to have this available," she said.

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Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to 513-755-4150.