Alumna Awarded Employee of the Year
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- Alumna Awarded Employee of the Year
No one deserves this citation more, says Varner's co-workers at Rhode Island District Court.
Ȧ alumna Alita Varner, a deputy clerk/office manager in the Pretrial Services Unit (PTSU) of Rhode Island District Court, was named 2019 Employee of the Year and presented with citations signed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the Rhode Island Senate on May 2. Though Varner was surprised by the honor, none of her coworkers were.
“No one deserves it more,” said PTSU Deputy Chief Investigator Toni Schmeider. “Whenever we need help, Alita is there. She’s the front of the office. If any of us has a question, we automatically go to her.”
“We depend on her a lot,” underscored PTSU Deputy Chief Investigator Lori Castor. “She’s amazing. She always goes the extra mile.”
“There aren’t many people that I love in the world more than Alita,” said her direct supervisor, PTSU Deputy Director Melissa Leahey, also a Ȧ alum. “Alita is respectful and compassionate, yet firm when she needs to be. She runs this office and keeps it running.”
In explaining the work that she does, Varner said the Pretrial Services Unit provides services for individuals released on bail pending trial and monitors the bail conditions imposed by the judge.
“An individual could be ordered by the judge to do drug testing, drug treatment, anger management, mental health counseling or some other treatment,” Varner explained. “PTSU sets them up for those services and ensures that they’re in compliance.”
As deputy clerk/office manager, Varner greets clients when they come in, takes down their information and sets them up for an interview with one of the investigators. But she actually contributes far beyond her job description:
“Sometimes they’ve just been released from jail and are hungry, so I’ll give them food or money for bus fare,” she said. “Sometimes they may not have shoes or a jacket, and I’ll send them across the hall to the public defender’s office where they have a clothing closet.”
Varner also manages case flow, monitors the daily courtroom calendar, writes and delivers reports to court and performs other related duties assigned by the judge, deputy director or investigators. She’s always happy to help out and emanates a warmth and energy. She’s always moving, always multitasking. “I love getting up each morning to come to work,” Varner said, and somehow you know she means it.
Varner earned an Associate’s degree in law enforcement at CCRI and a B.A. degree in justice studies at Ȧ.