MADISON – Crystal Ward takes her job seriously . . . especially when other people are needing the materials that she processes in detail. Ward is “Staff Member of the Year” at James Clemens High School.

Ward started to work for Madison City Schools in March 2015 at the Central Office. Then in June 2021, she moved to James Clemens to help with bookkeeping.

“My work philosophy is to be as helpful as I can for my supervisors and co-workers,” Ward said. “Accounting is a customer-based job so I do what I can to provide the required documents and resources to everyone I come in contact with in a timely and professional manner.”

Ward has strict guidelines about the documentation that is needed to place orders and issue checks. However, she also understands “there are time constraints for certain things, so I try to be as flexible as I can to issue purchase orders and checks so nothing is held up.”

Within the last year, Ward succeeded in building successful and meaningful relationships with her new co-workers at James Clemens.

Ward grew up in South Huntsville. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Athens State University.

She is married to John Ward III; he works in human resources. Their son, John Ward IV, attends a private school in Madison.

Most people don’t know that Crystal has a twin sister who lives in Georgia.

During free time away from work, “I love binge watching TV shows, and ‘Modern Family’ is currently my favorite show,” Ward said.