For the past twenty years, students and families in the local community have reaped the benefits of its two most loyal and giving members.

The dynamic duo of  Duke Butkovitch and Taryn Simms (or Batman and Robin as they are sometimes called), joined up in 1995 at Sugarland Elementary as parent liaisons, where they worked for six years before adding Seneca Ridge Middle School, Potomac Falls High School to their responsibilities. In 2003 the pair switched from Potomac Falls to Dominion High School where they remain today.

A parent liaison serves to help parents and/or students through school by providing academic or family support. This may include giving academic help or more personal things like providing food or clothing to families who need help. “This position allows you to be in the homes, and allows you to be right there where people are in need of help, ” said Butkovitch.

As parent liaisons, Butkovitch and Simms have started multiple programs including the Excel programs at Seneca Ridge and “On the Shoulders of Giants” at Dominion. These are both after school study groups that provide help to a selected group of students and also provide them a meal. Another program is the “No Sale Yard Sale” where families come to the portables at Seneca Ridge and take donations that they are in need of.

When asked what kind of impact they are looking to make, Butkovitch responded, “ones that last.” In reference to people they have helped she continued saying, ”They are good citizens. They are good husbands, wives, and parents that is the kind of thing that we are really shooting for. Give them the skills that are going to help them for the rest of their lives and make them successful.”

Simms added,  “We have had students go to higher education. Not to just stop here but to go beyond. That to us is true success. Mr. (Corey) Burns who was one of ours since the sixth grade and then to have him come back full circle. To be able to see that is priceless.”

On May 26^th to thank them for all of their work, a group of current students as well as former students and administrators gathered at Dominion to throw a surprise party to congratulate the two on their twentieth year working together. After the surprise and a couple rounds of hugging everyone who came, Butkovitch said, “I don’t know what else to say except it just makes you want to keep doing it.” Simms simply put it, “it’s family.”

“This job is unlike anything we have ever done, in the group we have worked with, we have doctors, we have nurses, we have bankers and teachers. And most of them did not even speak English when they came to this country. Why wouldn’t you want to do that?” said Simms.

Butkovitch and Simms have left a profound impact on their community. Chad Runfola, former principal at Potomac Falls High School, praised their selfless work and explained how lucky we are to have them in our community, “Thousands of families and students have benefitted from their tireless efforts. Can you imagine how different the world would be if every community had a Duke & Taryn working on their behalf?”