OUR STORY - Shout Outs!
WCS Weekly Highlights - Feb. 24-28, 2020
Best Wishes to Dr. Steve Ellis
Today is Dr. Steve Ellis’ last day as the Special Assistant to the Superintendent. We wish him all the best in his new position as the superintendent of Nash-Rocky Mount Schools. Dr. Ellis is a mentor to so many of our students, teachers and principals as he has served WCS for the past 26 years. He is also a product of WCS and graduated from Fike HS in 1986. He began his career with WCS in 1993 as a teacher at Elm City MS and then worked his way up the ranks as an assistant principal at Hunt HS and then served as the principal of Forest Hills MS and Fike HS. His expertise in pretty much EVERYTHING related to education along with his gift of encouragement and inspirational leadership will be greatly missed!
Digital Learning
WCS celebrated Digital Learning Day 2020 on Feb. 27. Shout Out! to our Instructional Technology Facilitators and teachers who led engaging lessons in our classrooms. Pictures from New Hope ES.
Job Fair Ad
Shout Out! to The Wilson Times for featuring our Teacher Job Fair as a community ad this week. Spread the word that WCS is looking for the very best teachers to guide and inspire students!
Nominations Due
Today is the deadline to nominate a principal for 2020-2021 WCS Principal of the Year. Anyone in the community can make a nomination. Click here for nomination information.
Mayor Creates Teacher Award
Shout Out! to Wilson Mayor Carlton Stevens for his support of our teachers! In the past, he worked as a teacher and administrator, and he wanted to do something to show teachers how much he appreciates their hard work. He created a new initiative - the Time for Teachers Scholarship Fund Award - where he will surprise two WCS teachers in their classrooms each month and present them with $100 from his own pocket. On Feb. 24, he surprised the very first recipient - Vinson-Bynum ES Fourth-Grade Teacher Cynthia Hardy. We want to congratulate her on this award! Principals are providing nominations for Mayor Stevens, and Principal Jenny Hayes nominated Ms. Hardy because she is an amazing teacher who tutors students after school without any additional compensation. Ms. Hardy was incredibly grateful to receive the award. She has been teaching for 14 years, and she plans to spend the money to buy more books for her classroom. Mayor Stevens will surprise the second recipient later in the week so stay tuned! Great coverage in The Wilson Times.
Bacon Award
At the monthly Administrators Meetings, Superintendent Dr. Mills gives out packs of bacon to principals for different accomplishments. At the Feb. 25 meeting, the Bringing Home the Bacon Awards went to Beddingfield HS Principal JT Tribula, Elm City MS Principal Will Pope, Hearne ES Principal Kelly Thomas, Daniels Learning Center Principal Luretta Hardy-Belfield and Rock Ridge ES Principal Emily Chilton for their leadership during the recent inclement weather. Huge thanks to Smithfield Foods for providing the bacon!
Artistic Creations
Shout Out! to the students at Vinson-Bynum ES whose artwork is on display in the Central Office Boardroom - it really brightens the room! The Wilson County Board of Education recognized the students for their amazing artistic creations during the Feb. 17 Board meeting. Special thanks to Vinson-Bynum ES Art Teacher LaNicha Richardson and also to Cindy Kimble who was the art teacher when the drawings were first displayed. We are so proud of these students!
Smart Cookies at Vinson-Bynum ES
Shout Out! to Vinson-Bynum ES Teacher of the Year Cynthia Hardy and her fourth-grade class of Smart Cookies! Superintendent Dr. Mills and Board of Education Member Rhyan Breen spent time celebrating them on Feb. 26. Dr. Mills read a positive statement about the students, gave each of them a certificate and shared with them why their teacher is so special. Ms. Hardy's students were so well behaved and loved cheering for each other. Special thanks to Chick-fil-A for providing the cookies!
Black History Month Recognition
Shout Out! to four Beddingfield HS graduates who were honored Feb. 23 at a local Black History Month event for their service to our community. Wilson Fire/Rescue Services Chief Albert Alston, Wilson Police Chief Thomas Hopkins, Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard and Wilson Mayor Carlton Stevens are all products of WCS, and we are incredibly proud of them! Shout Out! as well to students in The Gentlemen’s Agreement and Her P.R.I.D.E for serving as ushers during the event and WCS Equity Coordinator Maurice Barnes for presiding over the program. Great coverage in The Wilson Times! The event was sponsored by the Men’s Civic Club of Wilson.
Smart Cookies - Stantonsburg ES
WCS Associate Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Wilson and Board of Education Member Debora Powell had a great time celebrating Stantonsburg ES Teacher of the Year Gretchen Godinez and her third-grade class of Smart Cookies on Feb. 24. Dr. Wilson read a positive statement about each student that Ms. Godinez wrote about them. In return, her students gave her a big hug after each statement was read about them - there were lots of students who loved reading, helping their classmates, being silly and math! Dr. Wilson presented a certificate to each of the students and shared with them why their teacher is so special. Special thanks to our Smart Cookies partner - Chick-fil-A - for providing the delicious cookies!
Platinum Status
Shout Out! to Elm City MS for being recognized as the FIRST of our schools to ever reach platinum status for their incredible fundraising efforts for the United Way of Wilson County! They received the Creative Spirit Award at a special United Way luncheon on Feb. 26. This award goes to entities that go above and beyond to increase participation. Elm City MS had 100% of its staff donate to United Way this year with a per-capita gift of $101. Seventh-grade Teacher Jayme Daniels was the school’s campaign coordinator (pictured left with United Way Assistant Director Betty Baker). Ms. Daniels’ leadership, along with support from Principal Will Pope, made this possible. The school held creative fundraisers and encouraged students to participate. Academic performance is important, but teaching students to be caring human beings is also a top priority at Elm City MS!
STEM Night at Toisnot MS
Shout Out! to Instructional Technology Facilitator Deepak Sharma and all of the math, science and career/technical education teachers at Toisnot MS for a successful STEM Night on Feb. 13. Mr. Sharma shared with the parents and students in attendance details about Engineering Design Processing and the 4Cs - Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Collaboration and Communication. After his presentation, everyone divided into groups and had a great time completing STEM activities at different stations.
Mayor Surprises Wells ES Teacher
Shout Out! to Wells ES Fourth-Grade Teacher Sallie Creech for being selected as this month's second recipient of the Time for Teachers Scholarship Fund Award presented by Mayor Carlton Stevens! Mayor Stevens surprised Ms. Creech in front of all of the school's fourth-graders today. Wells ES Principal Sharon Huneycutt nominated Ms. Creech for this award because she went above and beyond to help a new student who was having trouble adjusting. Ms. Creech spent many hours working with the student to form a nurturing relationship. With her support, his behavior greatly improved. She also implemented appropriate interventions and helped identify his need for special education services. Without her willingness to go the extra mile, the student may have missed out on much needed specialized instruction. We are grateful to Mayor Stevens for creating this initiative where he will surprise two WCS teachers in their classrooms each month and present them with $100 from his own pocket. On Feb. 24, he surprised the first recipient - Vinson-Bynum ES Teacher Cynthia Hardy.
Connect with Wilson County Schools
Email: askwcs@wilsonschoolsnc.net
Website: www.wilsonschoolsnc.net
Location: Central Office 117 NE Tarboro St., Wilson NC 27894
Phone: 2523997700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilsonCountySchools/
Twitter: @WilsonSchoolsNC
This newsletter is brought to you with joy from the WCS Public Relations Department.
Feel free to email Shout Outs! for consideration to amber.lynch@wilsonschoolsnc.net