This week we celebrate our Graduates of Distinction at 5ive Points Museum Thursday night. One of the most important moments of this banquet will be when the graduates have the opportunity to recognize the one educator that made the most difference in their lives. We all have that one educator. For me, it was Mrs. Herndon, my first grade teacher at Cedar Bluff Elementary School in Richlands, VA. I was six years old when I entered her class, and I vividly remember how much I loved going to her class. Reflecting back, one of Mrs. Herdon’s strengths was when I did not do things correctly, or I missed something, she did not make me feel bad, but helped me correct it. I also remember her smile and her welcoming attitude. She allowed us to love being at school, and made school a safe place where we could miss a question and have the opportunity to make it right. I loved her class. She was simply awesome! Another vivid memory was how quick she was to contact my parents when little Martin did not do as he was asked. I can still remember exactly where the classroom was, where I sat, where we placed our stuff, and where I stood in line for the water fountain. That was 36 years ago, but the lessons I learned then helped shape me to be a firm believer in teaching, and a firm believer in public education. Mrs. Herndon loved us, cared for us, and held us accountable for our actions. The cool thing is we all have a Mrs. Herndon. Who is yours? Have you shared how much that person has influenced you? This week, some of our students get the opportunity to tell their distinguished educator their thoughts and I truly believe it will be a moment they cherish.
DIRECTOR’S RECOGNITION
Class of 2012 Destinations (Just one this week)
- Becky Han, Emory University, Go Eagles!
The Mock DUI disaster created by Cleveland High’s Sara Morgan was an outstanding reminder of what could go wrong when people make decisions to drink and drive. Cheri Morgan, mother of Sara and our very own Criminal Justice teacher at CHS aided her daughter in this extraordinary project. Joining in the lifelike dramatization were Bradley County Emergency Medical Service, the Cleveland Fire Department and the office of Bradley County Medical Examiner Jeffrey Miller. Deputy Medical Examiner Eric Blach participated in the demonstration. Morgan, who is closing out her senior year, came up with the idea for the demonstration as her senior project. “In the last few years, we’ve had a student killed in an accident every year,” she said. “That hasn’t happened this year, and hopefully this will remind our students to be careful.” What an excellent project and a grim reminder of what can go wrong. This a massive production, and one I am so proud to cover in the Director’s Moment.
Congratulations to Mrs. Stephanie Stone for being selected by the Tennessee Department of Education to serve as a Common Core Coach. This is a one year commitment that will meet over numerous weekends and three weeks this summer. Mrs. Stone will be one of many that will be trained in all aspects of the Common Core Assessments and Implementation. This is extremely important for Cleveland City Schools to have a Common Core Coach identified in our system. Congratulations Mrs. Stone!
I was proud to attend the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast of Champions Thursday, April 5, 2012. What a great way to show appreciation to our BEST partners for each of our schools. As we continue to develop and grow our business relationships within the community, it is always important to pause, and give back to our community. Thank you to all of our BEST partners.
Emily Browning, an interim 6th grade teacher at CMS is going to receive the Lee University Departmental Award for the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education on April 10, 2012. The faculty selects one student each academic school year to receive this award, and Ms. Browning was selected for the 2011-2012 school year. Ms. Browning graduated from Lee in December, 2011. Congratulations Ms. Browning!
A special Thank You!! To Jon Souders and his broadcasting staff as their 2012 Lip Dub was covered on Channel 9 and 12 this past week. So far, the “We Go Pop 2012” has over 4,486 views on YouTube and 2,009 views on SchoolTube! Great job to all involved!
Arnold Memorial Elementary School celebrated their annual Boys Night Out on March 20, 2012. Over one hundred Big and Little Boys celebrated baseball, jokes, stardom, cat food, flying cats and feet as boys of all ages learned more about two popular boys’ books; Skinny-Bones and Almost Skinny-Bones by author, Barbara Park. Two dozen Big Boy volunteers from Westwood Baptist Church and Lee University service organization, Upsilon, teamed up with our Little Boys and played together at the annual Boys Night Out event. Boys ran relays while wearing wigs and tossing Ronald the Cat, played baseball games, wrote jingles for cat food, and ate hotdogs and Krystal chili during this annual family event. A big thank you goes out to Sharon Bass (Arnold Family Program Coordinator), Ms. Bender and the numerous unnamed volunteers that helped pull this event off.
WELCOME BACK!!
Barby Pretzer, Reading Interventionist for Blythe-Bower Elementary School is so proud to announce that her son, A1C Travis just returned from a tour in Afghanistan (7 1/2 months) on Monday March 26. He returned to his base in North Carolina and will remain there until his next deployment to Korea in the Fall of 2012. He is a 2009 graduate of Cleveland High School. Welcome home Travis, and hug that proud family of yours! It is a great day to be a Raider!!!
BABY TIME!!
Congratulations to Valerie and Robert Capps. Valerie is a math teacher & head girls track coach at Cleveland High School. The Capps family welcome Adelynn Raye Capps, born on Wednesday, March 21, at 11:45 AM. She weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. Everyone is doing great and big sister, Audra (age 5) is extremely excited.
