HCS presents performance awards

Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

Hartselle City Schools held their annual end of the school year performance awards on Thurs., May 26. The event was held at Hartselle High School in the auditorium. Superintendent Dr. Vic Wilson served as emcee and recognized the award winners as well as those retiring from the system. Jan Byrd, administrative assistant, aided Wilson in handing out the awards.

Those retiring from Hartselle City Schools include:

Essie Harris, bus driver, 17 years; Shirley Harris, bus driver, 13 years;

Ronald Hollingsworth, bus driver, 27 years; Larry Long, bus driver, 30 years;

Debra Pendley, bus driver, 28 years; Deana Foote, Barkley Bridge custodian, 20 years; Phyllis Bradford, Barkley Bridge teacher, 23 years with 31 total years teaching; Sherri Rahm, Barkley Bridge teacher, 17 years with 25 total teaching; David Harris, Crestline Elementary aide, 7 years with 10 total; Leesia Johnson, Crestline Elementary teacher, 21 years with 27 total teaching; Lisa Shelton, Crestline Elementary teacher, 21 years with 36 total teaching; Laurie Lang, F.E. Burleson teacher, 16 years, with 31 total teaching; Carol Powell, F.E. Burleson teacher, 36.5 years; Franklin G. Swann, Hartselle Intermediate School custodian, 9.5 years; Mary McDowell, Hartselle High School aide, 10 years and Gary Orr, Hartselle High School, 18 years, 33 total teaching.

Wilson recognized each retiree and presented them with a plaque and thanked them for their service to Hartselle City Schools.

The teacher recognitions were presented next by Wilson. They each received a plaque in recognition of their achievement.

The Hartselle City Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year is Ashley Benham.

Benham has been employed with HCS since

2012. She moved here from another state. Benham currently teaches fourth grade at Crestline Elementary School.

The Hartselle City Schools Secondary Teacher of the year is Maribeth Morgan. She has been employed with HCS since 2011.

She currently teaches eighth grade math at Hartselle Junior High School.

The Hartselle City Schools 2015-2016 Elementary Nominee for Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame is Barb Helton. She has been with HCS since 1992.

She currently teaches first grade at Crestline Elementary.

The Hartselle City Schools Middle School nominee for Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame is Christy Williams.  She began working with HCS as a secretary in 2004. She currently teaches Business and Career Preparedness at Hartselle Junior High.

The Hartselle City Schools High School nominee for Jacksonville State Teacher Hall of Fame is Kelly Wade. She worked with HCS since 1993. She currently teaches AP Chemistry at Hartselle High School.

Next, Wilson announced the winners for Outstanding Support Person for school year 2015-2016 from each school and the central office. Each winner was presented a plaque and a $100 check.

From Barkley Bridge Elementary, Patty Andrews, Extended Day Director, was named an Outstanding Support Person. Andrews has worked at BBES in this position since 2006.

From Crestline Elementary, Susan Davis, custodian, was named an Outstanding Support Person. Davis began working at Crestline in 2012.

From F.E. Burleson Elementary, Kim Crowe, secretary was named an Outstanding Support Person of the year. Crowe began as an aide at FEB in 2001 and moved into her current position in 2011.

From Hartselle Intermediate School, Kelley Atkins, aide, was named an Outstanding Support Person. She began working at HCS in 2013.

From Hartselle Junior High, Ramona Byford, aide, was named an Outstanding Support Person. She began working as in aide in 2006.

From Hartselle High School, Darryl Weidman, Head Custodian, was named an Outstanding Support Person. Weidman has been at HHS since 2013.

From the Central Office, Brenda Byrd, handling insurance, payroll and retirement, was named an Outstanding Support Person. She began with HCS as an aide in 1998, before moving to the central office in 2005.

An Outstanding Teacher for school year 2015-2016 was named from each of the six city schools also during the awards ceremony. Each winner was presented a plaque and a check for $100.

From Barkley Bridge Elementary, Kimberly Hargett, first grade teacher and Instructional Technology Facilitator, was named an Outstanding Teacher. She began teaching in 2005 and moved to Hartselle from the Decatur system.

From Crestline Elementary, Nona Livingston, third grade teacher, was named on Outstanding Teacher. She began teaching in Hartselle in 1994.

From F. E. Burleson Elementary, Laurie Lang, kindergarten teacher, was named an Outstanding Teacher. Lang moved to Hartselle City from the Morgan County system in 2000.

From Hartselle Intermediate School, Wendy Crow, fifth grade math teacher, was named an Outstanding Teacher. Crow has worked with HCS since 1995.

From Hartselle Junior High School, Earon Sheats, seventh grade math teacher, was named an Outstanding Teacher. Sheats came to HCS in 2004.

From Hartselle High School, Christy Radford, English teacher, was named an Outstanding Teacher. Radford came to HCS after teaching at a private school in 1995.

From Hartselle High School, Kristi Greeson, Spanish teacher and Instructional Technology Facilitator, was named an Outstanding Teacher. Greeson came to Hartselle in 1999 after teaching at a private school.

Wilson next presented the John Frank Parker “Making a Difference Award.” This award goes to a person in the system that made a difference in the lives of students in the Hartselle City System for 2015-2016. This award was named for John Frank Parker, retired as HJHS principal, who was selected as being the person who make the most difference in the lives of their students during their career. This is also the most prestigious award given each year. The winner received a plaque and a check for $500.

This year’s John Frank Parker award was given to Barkley Bridge first grade teacher and Instructional Technology Facilitator, Kimberly Hargett. She has been with the school system since 2005.

Wilson also gave a special award to William Booth, recognizing his 50-year teaching career. Booth also serves as head baseball coach and has 997 career wins. Booth also currently serves as Transportation Coordinator.

Wilson thanked those in attendance and mentioned that Hartselle City Schools had an outstanding year. He made a joke about folks mentioning that teachers were out for the summer; by saying he noticed several teachers were already beginning professional development in only four days.