Kimberly Jones of Chapel Hill High was named the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Teacher of the Year at its annual Recognition Reception on June 6 (Photos attached; click this link for the video recording.)
Jones is an English teacher with 16 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of arts degree in English from Wake Forest University and a Master of education degree from Wake Forest University, as well as her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in ELA, Adolescence and Young Adulthood. Jones received a $1,000 check from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF).
During her impromptu acceptance speech, Mrs. Jones said, "This is the first and only place I've ever taught. When I interviewed, I told the staff I wanted to be at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools because I wanted to be in the best school district in the state, and 16 years have proven that. Every year I am so fortunate to be gifted with young minds to help shape and influence and as a humanities teacher, I firmly believe that what is past does not have to be prologue. Every day we have the power to change the future, to teach the struggles and the crises of our past, but more importantly to equip our young people to create a better and more just world."
Two Honor Teachers (teacher of the year finalists) were also named on Monday. They are Jessica Clemente of FPG Bilingüe Elementary and Leigh Stratton-Sharp of Seawell Elementary. They each received a $500 check from PSF.
Other Teachers of the Year were recognized with $100 checks from PSF. They are: Mallory Wesner, Carrboro Elementary; Amanda Lumsden, Ephesus Elementary; Aimee Rector, Estes Hills Elementary; Sheryl Kirkey, Glenwood Elementary; Kristina Dunn, McDougle Elementary; Adam Glasser, Morris Grove Elementary; Kiandra Torry, Northside Elementary; Laura Britt Harris, Rashkis Elementary; Lisa Albury, Scroggs Elementary; Jennifer Allen, Culbreth Middle; Anderson Wyatt, McDougle Middle; Aimee Dickens, Phillips Middle; Tori Hatcher Neal, Smith Middle; Amy Olsen, Carrboro High; Kelly Allen, East Chapel Hill High; and Clyde McPherson, Phoenix Academy High.
The Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services recognizes one classified staff member from each school and several Lincoln Center departments. The award recipient is Keith Raitano, the EC resource assistant at Phoenix Academy High, who received a $1,000 check. Two Honor Recipients (classified employee of the year finalists) were also named. They are Samaria Brady, the bookkeeper at McDougle Elementary and Kelly Glosson, the executive secretary for school leadership at Lincoln Center. They each received $500.
Other Classified Staff of the Year, who each received $100, are: Robyn Riffe, bookkeeper, Carrboro Elementary; Teia McCall, teacher assistant, Ephesus Elementary; Glynn Hackney, custodian, Estes Hills Elementary; Alejandro Huerta, lead custodian, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Tucker Green, teacher assistant, Glenwood Elementary; Tanisha Hinton, teacher assistant, Morris Grove Elementary; Shontette Richmond, receptionist, Northside Elementary; Gay Moo, custodian, Rashkis Elementary; Theresa “Della” Neville, receptionist, Scroggs Elementary; Sarah Silberstein, data manager, Seawell Elementary; Kenneth Jacobsen, bookkeeper, Culbreth Middle; Angela Wilson-Crocker, instructional facilitator, McDougle Middle; Willie Alston, lead custodian, Phillips Middle; Jo Massey, guidance secretary, Smith Middle; Cliff Copeland, custodian, Carrboro High; Teresa Sloan, administrative assistant, Chapel Hill High; Pamela Tedder, assistant principal assistant, East Chapel Hill High; Crystal Bowe, executive assistant, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Arthur Quarataro, IT client support manager, Information Technology Department, Lincoln Center; and Patrick Burns, bus driver, Transportation.
Lynda Craig, the nurse for the district’s Pre-K/Head start program, received the School Support and Wellness (SSW) Staff of the Year Award, as well as a check for $500. The two Honor Recipients (award finalists) are Traci Hewes, school nurse at Glenwood Elementary, and Ken Lathan, school counselor at Carrboro High. They each received $250.
The other SSW Staff of the Year, who each received $100, are: Amy Singer, school counselor, Carrboro Elementary; Carolyn Hall, school nurse, Ephesus Elementary; Evan Overton, school nurse, Estes Hills Elementary; April Bascoe, school nurse, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Valerie Minogue, school nurse, McDougle Elementary; Lara Statile, school nurse, Morris Grove Elementary; Julie Vogel, school nurse, Northside Elementary; Tamika Asare, school nurse, Rashkis Elementary; Cindy Costello, school nurse, Scroggs Elementary; Tonya Jackson, school counselor, Seawell Elementary; Stefanie Mazva-Cohen, school social worker, Culbreth Middle; Diana Straughan, school nurse, McDougle Middle; Tori Toles, school nurse, Phillips Middle; Leigh Ann Dasher, school nurse, Smith Middle; Lorraine Bleeke, school nurse, Chapel Hill High; Brenda McNeely-Allen, school social worker, East Chapel Hill High; and Robert Tolbert, instructional coach, Phoenix Academy High.
New this year is the Superintendent’s Award, Hamlett’s Heroes. The award celebrates outstanding students, staff and community members who consistently contribute to an enduring impact on CHCCS. The student honorees are: Joyah Horton, Carrboro High; NaTasja Jeter, Chapel Hill High; and John Wortman, Ephesus Elementary. The staff honorees are: Kathryn “Kat” Cole, librarian, Northside Elementary; Acea Ward, third grade teacher, Estes Hills Elementary; and Nick Winstead, lead gifted/AVID specialist, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center. The community honorees are: John French; Laura Malinchock; and Katherine Pettiss.
Other staff awards were also presented at the event.
Aisha Howard of McDougle Elementary was recognized as the district's Principal of the Year, while Lucas Paulsen of Carrboro High was named the district's Assistant Principal of the Year. Debby Atwater, director of digital learning and libraries and Tim Gibson, executive director of elementary schools, both received the Award for Excellence in District Administration.
Emily Duncan of Chapel Hill High was the recipient of the Jeanette Blackwell Mentor Teacher Award. Emily Giardina of Carrboro High received the CHC PSF Promising New Teacher Award. Christiaan Van Jimenez of Smith Middle was awarded the Award for Excellence in Teaching Multi-Language Learners. Justin Seifts of East Chapel Hill High was awarded The Reckford Teaching Prize.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators (CHCAE) presented two awards this year to CHCAE members. Anna O’Connell of Carrboro High received the Courageous Educator Award and Gabriel Graña of Smith Middle was the recipient of the Consummate Professional Award.
Robert Bales of McDougle Middle received the MSAN (Multicultural Student Achievement Network) Equity Equals Excellence Award. The Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate (BRMA) program presented two Excellence in Equitable Teaching Awards. These award recipients are selected by the students in BRMA. The awards went to Betsy Booth of Estes Hills Elementary and Evon Barnes from East Chapel Hill High.
Representatives of PSF were on hand to present both new and renewing Teaching Chairs. Mary Alicia Lyons of Morris Grove Elementary was named the Mary U. Andrews Chair for Excellence in Teaching Literacy. Mary Naylor of Northside Elementary was named the Kim Hoke Chair for Excellence in Teaching Exceptional Children. La Tekka Lewis of Smith Middle is the GlaxoSmithKline Chair for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science or Math. Molly Kearns of Morris Grove Elementary was named the Zora Rashkis Teaching Chair for Promising New Elementary School Teacher. Lisa Dunn of Carrboro Elementary is the Sockwell Chair for Excellence in Teaching in the Primary Grades (Pre-K-2). Kimberly Jones of Chapel Hill High is the Bernadine Sullivan Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School English or Social Studies.
Renewing Chair recipients were also honored. Shannon McGinnis of East Chapel Hill High is the Elmo’s Diner Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School Math or Science. Emily Shepherd of Culbreth Middle is the Sterling and Anita Hennis Chair for Promising New Secondary Teachers of English Language Arts or Social Studies. Garrison Reid of Chapel Hill High is the Neil Pedersen Teachers First Chair for Excellence in Classroom Technology. Corrie Franklin of Culbreth Middle and Chapel Hill High is the PSF/PTSA Chair for Excellence in Teaching Cultural Arts. Lisa Frangipane of Morris Grove Elementary is the Mel and Zora Rashkis Chair for Excellence in Teaching Healthful Living and Physical Education. Christine Sudzina Schut of East Chapel Hill High is the Burton Stuart Chair for Promising New Teachers of Secondary Math or Science. Toni Lehman of McDougle Elementary is the Upper Elementary Chair for Excellence in Teaching Innovation.
Three teachers were recognized for earning their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They join the more than 300 other CHCCS teachers who have earned their National Boards. They are: Angela Hill, Carrboro High; Grace Richmond, UNC Hospital School; and Jennifer Ziegler, Glenwood Elementary.
There were also 15 teachers who were recertified with their National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. They are: Melissa Barry, Smith Middle; Amanda Brinkley, Seawell Elementary; Molly Caudill, Rashkis Elementary; Kathryn Cole, Northside Elementary; Tamara Edmonds, Scroggs Elementary; Jillian Grimm, Phillips Middle; Jarrell Lois, Morris Grove Elementary; Kimberly Jones, Chapel Hill High; Tina Lentz Mansfield, Morris Grove Elementary; Elizabeth Angell, Glenwood Elementary; Ashley Sherman, Ephesus Elementary; Rita Singh, Scroggs Elementary; Sheila Singh, Ephesus Elementary; Robert Tolbert, Phoenix Academy High; and William Vincent, East Chapel Hill High.
Employees retiring from the district this year were recognized, if they chose to be. Those honored are: Karen Andrews, Estes Hills Elementary; Robert Bedell, Phillips Middle; Agnes Bernasconi, Rashkis Elementary; Andrea Bittle, Scroggs Elementary; Elizabeth Burns, School Support and Wellness Division, Lincoln Center; Lucinda Byrd, Phillips Middle; Lisa Clarke, Phillips Middle; Lynda Craig, Pre-K/Head Start; Rita Crain, Carrboro Elementary; Beverly Ann Cuthbertson, East Chapel Hill High; Lisa Decesaris, McDougle Middle; Rita Dealy, Ephesus Elementary and FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Audrey Dawson, Phillips Middle; Cindy Dillehay, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Mary Dreher, McDougle Middle; James Econopouly, Culbreth Middle; John Christopher Faircloth, Carrboro High; Geraldine Flemming, Chapel Hill High; Mary Gates, McDougle Middle; Yikaalo Habte, Carrboro High; Sheila Harris, Transportation Department; Karen Kaczman, McDougle Middle; James Link, McDougle Middle; Rhonda Maiani, Chapel Hill High; Elise McLean, Carrboro Elementary; Robin McMahon, Smith Middle; Clyde McPherson, Phoenix Academy High; Donald Minnick, Smith Middle; Roslyn Moffitt, Equity and Engagement Division, Lincoln Center; Jeff Nash, Community Relations Office, Lincoln Center; Katherine Parrent, McDougle Middle; Sammy Rape, Phillips Middle; Sandy Rasnake, Northside Elementary; Molly Raymond, Northside Elementary; Raymond Scott, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Jesse Sneed, Glenwood Elementary; John Williams, Phoenix Academy High; and Donna Wyatt, Estes Hills Elementary and Superintendent’s Office, Lincoln Center.
Employees were also honored for attaining milestones of service with CHCCS. Kathryn Glosson at FPG Bilingüe Elementary was honored for 35 years of service. Five employees were honored for having 30 years of service to CHCCS. They are: Robert Manning, Ephesus Elementary; Benjamin Reed, Chapel Hill High; Diane Villwock, School Support and Wellness Division, Lincoln Center; Karen Weatherly, UNC Hospital School; and Michelle Wood, Rashkis Elementary.
Employees with 25 years of service included: Jennifer Allred, Pre-K/Head Start; Regina Baratta, Smith Middle; Shawna Catlett, Ephesus Elementary; Lisa Corbett, Pre-K/Head Start; Robin Flintall, Rashkis Elementary; Timmy George, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Elizabeth Ironside, Operations Division, Lincoln Center; Bobby Kelly, Glenwood Elementary; Paul Kieckbusch, Smith Middle; James Link, McDougle Middle; Anne Tomalin, Chapel Hill High; and Ava Vanhook, McDougle Middle.
Employees with 20 years of service included: Elizabeth Angell, Glenwood Elementary; Norja Banks, Northside Elementary; Latasha Cameron, Transportation Department; Lorie Clark, Equity and Engagement Division, Lincoln Center; Theresa Collins, Business and Financial Services Division, Lincoln Center; Amy Evers, Seawell Elementary; Lisa French, Carrboro High; Geoffrey Gentry, McDougle Middle; Jessica Harris, East Chapel Hill High; Jessica Kelly, Culbreth Middle; Wanda King, Operations Division, Lincoln Center; John Miller, Culbreth Middle; Tianna Moore, Community Schools Department, Lincoln Center; Susan Murray, Carrboro Elementary; Anna O’Connell, Carrboro High; Danielle Parker, Smith Middle; Aimee Rector, Estes Hills Elementary; Latha Sabesan, Scroggs Elementary; Joe Simmons, East Chapel Hill High; Eric Stroffregen, Chapel Hill High; Noa Stuchiner, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center; and Cheryl Vaughn, Exceptional Children’s Department, Lincoln Center.
This year, CHCCS also recognized its employees with five, 10 and 15 years of service.
Employees with 15 years of service included: John Alcox, Carrboro High; Yoshimi Aoyagi, East Chapel Hill High; Jeffrey Bowers, East Chapel Hill High; Kathi Breweur, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center; Kimberly Chamberlin, Ephesus Elementary; Christine Cohn, Estes Hills Elementary; Tona Cox, Pre-K/Head Start; April Crider, Carrboro High; Crystal Davis, Pre-K/Head Start; Sheremy Dillard, Carrboro High; Nicole Dixon, Morris Grove Elementary; Laura Fox, Estes Hills Elementary; Tamara Jirles, Morris Grove Elementary; Christopher Johnson, Phillips Middle; Tiffany Joplin-Lloyd, Rashkis Elementary; David Kaufman, Culbreth Middle; Mary Alicia Lyons, Morris Grove Elementary; Heather Marlette, Seawell Elementary; Molly McLean, Seawell Elementary; Crystal Mitchell, McDougle Elementary; Thazin Naw, Scroggs Elementary; Candice Norwood, Northside Elementary; Matthew Russell, East Chapel Hill High; Amy Samuels, Pre-K/Head Start; Catherine Sweat, McDougle Middle; Randy Trumbower, East Chapel Hill High; Brian Tyson, Scroggs Elementary; Jaimi West, McDougle Middle; and Shelby White, Scroggs Elementary.
Employees with 10 years of service included: Sloane Akos, Ephesus Elementary; Jeffrey Alguire, East Chapel Hill High; Nakia Allen, Transportation Department; Rebeka Barringer, Scroggs Elementary; Stephen Barringer, Carrboro Elementary; Edward Baruch, East Chapel Hill High; Natalie Boylan, Carrboro High; Delmar Breeze, Transportation Department; Jeannine Brinkman, McDougle Middle; Nairovi Calderon, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Sheila Copeland, Smith Middle; Russell Daulton, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Corrie Franklin, Culbreth Middle and Chapel Hill High; Robin Franklin, Glenwood Elementary; Alan Freedman, East Chapel Hill High; Jessica Greene, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Joshua Hartzog, East Chapel Hill High; Matthew Hayes, Culbreth Middle; Michael Henning, Carrboro Elementary; John Holmes, Smith Middle; Mark Howard, Transportation Department; Carie Hudson, Smith Middle; Morgan Thomas, East Chapel Hill High; Amy Olsen, Carrboro High; Sandra Pereira, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center; Mary Patricia Peres-Da-Silva, McDougle Middle; Nancy Roberts, Rashkis Elementary; Justin Seifts, East Chapel Hill High; Alana Shekelle, Estes Hills Elementary; Amy Singer, Carrboro Elementary; Jennifer Spaeth, McDougle Middle; Lara Statile, Morris Grove Elementary; Nadine Taylor, Estes Hills Elementary; Anthony Tisocco, Carrboro Elementary; Austin Tortorici, Phillips Middle; Melissa Towne, Glenwood Elementary; Amanda Tripp, Scroggs Elementary; and John Williams, Phoenix Academy High.
Employees with five years of service included: Aaron Acome, East Chapel Hill High; Patricia Albornoz, Rashkis Elementary; Shannon Allee, Culbreth Middle; John Bailey, East Chapel Hill High; Robert Ballard, Chapel Hill High; Janine Barr, Glenwood Elementary; Benjamin Bassett, Carrboro High; Courtney Benedick, Culbreth Middle; Jody Benedict, Pre-K/Head Start; Kirsten Bergman, UNC Hospital School; James “David” Bouldin, Exceptional Children’s Department, Lincoln Center; Anthony Brooks, East Chapel Hill High; Jacqueline Byrne Bressan, McDougle Elementary; Brittany Caddell, Rashkis Elementary; Jodi Carle, Rashkis Elementary; Raquel Carney, Pre-K/Head Start; Gregory Carson, Phoenix Academy High; Janet Cherry, School Support and Wellness Division, Lincoln Center; Desiree Cho, Northside Elementary; Jason Cook, Culbreth Middle; Arnoldo Coronado, Seawell Elementary; Kathryn Cross, McDougle Middle; Caroline De Morais, Carrboro High; Anthony Dean, Facilities/Maintenance Department, Lincoln Center; Arrica DuBose, Instructional Services Division, Lincoln Center; Simone Dunphy, Chapel Hill High; Aveni Ghosh, McDougle Elementary; Adam Glasser, Morris Grove Elementary; Carolyn Hall, Ephesus Elementary; Jennifer Halsey, Carrboro Elementary; Brian Harris, Transportation Department; Elizabeth Haught-Hager, Glenwood Elementary; Tanisha Hinton, Morris Grove Elementary; Barbara Jackson, Carrboro High; Auburn James, East Chapel Hill High; Stephanie Jeffries, Ephesus Elementary; Torrance Jones, Northside Elementary; Kathryn Kallebert, Northside Elementary; Aaliyah King, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Chandra Knott, Estes Hills Elementary; Ryan Kray, Chapel Hill High; Maite Lamberri, Chapel Hill High; Avell Lipscomb, McDougle Middle; Lillian Loftin-Bell, Northside Elementary; Ellen Lowe, UNC Hospital School; Angela Marques, Seawell Elementary; Jean McGregor, Exceptional Children’s Department, Lincoln Center; Stacey Mertz, Rashkis Elementary; Hannah Mickey, McDougle Middle; Victoria Milner, Carrboro Elementary; Mindy Morton, Carrboro Elementary; Matthew Murchison-Blake, Carrboro High; Eric Nally, Chapel Hill High; Stephanie Nally, East Chapel Hill High; Heidi Nero, Seawell Elementary; Jenna Nielsen, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Brittany Parkins, Glenwood Elementary; Catherine Pascual, McDougle Elementary; Janet Peterson, FPG Bilingüe Elementary; Frederick Pfeiffer, Smith Middle; Iole Pizzola, UNC Hospital School; Garry Pomerleau, Chapel Hill High; Andrene Powell, Northside Elementary; Christopher Rahn, Carrboro High; Angela Redd, Carrboro Elementary; James Roby, Rashkis Elementary; Jannai Rodgers, Transportation Department; Eric Rowell, Transportation Department; Peter Seanez, Estes Hills Elementary; Ryan Severance, Carrboro High; Kimberly Singh, Morris Grove Elementary; Hee-Yeong Song, Morris Grove Elementary; Thomas Soth, Chapel Hill High; Jan Spielvogel, McDougle Middle; Casey Spillman, Carrboro High; Jonathan Stephens, Chapel Hill High; Lauren Swanson, Ephesus Elementary; John Tate, Seawell Elementary; Deondra Torain, McDougle Elementary; Dianne Vetter, Glenwood Elementary; Samuel Wilkins, Chapel Hill High; and Robert Wooten, Phillips Middle.
The annual Recognition Reception is hosted in collaboration with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF), which partnered with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Rotary Club of Chapel Hill and Jersey Mike’s (Chapel Hill). The collective generosity of the many donors who gave to PSF’s Breakfast and Roses event in April helped fund many of these monetary awards.
