The Choctaw County School District honored its teachers, paraprofessionals, bus driver, district teacher and administrator of the year at their end of the year meeting.
“This is always one of our favorite meetings, where we get to honor our teachers, paraprofessionals, district teacher and administrator. They all do a phenomenal job and we’re blessed to have them,” Superintendent Glen Beard said.
Bus driver of the year - Carmellita Canterbury
Bus driver of the year is Carmellita Canterbury. Transportation
Director Jim Wood said when they began seeking qualifications for the bus driver of the year, they look for things like longevity, if they are on time.
“And she does those things with flying colors,” Wood said. He said there’s two things about Canterbury he can say, she’s the greatest team player and she makes the best donuts and fried apple pies.
“She keeps us up to date if her route changes, if she moves little Johnny from the front to the back she lets us know,” Wood said. He said there were a few bus drivers out recently and Canterbury stepped up to the plate.
“She called me and said ‘hey, I can run a double route for you.’ If we move this around, I can do this and out of 20 something bus drivers she was the only one who said let me help you out and that’s huge. She understands what the concept of team player is.”
Wood said as bus drivers, they have the most precious gift of getting babies home safe and that Canterbury understands that it takes a group effort.
Canterbury, who also works at Weir Elementary as a special education teacher said she understands the dedication it takes and it’s the one thing she looks forward to everyday.
“I get to see their faces and smile and say ‘Good Morning,’ because you don’t know what they went through the night before,” she said.
Canterbury said for her, it’s the greatest gift of all.
“And keeping the bus in the road and in between the ditches is a big deal, especially on those country roads,” she said.
Ackerman Elementary- Chris Turner and Jamie Blake
Ackerman Elementary’s paraprofessional of the year is Chris Turner. Principal Samantha Kelly said whatever she asks him to do, he does it.
“Whether it’s manning the grill if we have something to decorating the hallways,” she said. “He’s one of a kind and does whatever I ask him to do.”
Ackerman’s teacher of the year is Jamie Blake. Kelly said Blake has been a teacher for 27 years in several different capacities. She currently serves Ackerman as a interventionist. Kelly said she doesn’t just care about the child academically, Blake cares about the whole child.
“She makes sure they are supported, and they’re loved. She’s devoted and even goes outside of a normal school day. She always tells me she’s not a real teacher, but she’s more of a teacher than she knows. She does a phenomenal job. She loves the kids and she loves our school and she’s their biggest supporter,” she said.
French Camp Elementary
Crystal Kelly and Crystal Ray
Crystal Kelly is French Camp Elementary’s paraprofessional of the year. Principal Amber Vowell said Kelly works in kindergarten and she’s very calm, very patient, kind and is always positive and cares for all of her kids in a loving manner.
“We’re very proud to have her at French Camp,” Vowell said.
French Camp’s teacher of the year is Crystal Ray. Ray is a kindergarten teacher and Vowell said when she thought of how to define Ray, she said she’s very loving, nurturing and wants to see the kids succeed.
“She doesn’t give up,” Vowell said. She said Ray gets to know each of her students and she encourages them.
“She loves to teach, this is what the Lord has called her to do and she knows it,” Vowell said. She said when a child leaves French Camp after leaving Ray’s class, they’re leaving on a firm foundation.
“They all know how to read and they do it well,” Vowell said. She said this year Ray’s had to teach her own daughters.
“And that’s been the hardest things,” Ray said. “I love Choctaw County. Y’all take care of your teachers and make sure we have what we need. I’ve worked in other districts, and I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. If a teacher hasn’t worked in another district, tell them to go and see what it’s like.”
Weir Elementary
Michelle Fairley and Sherry Hall
Weir Elementary’s paraprofessional is Michelle Fairley. Fairley works as an assistant in kindergarten.
“She’s kind hearted, compassionate, always has a smile on her face and is flexible, we’re glad to have her at WES,” Principal Robbie Denson said. “Speaking of flexible, she’s also a Pilates instructor teachers Pilates to the teachers at the school a few times a week.” Denson said Fairley is working on her degree in education and will soon have her license.
“I’m not from Choctaw County, I didn’t know anyone here when I came here,” Fairley said. I’m from Greene County, but you all have been so welcoming and kind. Thank you so much.”
Weir’s teacher of the year is Sherry Hall. Hall works as an interventionist at the school. “She’s a valuable asset and she takes it very seriously,” Denson said. She said that Hall takes the time to get to know each student, their strengths and weaknesses and how to help them.
“She steps up to the plate 100 percent, we’re lucky to have her at Weir Elementary,” Denson said. She said when she took the principal job at Weir, she called Hall because they’d worked together previously when Denson was just a teacher at Weir.
“And we sat in my front room and brainstormed on how we can improve the school as a team. And I’m proud to say, we’ve done it,” Denson said.
Choctaw County Career and Technical Center
Jane Maddox and Bill Johnson
Jane Maddox is this year’s paraprofessional of the year for the Career and Technical Center.
“She’s sacrificial and what I mean by that is that she puts her job before herself,” Director Dudley Vance said. “She manages everything and she does it really well. She keeps everyone fed, she’s a hard worker and she does her job well. She’s very deserving,” Vance said.
This year’s teacher of the year for the Career and Technical Center is Bill Johnson. Vance said that when one teacher made the suggestion of Johnson, he told him “You know, he can really win it every year.”
“And it shocked me, because he really can win it every year. He does a really good job. He does really well with our students, he offers input and not only that he’s on the state level because of his expertise and he’s highly respected,” Vance said.
“I’m proud to be apart of Choctaw County,” Johnson said.
Choctaw County High
Sara Smith and Anna Perkins
Rounding out the schools, Sara Smith is the paraprofessional of the year at Choctaw County High School. Principal Jim Catchot said Smith helps to keep the school running and him in line.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without her. She’s a vital part oof the school,” Catchot said.
This year’s teacher of the year is Anna Perkins. Perkins is a science teacher at Choctaw County High School. This year, Perkins brought over her knowledge to the district and began the Robotics Club. said the students are buying into the idea and they enjoy learning about robotics.
“She’s been with us for a year and a half, she started out in the middle of the year teaching zoology and A & P. She was determined. She started the robotics team and the kids jumped on board with that,” Catchot said.
“Thank y’all for your support. It’s a blessing to teach your kids because they are your kids and I truly value them. They are the future,” Perkins said.
District teacher and administrator of the year- Anna Perkins and Robbie Denson
Perkins also won district teacher of the year for the work that she’s done at Choctaw County High School. “Y’all totally caught me off guard with that one,” she said.
This year’s administrator of the year is Weir Elementary’s Principal Robbie Denson. Beard said all of the administrators do a good job of improving the school districts, but this year Weir Elementary recently moved from a C to a B.
Congratulations to all of the teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators this year!
