Anamaria Caradine Moore, of Vardaman High School, was recognized as the Calhoun County School District Teacher of the Year Tuesday night at the school board meeting in Pittsboro.
Moore was joined by other teachers of the year from the district – BHS, Sunny Rea; BUES, Tonya Hogan; BES, Carla Blackwelder; CCHS, Jon Barnett; CCMS, Tina Wolfe; CCES, Laurie Denley; Career Center, Kevin Hall; and VES, Annie Anderson.
“I can’t say enough about these teachers and the jobs that they do,” Superintendent Mike Moore said. “They work extremely hard for our kids for little pay and little recognition. We really appreciate the job they do.”
In other news, Keisha Tucker, mother of Calhoun City High School student Tyra Tucker, asked the school board to consider a change in its valedictorian and salutatorian policy. Tucker’s daughter is fractions of a point away from being salutatorian, but that honor currently is scheduled to go to a student who is graduating early.
“I don’t think this is something where we’re asking for her to be given anything,” Tucker said. “I think it’s something she’s earned.” Tucker made the case that her daughter finished second in her class in GPA, which should be salutatorian.
CCHS Principal Mike Ray noted the school had co-vals previously due to the policy being changed in the middle of the year to recognize a student who was graduating early.
“I hate that this happened,” Ray said. “I see both sides. You want to give it to the student that has the highest grades. It just worked out this way that it’s within a few hundreths of a point and we have to go with what the board says.”
The board asked Ray to discuss the issue and see if the students and parents involved can reach a resolution and if not the board will issue a ruling.
Other items approved by the board:
•Student transfer – Jesse W. Barefield from Calhoun to Lafayette.
•Personnel – teachers Mary Cole and Frances Ramsey are retiring, as well as maintenance worker Robert Doolittle; Patricia Patch, Britany Hicks and Megan Cannon are resigning; Julia Aron is transferring into position vacated by Sandee Tutor.
Others retiring include Doug Easley and Nancy Warren as cafeteria managers.
Selena Phillips hired as cafeteria worker replacing Tammy Inman, Bill Feming as substitute bus driver, Linda Holloway as part-time custodian.
