Educators that serve outside of a classroom setting were recognized for the important roles they play in Johnston County Public Schools at a special Employee of the Year reception on March 15.
Honorees representing itinerant teachers and related services providers, media specialists, school counselors and student advocates, and school support personnel were recognized after being nominated by their colleagues and administrators in their schools.
Nominees were accompanied at the reception by principals, spouses, and friends. Members of the Board of Education and JCPS Senior Staff were also present to show their appreciation and support to those nominated.
Joanne Goodman, Speech Language Therapist, was selected as the Employee of the Year for her field. Angela West, Media Specialist at Riverwood Elementary, was selected as the Employee of the Year for her field. Betsy Jenks, School Counselor at Clayton High, was selected as the Employee of the Year for her field. Holly Narron, School Psychologist, was selected as the Employee of the Year for her field.
Speech Language Therapist Joanne Goodman, Speech Language Therapist Michelle Morgan, Visually Impaired Teacher Laura O’Neal, and Preschool Program Specialist Jennifer Templeton were all nominated for the Itinerant Teacher/Related Services category.
Jennifer Barber from East Clayton Elementary, Nicole Mellott from Smithfield-Selma High, Stephanie Haumont from Cleveland High, Anissa Holm from West Johnston High, Valerie Howell from North Johnston High, Samantha Lam from West Clayton Elementary, Rhonda Langston from Meadow School, Stephanie Rous from Corinth Holders High, Stephanie Souter from Clayton High, Natalee Wamble from Cleveland Middle, Laura Warren from Micro Elementary, and Angela West from Riverwood Elementary were all nominated for the Media Specialist category.
Amanda Allen from East Clayton Elementary, Briana Hines from Cleveland Elementary, Betsy Jenks from Clayton High, Janet Lee from Selma Middle, Heather Lowe from Riverwood Middle, Lynne McAbier from Glendale-Kenly Elementary, Kim Nappier from Riverwood Middle, Tricia Palmer from Corinth Holders High, Kim Peacock from South Johnston High, Suzanne Puckett from McGee’s Crossroads Middle, Nicole Shepard from Cleveland Elementary, A.C. Stone from Polenta Elementary, Emily Thornton from Four Oaks Elementary, Carmen White from McGee’s Crossroads Elementary, Melinda Whitley from Clayton High, and Mandy Yelverton from Micro Elementary were all nominated for the School Counselor/Student Advocate category.
School Nurse Julia Bucklin, Teaching and Learning Coach Sarah Cowell, Teaching and Learning Coach Amy Cuppett, School Nurse Melissa Evans, Teaching and Learning Coach Heather Gibson, Teaching and Learning Coach Amanda Johnson, Teaching and Learning Coach Rhonda Johnson, Social Worker Susan Kelly, Teaching and Learning Coach Rachel Kerstetter, Program Specialist Betty Madden, Teaching and Learning Coach Heidi Mills, School Psychologist Holly Narron, Teaching and Learning Coach Melissa Noel, Teaching and Learning Coach Lauren Sabo, Teaching and Learning Coach Amber Searfoss, and Teaching and Learning Coach Makenzie Yarborough were all nominated for the School Support category.
The winners were selected by a panel of volunteer judges that consisted of retired educators Shirley Cohen, Dr. Dianna Freeman, and Jean Tripp. Each nominee received a plaque and then four (one from each category) were selected to represent the group as “Employees of the Year.”
