Community to help find Tupelo superintendent

An open community forum seeking public input in the search for Tupelo’s next school superintendent will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Civic Auditorium. The community also is invited to respond to an online questionnaire. At www.tupeloschools.com, look in the blue box for the Superintendent Search link, then click the Leader Assessment link on the left. Answers will be sent directly to the search firm looking for Randy McCoy’s replacement. McCoy will retire in June 2009.

Lee, Tupelo schools OK during tornado

Some flooding was reported at Saltillo Elementary and there were a couple of leaks at Saltillo Primary, but damage was minimal and no students were hurt as an apparent tornado swept through Lee County this morning.

“Everybody’s fine,” Lee County Schools Superintendent Mike Scott said, noting that all schools have crisis management plans and “went into tornado drill mode.”

Dr. Randy McCoy, superintendent of the Tupelo Public School District, reported no injuries to students or damage to any of the city schools.

Be sure to check out storm photos in Friday’s Daily Journal. Many excellent images already are at www.djournal.com.

Planetary project at Carver Elementary

Valerie Donnell, a fourth-grade teacher at Carver Elementary, called to let me know about an out-of-this-world experience students had creating their own solar system with papier-mache. I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures I took the day I visited. I’ll also have a fun little story in next Monday’s Daily Journal.

Corinth teacher earns Presidential Award

Here’s a news release I received today about a teacher in Corinth:

Corinth High School Academic Performing Arts Center Teacher Named Recipient of 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Media Note: Awardees are in Washington, D.C., April 28–May 3, 2008.

Washington – President George W. Bush is honoring Science teacher Debra Madjlesi from Corinth High School Academic Performing Arts Center in Corinth with the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the Nation’s highest honor for teaching in these fields. Madjlesi is the only Science winner from MS and one of 99 teachers nationwide to receive this prestigious award.

“We are delighted to have an opportunity to honor the teachers with these events,” said NSF Director Arden L. Bement, Jr. “Excellent teachers are crucial to our children’s success in science and mathematics, and they have a tremendous impact on their students’ future interests and pursuits. As a nation, our future innovation and competitiveness depends upon young people who have a solid foundation in these disciplines and an interest in further study.”

In a citation from President Bush to Madjlesi, she is commended “for embodying excellence in teaching, for devotion to the learning needs of the students, and for upholding the high standards that exemplify American education at its finest.”

As an awardee, Madjlesi receives a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that administers the awards program on behalf of The White House. Madjlesi will also receive a trip for two to Washington, D.C., for a week of celebratory events and professional development activities. Among the activities during that week are a day with scientists and science educators at NSF; meetings with members of Congress and federal agency leadership; and a reception and dinner at the U.S. Department of State featuring guest speaker Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a NASA Astronaut-Mission Specialist.

Established by Congress in 1983, the Presidential awards program annually identifies highly qualified mathematics and science teachers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. territories, and the U.S. Department of Defense schools. This year’s recipients, recommended for the award by a panel of leading mathematicians, scientists, and educators, are teachers of grades seven through twelve.

For more information, visit www.paemst.org.

East Union students visit Ga. aquarium

Leigh Akins, who teaches gifted elementary students at East Union Attendance Center, submitted these pictures from a recent field trip to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Looks like they had a swimmingly good time!

TVA makes Governor’s Honor Roll

JACKSON, Miss. – Working with grade school students at all levels to help boost academic achievement has earned the Tennessee Valley Authority this year’s spot on the Governor’s Honor Roll of Exceptional Partnership Support.

The Mississippi Association of Partners in Education (MAPE), which promotes community involvement in schools statewide, recognized TVA’s Partners in Education program with the Honor Roll award. By joining boardrooms with classrooms, MAPE fosters a level of communication and participation that has helped Mississippi’s grade school students improve their level of preparation.

“The winning partnerships have used creative programs and methods to improve student achievement and community involvement,” said Phil Hardwick, president of MAPE. “Their success stories are proof that partnerships can make a positive difference in our schools and raise standards of performance for our students.”

TVA supports seven Partners in Education schools in the state of Mississippi. TVA employees have developed and implemented many of the programs in conjunction with TVA customers. Programs receiving support from TVA include:

• Funding for a “Virtual Chemistry Lab”
• Sponsorship of a physics class in the engineering competition at Ole Miss
• Field trips to TVA plants and to area businesses
• Donations of surplus computers and computer equipment
• Host of job shadowing programs that permit students to shadow employees in the work place
• Development and participation of students in leadership programs
• Sponsorship of solar car competitions
• Providing School-to-Work skill programs
• Presentations to students about TVA’s business

The award selection committee, comprising representatives from business/industry, non-profits and education, considered the needs and goals established for the partnership; activities; communication with students, parents, staff, employees and news media; and overall effectiveness.

Association leaders said the Governor’s Awards and Partnership Excellence Awards are key components in their efforts to promote excellence and opportunity for children in Mississippi’s public schools through community collaboration.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 159 power distributors that serve approximately 8.8 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Mississippi Teacher of the Year

From a Mississippi Department of Education news release:

Forest Municipal School District teacher Chantelle Herchenhahn was named the 2008 Teacher of the Year at a luncheon held today in Jackson. Paula Mayfield, a teacher in the Hinds County School District, was named 2008 Alternate Teacher of the Year.

Other Congressional District Finalists include KaTina Kitchens-Lloyd, South Panola School District, and Melissa Harris, Pass Christian School District.

The 2008 Mississippi Teacher of the Year will receive a $5,000 salary supplement from the Mississippi Department of Education. Herchenhahn will compete in the National Teacher of the Year competition and be invited to attend the National Teacher of the Year Conference in Dallas. She will also travel to Washington, D.C., meet President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and participate in a Rose Garden recognition ceremony at the White House.

Photo caption: The 2008 Mississippi Teacher of the Year and finalists, including (l-r) Melissa McKenney Harris, Pass Christian School District, Fourth Congressional District Finalist; Chantelle Herchenhahn, Forest Municipal School District, 2008 Mississippi Teacher of the Year; Paula Mayfield, Hinds County School District, 2008 Alternate Teacher of the Year; and KaTina Kitchens-Lloyd, South Panola School District, First Congressional District Finalist; are announced at the Mississippi Teacher of the Year luncheon held today in Jackson.

AEE Awards Luncheon

The Association for Excellence in Education had its annual luncheon today. The private organization granted $93,000 to Tupelo Public School District teachers for innovative projects.

Judy Harden of Tupelo Middle School, and Patty Hosch and Julie Mattox of Tupelo High School were Founders Grant recipients. Public education advocate Jonny Davis picked up the Jack Reed Sr. Award, while Melinda Tidwell accepted the J.C. Whitehead Award on behalf of the United Way of Northeast Mississippi.

I’ll have the full story in tomorrow’s Daily Journal. Enjoy the pics, the best of which belong to Journal photographer Todd Sherman. Grant recipients are listed below.

There were 13 large grants totaling $10,202.24:
• “Tupelo Teaches”
$600
Milam Elementary School – Marrion Winders
• “Calling All Famous Mississippians”
$500
Milam Elementary School – Amy Carter, Patsy West
• “A Nose for News - The Search Continues”
$868.36
Pierce Street Elementary School – Leslie VanBuskirk
• “Jammin Journey through Japan”
$990.60
Pierce Street Elementary School – Cynthia Beasley, Brittney Coker, Rasheda Kemp, Leigh Ann Henderson, Jenny Wright
• Konichiwa “Hello Japan”
$993.28
Joyner Elementary School – Sherry Willis
• “Kindergarten Cooks”
$999.29
Thomas Street Elementary School – Emily Roberts, Christy Todd, Wanda Mitchell, Barbara Beane, Elizabeth Mansfield, Renee Price
• “Monday Magazine with Mom”
$376.26
Thomas Street Elementary School – Susan Hankins
• “Happier Handwriting!”
$911.07
Lawhon Elementary School – Jalema Tidwell, Jethlynn McCraw
• “I Have a Tale to Tell”
$1,000
Rankin Elementary School – Laurie Alford, Kim Brashier, Merritt Lee Herring, Sharon Hutchison, Rothann Richey
• “Culture Shock!”
$968.06
Rankin Elementary School – Carmon Dye, Carrie Hardin, Emily Carodine, Jessica Click
• “Bodies in Motion”
$683.10
Carver Elementary School – Valerie Donnell, Misty Elliott, Kaylah Lawrence, Margaret Adams, Lisa Rhoden
• “CSI to the Rescue!”
$985.22
Tupelo Middle School – Judy Harden
• “Writing with Maya”
$327
Tupelo Middle School – Carrie Koon, Jessica Williams, Brock English, Emilie English, Russ Harrell

AEE large grants
There were 20 large grants totaling $83,129.43:
• “Success Studios”
$2,382.50
Early Childhood Education Center – Ellen Hill, Meredith Pickett, Carrie Riley, Amanda Young
• “Let’s Explore in the Tree-mendous Outdoors”
$4,000
Parkway Elementary School – Donna Jones, Judy Kirk, Karen Nickels
• “Authors Abound: Continuing to Write All Around”
$1,385.78
Pierce Street Elementary School – Norma Pardin, Erin Hall, Leigh Ann Henderson, Christy Jordan, Emilie English
• “Mobile Mathmagic”
$5,850
Tupelo High School – Lea Johnson, Robert Francis
• “Opposites Attract: Math and Art Collide” An Artist-in-Residence
$3,652.61
Tupelo High School – Patty Hosch, Julie Mattox
• “M2: Mobile Math”
$1,350
Lawndale Elementary School – Melissa Harris
• “Folktales for a Cultural Celebration”
$8,563.70
Thomas Street Elementary School – Michelle Sykes
• “Sing, Shout, and Move About”
$8,944.56
Parkway Elementary School – Georgia Marlin, Leigh Smith, Tori Martin, Kelley Homan, Nicole Enis, Laine Godwin, Leslie Hilliard, Morgan McWhirter
• “Oral History: Somewhere in Time”
$560
Church Street Elementary School – Tabitha Easter, Carol Wright
• “Logging Miles in Literature”
$1,775.45
Rankin Elementary School – Glenda Clay, Emily Elkin, Lynne Mize
• “MERMAIDS & ARGONAUTS - Great American Leaders: Planning for the Future, Homage to the Past”
$4,500
Tupelo High School – Sherry Davis, Jeramy Turner
• “The RIPPLES Literacy Club”
$3,925
Milam Elementary School – Patsy West, Becky Shands
• “A Closer Look”
$1,784
Pierce Street Elementary School – Kalicia Henderson, Christy Jordan
• “Education Outdoors”
$4,500
Tupelo Middle School – Judy Harden, Barry Cook, Carrie Koon, Mary Webb
• “Different Strokes for Little Folks: Choice-Based Art”
$4,142.43
Joyner Elementary School – Jamie Baker, Marla Gray, Jodie Thompson
• “If You Give a Child an Author”
$8,863.65
Thomas Street Elementary School – Susan Hankins
• “Leadership Academy: Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”
$3,387.75
Lawndale Elementary School – Claudia Hopkins, Rene Hooper, Sally Amos, Diane Hink
• “History Alive: The Next Step”
$9,999
Tupelo Middle School – Mary Webb, Brian Foster, Shane Windham, Joseph Fields, Kate Holland
• “Diving Deeper into Orff with Contrabass Bars”
$2,470
Pierce Street Elementary School – Lee Anne Grace
• “Seussdays!”
$1,093
Parkway Elementary School – Alisha Hughes, Beth Miller, Teresa Dill-Johnson

TPSD virtual tour earns state award

The Public Relations Association of Mississippi has recognized the Tupelo Public School District with a 2008 Award of Excellence.
“We are very proud to win an award of excellence for our virtual tour of Tupelo schools,” said Kay Bishop, the TPSD’s public information officer.
Renasant Bank sponsored the project, produced by Glen Allison of Allison Digital and available at tupeloschools.com.
Bishop picked up the award at a PRAM meeting on April 17 in Hattiesburg.
“PRAM began an awards program in 2003 as a way to recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations,” Bishop said, noting the TPSD previously won an award of excellence for its Ambassadors Voice program.
The significance of the district’s awards, she said, is that the school was competing against projects from businesses that specialize in public relations.

Kindergarten registration Tuesday in Okolona

Kindergarten registration at Okolona Elementary School will be from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the K-2 building. The school is located a 411 W. Main St. in Okolona.
Children who are eligible for kindergarten should be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1. Items required for registration include the child’s birth certificate, Social Security card, current shot record, and two proofs of residency.
For more information, call (662) 447-2700.