By Haley Mitchell Godwin

During Monday’s regularly scheduled Crenshaw County Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dodd Hawthorne’s opening remarks made mention of January being board member appreciation month. Hawthorne expressed his appreciation for the CCBOE members, the job they do, and the actions they take to support the best interests of Crenshaw County Schools faculty, staff, and students.

Hawthorne presented each board member with a throw blanket adorned with the Crenshaw County Schools logo in vinyl. The tokens of appreciation were created by CrenShop, a school-based business operated through the Crenshaw County Schools Career Academy and run by students.

Hawthorne then moved on to honoring the CCBOE Teachers of the Year, and Support Staff of the Year. 

Candidates for Elementary teacher of the year were Stephanie Pierce, first grade teacher at Brantley; Tori Sanchez, sixth grade teacher at Highland Home; and Carol Floyd, sixth grade teacher at Luverne. 

The 2022 CCBOE Elementary teacher of the year is Carol Floyd. Floyd has been teaching since 2006 with most of those years being in Crenshaw County Schools.

A co-worker of Floyd’s stated that “her can-do attitude is contagious and the difference she is making can be seen daily through the work her students put into becoming better mathematicians and people. Without hesitation, you can always count on Mrs. Floyd to jump in and help make our students and school succeed.”

Candidates for Secondary teacher of the year were Tracey Layton, English teacher at Brantley High School; Doug Norman, history teacher at Highland Home High School; and Julie Albritton, a mathematics teacher at Luverne High School. 

Tracey Layton was dubbed the 2022 CCBOE Secondary teacher of the year. Layton began her teaching career in 2014 and has been at Brantley for the duration. 

One of Layton’s former students said that “Mrs. Tracey is one of the most dedicated and determined teachers I have ever met. She sees the potential of every student and will never stop encouraging them to try and achieve.” 

In the running for Support Staff of the year were Kenny Jones, custodian at Brantley; Leslie Flowers, JAG Specialist at Highland Home High School, and Cassandra Johnson, Secretary at Luverne High School.

Earning the spot for the 2022 CCBOE support employee of the year was Leslie Flowers. According to a current JAG student, “The JAG experience as a whole has been life-changing. Mrs. Leslie took the program at Highland Home and ran with it. I now have a career path I am working toward, I’ve learned how to continually strive for success, and I am a national champion. The JAG program that Mrs. Leslie built has impacted my life more than any other teachers could really understand.”

Superintendent Hawthorne echoed the student’s sentiments, stating that Flowers has made a huge difference in a short amount of time.

“Mrs. Flowers has just completed her first year as our JAG Specialist at Highland

Home School and the impact that she has made on the JAG program and those students is immeasurable,” Hawthorne said. “She helped to bring the first national championship to Crenshaw County Schools and her students and her program are not only recognized at the state level but also at a national level as shining examples of what a JAG program should be.”

Following the awards, all superintendent’s recommendations were approved and included the approval of a bid by 4D Land Clearing and Development, LLC to demolish the old bus shop, as well as the approval for a bid from Rescue Simulation Products to provide an ambulance simulator that will be put to use through the HOSA program and help prepare students for a possible career as a paramedic or EMT. 

An out-of-state field trip for the Highland Home Honor Club to WonderWorks in Panama City  Beach, Fl was approved along with two purchases- a softball batting cage to be placed at Luverne High School and a new fire alarm system for the old gym at Brantley. 

Last on the agenda was a bid from Boutwell’s Flooring for the renovation of the health science building, also approved. 

The next regular meeting will be held on Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m.