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North School held its awards
program for the third nine
weeks grading period last
Wednesday.
Principal Pals - Tyler Ross,
Ashley Witherspoon, Tedrick
Wilson, Avery Dahl, Ashley
Johnson, Jasmaine Roberts,
Casey Ellis, Michelle Jones,"
Katie Herndon, Courtney Tate,
Kim Dorsey, Clarisa Hagner,
Miles Galloway, Wesley Dixon,
Christin Iroegbu, Sadler Stowe,
Katie Cobb, Jessica Kanoy, Jenni
Wilson.
Terrific Kids - Kathy Martin,
Victoria Martin, Hanna Clark,
Jackie Northcott, Amber
TERRIFIC KIDS - Terrific Kids for North School
above with Rev. Harold Schwantes of the Kings Mountain
Kiwanis Club. Top photo, first row, left to right, Kathy Martin,
Victoria Martin, Hanna Clark, Jackie Northcott, Amber Brackett,
Amber Sisk. Second row, Kristen Cogdill, Maya Ingram, Alex
Hartgrove, Justin Soos, Jennifer Mull, Megan Smith. BAck row,
Kyra Alexander, Andrew Rosenbeck, Andy Siravanta, Ben Hart,
Crystal Bryson, Jarryd Henderson, Alex Fields. Bottom photo,
front row, Adam Boone, Jaimie Brackett, Charles Bentley, Lucas
Robinson, Heather Camp. Second row, Casey Cogdill, Tricia
Walker, Selena Owens, Jordan Reese, Crystal McClain, Jamie
Southards. Back row, Jamie Baisden, Jacky Hagner, Kim
Aligeyer, Eileen Parker, Josh Etters, Shontay Strickland.
rr ” TT
PRINCIPAL'S PALS - Principal's Pals for the third nine weeks
grading period at North School are pictured above. Front row,
left to right, Tyler Ross, Ashley Witherspoon, Tedrick Wilson,
Avery Dahl, Ashley Johnson. Second row, Jasmaine Roberts,
Casey Ellis, Michelle Jones, Courtney Tate, Principal Joey
Hopper. Third row, Clarisa Hagner, Mile Galloway, Wesley
Dixon, Christin Iroegbu, Sadler Stowe. BAck row, Katie Cobb,
Jessica Kanoy, Jenni Wilson.
Excellent Schools Act wo
One of the most interesting pieces of legislation
being considered by this year's General Assembly
is referred to as the Excellent Schools Act. It is the
centerpiece of Governor Hunt's efforts to improve
our schools and enjoys the endorsement of both
Speaker of the House Harold Brubaker and
Senate Pro Team marc Basnight. This kind of bi-
partisan support makes its passage more likely,
and I am pleased with that.
I believe this is a well constructed bill which
will, in total effect, be quite positive for our pub-
lic schools. In today's column I would like to de-
scribe for you the basics of the bill and encourage
you to promote its passage with our legislative
delegation.
I - Efforts to raise student performance stan-
dards - The bill requires the State Board of
Education to develop a comprehensive plan to
raise student performance eon reading, mathe-
matics, and writing. The ABC's Plan of the State
Board will be the linchpin of that work. It will al-
so include work from the Standards and
Accountability Commission of which Kings
Mountain's Sam Houston is Executive Director.
II - Rigorous standards for entering the teach-
ing profession - The bill promotes more rigorous
standards for becoming a teacher including
longer internships during the training period and
Brackett, Amber Sisk, Kristen
Cogdill, Maya Ingram, Alex
Hartgrove, Justin Soos, Jennifer
Mull, MEgan Smith, Kyra
Alexander, Jeffrey Dulude,
Andrew Rosebeck, Andy
Siravanta, Ben Hart, Crystal
Bryson, Jarryd Henderson, Alex
Fields, Adam Boone, Jaimie
Brackett, Charles Bentley, Lucas
Robinson, Heather Camp,
Casey Cogdill, Tricia Walker,
Selena Owens, Megan Dixon,
Jordan Reese, Crystal McClain,
Jamie Southards, Jamie Baisden,
Jacky Hagner, Kim Allgeyer,
Eileen Parker, Josh Etters,
Shontay Strickland.
High honors - Kyra
Alexander, Amber Baxley,
Jennifer Cole, Casey Ellis,
Cortni Hulon, Sarah Russell,
Courtney Tate, Chad Blanton,
Ben Hart, Amber Collins,
Danilo Gomez, Mean Burton,
Alex Fields, Jaimie Brackett,
Tommy Malaythong, Casey
Shirey, C.J. Cook, Clarisa
Hagner, Brandon McClain,
Susie Potter, Christa Heath,
Michael Mendoza, Tyler Wyatt,
Lindsey Hawes, Brad Moffitt,
Brittany Ramey, Donna Tackett,
Eric Tesenair, Alex Dahl, Amy
Ridings, Charlie Witherspoon,
Harrison Bumgardner, Stephen
i: Hall, Kevin Tsui, Charlie Jones,
= Elizabeth: Robbins, Jenni
Wilson.
Honors - Tayler Deaton, Ben
Galloway, Joel Guyton, Josh
Hall, Josh Jones, Kristen Parker,
Josh Williams, Larry Dean
Benton, Shane Hall, Brad
Looper, Megan Lowery, Austin
Gardner, Josh Treece, Ryan
Swink, Crystal Bryson, Jimmy
Kennedy, Chris Arrowood,
Brittany Tate, Whitney Shalash,
Elizabeth Canipe, Chad
Chapple, Katie Cook, Darrius
Feaster, Brianna Grant, Jennifer
Lineberger, Angelica Mercer,
John Witherspoon, Ryan Bolin,
Michelle Lackey, Morgan
Mayer, Brooke Stewart, Erin
Summitt, Daniel Wilson, Laura
Cloninger, Justin McComas,
Mandy Parker, Ches Robbins,
Lucas Robinson, Jennifer Seay,
Jessica Ward, Ruby Whitson,
Jessica Bowen, Heather Camp,
Casey Cogdill, Miles Galloway,
Nikki Moore, Ashley Patel,
Danelle Short, Becky Sisk,
Danielle Watkins, Steffie Collis,
Wesley Dixon, Tuqura Hart,
Selena Owens, Andrew Shergill,
Kevin Smith, Tricia Walker,
Brian Black, Megan Dixon,
Christin Iroegbu, Stacey
McSwain, Jordan Reese, Jordan
Van Dyke, Chris Allgeyer,
Melissa Bishop, Brandon Deese,
Matthew Harbison, Jessica
Philbeck, Joseph Short, Sadler
Stowe, Deshand Hopper,
are pictured
BOB McRAE
Superintendent
Kings Mountain Schools
higher required scores on the National Teacher
Examination. This is a sensitive spot in the bill.
We area already facing shortages in many teach-
ing areas. The NTE is a difficult examination. I
don't oppose higher scoring requirements, how-
ever I do hope that we can consider alternative
pathways if someone comes close but does not
reach a required score. Perhaps, if someone i
within 25 points of a required score, two years of
successful teaching experience could substitute
for the higher score.
III. Rigorous standards for continuing certifica-
tion - The period of time during which teachers
are initially certified, that is the time during
which their certificate can be revoked for poor
performance, would move from.two to three
HP A A
BLANTON'S TIGERS - Top Tigers in Mrs. B
at North School are, front row, left to right, Haley Chandler,
Kristen Cogdill, Avery Dahl. Second row, Tempett Holland,
Maggie Hall, Laura Hollifield, Maya Ingram. Back row, Mrs.
Joshua Vassey. Back row, Brittany Walker,
Williams.
ia
OWENS TIGERS - Top Tigers in Mrs. Owens first grade at North
School are, front row, left to right, Brooke Avery, Alex Hartgrove,
Ashley Johnson. Second row, Justin Soos, Kaitlin Teague,
Alvin Watkins, Mrs.
lanton's first grade
Second grade - Kyra
Alexander, Amber BAxley,
Jennifer Cole, Tayler Deaton,
Casey Ellis, Brittany Falls,
Kristen Parker, Jeff Dulude,
Michelle Jones, Andrew
Rosenbeck, Andy Siravanta,
Sarah Russell, Jessica Parker,
Amber Collins, Tiffany Accor,
Chad Blanton, Ben Hart,
Courtney Tate, Brittney Odems,
Crystal Bryson, Whittney
Shalash, Austin Gardner, Chris
Arrowood, John Treece, Ryan
Swink, Megan Burton, Danilo
Gomez, Shararea Burris,
Elizabeth - Canipe, Chad
Chapple, Katie Cooks, Alex
Fields, Brianna Grant, Jarryd
Henderson, Katie Herndon,
Jennifer Lineberger, Zach Poole,
John Witherspoon.
Third grade - Kelsey Adams,
Ryan Bolin, Adam Boone,
Jaimie Brackett, Emily Canipe,
Kim Dorsey, Craig Huffstetler,
Tommy Malaythong, Morgan °
Mayer, Brad McKee, Casey
Shirey, Bradly Slayton, Erin
Summitt, Jonathan Todd, Daniel
Wilson, Charles Bentley, Laura
Cloninger, C.J. Cook, Clarisa
Hagner, Jennifer McSwain,
Ashley Melton, Josh Moore,
Susie Potter, Lucas Robinson,
Jennifer Seay, Ruby Whitson,
Jessica Bowen, Heather Camp,
Casey Cogdill, Miles Galloway,
Christa Heath, Nikki Moore,
Stacey Oliver, Ashley Patel, Lee
Roberts, Becky Sisk, Danielle
Watkins, Tyler Wyatt.
Fourth grade - Ja'Colby Ward,
Patricia Avery, Steffie Collis,
Wesley Dixon, Tuqura Hart,
Elisabeth McDaniel, Selena
Owens, Megan Richards,
Andrew Shergill, Kevin Smith,
Carrie Thammavongsa, Tricia
Walker, Josh White, Jennifer
Baxley, Megan Dixon, Lindsey
Hawes, Christin Iroegbu, Elijah
Lewis, Stacey McSwain, Mike
Mull, Anika Patel, Brittany
Ramey, Jordan Reese, Donna
Tackett, "Lacey “Short,” Eric
Tesenair, Chris Allgeyer, James
Bigger, Latara BArrow, Melissa
Bishop, Samanta Bryson, John
Currence, Brandon Deese,
Anthony Ervin, Crystal Feely,
Deshanda Hopper, Crystal
McClain, Dwayne Ramsey,
Amy Ridings, Joseph Short,
Jamie Southards, Sadler Stowe,
Charlie Witherspoon, Adam
Smart.
Fifth grade - Jamie Baisden,
Carey Bentley, Dymetria Bigger,
Harrison Bumgardner, Ashley
Bolen, Katie Cobb, Jackie
Blanton, Erica Jackson, Farren Mercer, Asia Parker.
Dustin Wilson, Katie Cobb,
Lora Johnsonbaugh, Sam
McGinnis, Marqika McSwain,
Stacy Welch, Jessica Spencer,
Jameson Parker, Erin McCauley,
Jessica Kanoy, Andrew Dahl,
Matthew Bryant, Josh Etters,
Heath Foster, Landon Hulsey,
Marty Malaythong, Blake
Ridings, Ashton Teague,
Thanou Thammavongsa.
(Top Tigers)
Kindergarten - Tyler Ross,
Kathy Martin, Victoria Martin,
Burns Newsome, Crystal Wyte,
Hogan Sellers, Jordan Burnette,
Avan Fields, Brett Keeter, Mary
Kathryn Lynn, Alice
Quaneoudone, Trisha Owensby,
Summer Putnam, Ashley
Hanna Clark, Tedrick Wilson,
Amber Brackett, Amber Sisk,
Brittany Baucom, Casey
Burnette, Tyler Dixon, Bradley
Gilliam, Destiny Pittman, Tyler
Prow, Elizabeth Russell, Joshua
Young.
First grade - Kristin Cogdill,
Haley Chandler, Avery Dahl,
Tempett Holland, Maggie Hall,
Laura Hollifield, Maya Ingram,
Erica Jackson, Farren Mercer,
Asia Parker, Brooke Avery, Alex
Hartgrove, Ashley Johnson,
Justin Soos, Kaitlin Teague,
Joshua Vasey, Brittany Walker,
Alvin Watkins, Dymon Adams,
Lashea Bowen, Johnnie
Johnston, Jennifer Mull, Kiara
Myles, Jasmaine Roberts,
Megan Smith, Vernon Davis.
(Good citizenship)
Hagner, Lora Johnsonbaugh,
Marqika McSwain, Christian
Todd, Kim Allgeyer, Matthew
Bryant, Michelle Dorsey, Jessica
Kanoy, Jameson Parker, Eileen
Parker, Jennifer Blair, Ty Curtis,
Sally Denton, Josh Etters, Heath
Foster, Chris Hancock, Landon
Hulsey, Charlie Jones, Mary
Malaythong, Tasha Moss,
Elizabeth Robbins, Tracie
Slayton, Shontay Strickland,
Ashton Teague, Thanou
Thammavongsa, J] Walker,
Chip Wilson, Jenni Wilson.
Art awards - Steven Grant,
Wes Dixon.
Reading - Tommylee Brown,
Kristen Causby.
Noteworthy - Brooklyn
Roberts, Miles Galloway.
Bus good citizenship - Elijah
Lewis, Jaimie Brackett, Sara
Witherspoon, Jackie Northcott,
uld improve public
years. Continuing certification would receive
more of a performance based emphasis with at-
tention to scores on state required testing more
important to that decision.
IV. Rigorous standards, evaluation, and sup-
port before career status is considered - The at-
tainment of tenure by teachers would become
more demanding. Probationary teachers would
have to be evaluated at least four times per year
as opposed to the current requirement of three.
At least one of the evaluations would have to be
by a teacher. It would take four years to obtain
tenure as opposed to the current three.
V. Additional professional development oppor-
tunities and tougher standards for teachers with
career status - The basic structure regarding the
employment and dismissal of teachers would re-
main the same, however the process for dismiss-
ing a teacher with cause would be streamlined
somewhat. The basic change, the dismissal pro-
cess, replaces the old Professional REview
Committee with a Case Manager system.
VI. A plan to attract and retain high quality
teachers - This section involves a plan to signifi-
cantly raise teacher salaries, the goal being the na-
tional average. Starting pay would be raised as
would the entire teacher salary scale.
VIL. Pay for exemplary performance/special as-
Boone, Shontay Strickland.
schools
signments - This section compliments and
strengthens the previous section. Reaching na-
tional average salaries should not imply doing it
totally by an "across the board" concept. Teachers
would be able to enhance their salaries in a vari-
ety of ways including the completion of a mas-
ter's degree, the attainment of certification by the
National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards, the attainment by their schools of
growth standards under the ABC's plan, service
to newly certified teachers as a mentor, additional
pay for approved professional development, and
additional pay for assuming additional responsi-
bilities related to improving instruction.
VIII. Funds for computer systems - This piece
of the bill would provide additional funding to
help systems more fully implement their school
technology plans.
It is good that such attention is being focused
on promoting excellent schools in our state. This
bill provides more emphasis for us than I have
seen in several years. I hope the General
Assembly will quickly move to pas it. We like to
say that excellence is no accident. Our achieve-
ment of excellence can be made more manageable
through the passage of this structured plan for
school improvement.