East Pennyroyal News

TC Achievement Award winners announced for January

Cassie Emery, teacher at Taylor County Primary Center, is a recipient of the TC Pride Award. When TCPC Principal Mrs. Long approached her about addressing the need for a kindergarten teacher, Ms. Emery agreed to move from teaching first grade to kindergarten. Though she has faced challenges in the classroom, she has addressed each one with a smile and adapted in order to overcome them. She is an excellent role model for her students, who are gaining not just content knowledge but other valuable life skills. “In addition to those challenges, she has also worked to revive our parent teacher association after it died out during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mrs. Long said. “Cassie has taken it by the horns, and she has worked with a fellow teacher to revamp the program, raising over $30,000 this year. Despite all of the hard work and effort she has put in, she’s never once been negative. She sees the positives and finds the good in every situation. To me, that’s what the TC Pride Award is all about.”

Emma Valdés, Spanish teacher at Taylor County High School, also received the TC Pride Award. Mrs. Valdés goes above and beyond to be of service to her colleagues, and always makes an effort to help Spanish-speaking students learning English as a second language feel welcome at TCHS. “Mrs. Valdés is a teacher that I hope other teachers would model themselves after,” TCHS Principal Mrs. Tucker said. “She is a bright light in our district and one of the educators who acts as part of our backbone at the high school; she uplifts all of our youth on a daily basis and is very deserving of a TC Pride Award.”

Bobby Wood, facilities director, and Kyle Milby, HVAC technician and assistant facilities director, for Taylor County Schools, are both recipients of the TC Leadership Award. Mr. Milby and Mr. Wood were nominated by several staff members within the district in recognition of the tireless work they do to keep the district’s facilities looking good and in working order. “On Christmas Eve, I called Bobby and told him I had a flood at the intermediate school,” TCIS Principal Mrs. Williams said. “I didn’t know where it was coming from, and it had already impacted two classrooms. Both of them were up there that afternoon, on Christmas Day, and the week after trying to get everything back together. I appreciate that very much.” Mr. Higdon noted that while the two of them were receiving the awards, the work they do wouldn’t be possible without the staff that support them. “You’re absolutely right, we are a team, and we’ve got a good group of guys around us,” Mr. Milby said. “I’m thankful to the board for the opportunity, the faith, and the trust you all put in Bobby and I to do some of the work we’ve done. There aren’t many men who get to say they’re working with their best friend every day, and even fewer who can say they come to work and enjoy what they do.”

Original source can be found here