Chloé here, and every time I think about how stressful and anxiety-inducing my own year has been, I’m quickly reminded that there are public servants out there, like teachers and other school employees, who are facing COVID-19 close-up.
Because the virus has continued to spread, school leaders moved all classes online this week. And as winter break (and hopefully some rest for school employees) approaches, we thought it was a great time to put the spotlight on Hamilton County School Heroes.
Hamilton County school officials picked these public school employees to recognize, and we narrowed them down, but you can see this year’s full list here.
📚 Beverly Stone + Starla Terry, Middle Valley Elementary
Job positions: Nurses
Time with HCS: 13 years each
Noteworthy: This duo launched the COVID-19 call center to help answer employee questions about illness + exposures. They’ve been helping calm worries, and they even worked weekends to do this.
📚 Jamelie Johns, Nolan Elementary
Job position: Assistant principal
Time with HCS: 18 years
Noteworthy: As a COVID-19 precaution, Johns organized a new dismissal process that uses an app to let the school know when parents have arrived.
📚 Peter Schmurr, Tyner Academy
Job position: Coding teacher
Time with HCS: 1 year
Noteworthy: Schmurr joined to teach coding for the EPB Institute of Information Technology and Networking. He has been teaching from home, but he’s found ways to make the most out of it and engage students more than usual, even remotely.
📚 Tammy Alger, Wolftever Creek Elementary School
Job position: Clerical assistant
Time with HCS: 15 years
Noteworthy: She hand-delivered materials to students who struggled with transportation so they wouldn’t fall behind.
📚 Josh Edens + Dana Turney, Orchard Knob Middle School
Job positions: Comprehensive development teachers
Time with HCS: Edens - 3 years; Turney - 17 years
Noteworthy: In addition to home visits, the duo implemented a new communications tool that translates messages into more than 100 different languages for families who don’t speak English.
📚 Chris Williamson, Tyner Middle Academy
Job position: Visual art and theatre teacher
Time with HCS: 17 years
Noteworthy: He sets expectations high but is always on hand to help in other ways, such as coaching track and field. He also made quarantine art kits for his students.
📚 Question
