McKenzie Special School District Hosts Year-End Banquet

McKENZIE (MAY 13) — Associates of the McKenzie Special School District were honored for their service during a year-end dinner held in the National Guard Armory on Monday, May 13.

Dr. Justin Barden, director of schools, said this is the first of the annual events to honor the administrators, faculty, and support staff. Each role plays an important part in service to the students at McKenzie Special School District.

After a meal catered by Mallard’s Restaurant, Dr. Barden announced the names of five retirees, three teachers of the year, and three support staff members of the year. Each was presented a wooden plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Five announced their retirement effective at the end of the school year. Beth Bailey, English Language Learner (ELL) with 13 years experience; Keith Breeden, band director McKenzie Middle and High schools, 26 years. He plans to teach band at Central on a part-time basis; Tiffany Smith, Fourth Grade English Language Arts, 27 years; Vera Shipp, MMS nurse, 16 years; and Amy Wilkes, reading interventionist, 31 years.

Teachers of the Year were Kelly Simmons, kindergarten at the McKenzie Elementary; Amanda Morris, sixth grade math at the McKenzie Middle; and Carol Nanney, librarian at McKenzie High.

Support Staff of the Year were Carol Hill, bookkeeper at McKenzie Elementary; Karen Moore, secretary at McKenzie Middle; and Jennifer Travis, secretary at McKenzie High.

Dr. Barden recognized the teachers who earned tenure during the school year. The MSSD Board of Education approved the following teachers.

Chase Barton (first grade), Brandy Baumgardner (Pre-K), Kelsey Brown (first grade), Dusty Emerson (special education), Rachel Hardy (kindergarten), and Cari Moore (second grade) — all at McKenzie Elementary School; Karlene Ellis-Brown (MMS special education), and Audra Atkins (7th grade English Language Arts) at McKenzie Middle School; and Trey Cantrell (U.S. History) at McKenzie High School.

Years of Service recipients were honored with a lapel pin indicating the number of years of service.

Five-Year Honorees were Tracie Baker, Gale Edwards, Hunter Herrin, Daphne Jackson, Jordan Jowers, Kim Lowe, Megan Gotshall, and Megan Wortham.

No Ten-Year Honorees.

Fifteen-Year Honorees were Karlene Brown, Kelly Simmons, Josephine Wright, Frankie Brockman.

Twenty-Year Honorees were Amanda Oakley, Bess Toombs.

Twenty-Five and Above Years Honorees were Tonya Brown; Thirty Years was Malissa Anderson; Thirty-Five Years was Paula Doster.

Level 4 and 5 teachers were honored. The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System is ranked one to five, with five being the best. TVAAS Level 5 awards went to Courtney Chadwick Kee and Beth Mathis.

TVAAS Level 4 awards went to Morgan Bromley, Hunter Herrin, Amanda Oakley, and Zachary Renfro.

Many gifts were donated by local businesses to be given as door prizes. Through a random drawing, the gifts were distributed the associates of MSSD.