KANNAPOLIS — The Arc of North Carolina has given a Kannapolis City school system teacher its highest honor.
Wynter Sexton, of Forest Park Elementary, has received the Arc of North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year award. The award recognizes Sexton as a leader in providing education to students with various disabilities.
Sexton is an exceptional children’s teacher who teaches students with severe, profound and multiple disabilities. She has been with Kannapolis City Schools for 11 years.
In November, 2010, she was awarded the Arc of Cabarrus County’s Teacher of the Year Award.
She has previously been honored as Forest Park’s Teacher of the Year. She was also named Volunteer of the Year in 2006 from Special Olympics of Cabarrus County.
“I love teaching children with disabilities. I believe that all children can learn and I believe in never saying ‘never’ about my students,” Sexton said. “What I do know and trust in is that they deserve every opportunity to learn, grow, and experience life just like everyone else.”
“She has been instrumental in providing education not only to students, but to everyone within the school about students with various disabilities,” Bonnie West, director of exceptional children’s programs, said. “She is truly a gifted teacher.”
Sexton graduated from Pfeiffer University with a bachelor’s degree in history, minor in special education. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Special Education from UNC-Charlotte.
Bus drivers of the month
Rowan-Salisbury Schools Director of Transportation Judy Burris has recognized the following employees for exemplary service as bus drivers for October.
A bus driver must adhere to all the duties and responsibilities set forth by the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Transportation Department and are nominated by their bus coordinator for this honor each month.
North area: Rhonda McDaniel, Hanford-Dole Elementary School (Bus 36).
East area: Beckie Bane, Morgan Elementary School (Bus 305).
West area: Keith Parrott, Hurley Elementary School (Bus 314).
South area: Hilda Boswell, Landis and China Grove Elementary and Henderson Alternative schools (Bus 40).
Salisbury area: Carman Johnson, Salisbury High School, Knox Middle School, Early College (Bus 41).
Special needs: Curtis Bush (Bus 28).
Substitute driver: Sanporta Brown.
Humpy Wheeler speaks at Cannon School Board of Visitors meeting
CONCORD — Cannon School recently welcomed community leaders from throughout the Charlotte region to the inaugural meeting of its new Board of Visitors.
The mayors of Concord, Cornelius and Davidson are among the leaders who accepted the school’s invitation to join the board, which will meet twice per year to discuss key strategic issues facing Cannon and neighboring communities.
“We are honored that so many community and business leaders are committed to helping Cannon School prepare students for a world that promises to be unpredictable,” said Head of School Matt Gossage. “Their leadership will strengthen Cannon’s relationships in the many communities we serve in the Concord, Lake Norman, Charlotte and Kannapolis areas.”
Cannon School’s inaugural meeting of the Board of Visitors was held Sept. 30 on the school’s Concord campus. Concord Mayor Scott Padgett, Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte, Davidson Mayor John Woods and other board members were joined by guest speaker Humpy Wheeler, former president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Wheeler predicted that a technological breakthrough will be the catalyst that drives the economy out of recession. He encouraged the assembled government officials and business leaders to foster an environment of creativity in their organizations.
“Never tell anybody they have a bad idea because the right idea might be right in front of you,” said Wheeler.
Cannon School’s Board of Visitors is chaired by Patti Wheeler, executive vice president of Speed, the Charlotte-based motorsports cable network, and Lawrence Kimbrough, past president and CEO of First Charter Corporation of Charlotte. Wheeler and Kimbrough previously served as members of Cannon School’s Board of Trustees.
Knollwood Knights of Character
Knollwood Elementary would like to congratulate the following students. They are recognized for displaying the character trait of responsibility during September:
Kindergarten — Addison Eury, Vanessa Sanns, Sergio Real Vazquez III, Angel Magańa Granados, Madison Blevins, Melisa Mehmedovic.
First grade — Keirys Velazquez Carbajal, Cristal Figueroa Mejia, Kierstyn Bomely, Jessica Hernandez, Kasey Pleitez-Rivera, Hugo Castellanos.
Second grade — Ashley Medina Hernandez, Admir Podzic, Jennifer Carbajal, Carolina Tamayo Albarran, Brynn Sokolowski.
Third grade — Olivia Kluttz, Lindsey Conrad, Joeseph Fox, Mosiah Ware, Caitlin Junda, Arturo Avalos-Tovar, Courtney Lineberger.
Fourth grade — Alyssa Jones, Bertha Figueroa-Mejia, Jackson Price, Sierra Ratliff.
Fifth grade — Melissa Hernandez-Limon, Melissa Alberto-Sanchez, Lisa Roberts.
Isenberg fall festival Oct. 27 planned to be biggest ever
The Isenberg Elementary Parent/Teacher Association will host its annual fall festival from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27.
This year’s festival is planned to be the largest in the school’s history. It will include hayrides, pony rides, face painting, cakewalk, pumpkin painting, family games, video game truck, Overton Elementary Mini-Funk Band, eight Bounce Houses, fire trucks and lots of food and fun.
Jackson Park Panthers of the Month for September
Jackson Park Elementary has announced the school’s Panthers of the Month for September.
The school’s character trait focus was respect.
Front row: Decorya Collins, Riley Christy, Tymel Crosland, Anna Garrison, Nathan Moffitt, Laila McKnight, Alondra Reyes, Alexis Crisco, Peyton Simpson
Second row: Devin Honeycutt, Kolby Drye, Mckenzie Graham, Ruby Rios Ramirez, Steven Barnhardt, Valeria Chavez, Joseph Caceres, Cierra Boulware, Jackson Coward
Back row: Diana Chavez, Tyriq McKinney, Lani Hinson, Annabelle Sturdivant
Absent: Cameron Soden and Brianna Cannon
September, October Star students at North Rowan Middle
North Rowan Middle School selected a student of the month based on character, participation in school activities and teacher recommendations.
September: Zinajah Watson
Zinajah, a seventh-grader, enjoys helping with her younger siblings, dancing, singing, drawing and playing school. Zinajah attends God Willing of Deliverance Church where she is the head leader of the chorus, priest’s team, and her bible study group. She also enjoys reading and visiting the public library.
“I think it is important to be a good student because you stay out of trouble and you can show a good example to all the other kids,” Zinajah said. “I also think it is important to be a good student because you don’t know who is looking up to you.
“Always set an example for yourself.”
October: Bryn Gilland
Eighth-grader Bryn Gilland is an A honor roll student, a newscaster on the school news, a member of the Chess Club, the North Rowan High School Band and the National Jr. Honor Society.
Bryn is also a member of Bethel United Methodist Church where he actively participates with the youth group. Bryn enjoys attending school, bike riding, playing music, and spending time with his friends.
Bryn exemplifies great character and leadership potential. He is a role model for his peers. He is a pleasure to have in the classroom.
Hanford-Dole Elementary Good Citizens for October
The following students have been named good citizens for the month of October.
PreK — William Martin
Kindergarten — James Montoya-Canales, Jayla Alford, Jennifer Guzman, Toni Lynn-Ipock
First grade — Gracie McDonald, Amiyah Corry, Danh Nhieu, Darell Carpenter,
Second grade — Justice Feaster, Emma Callahan, Destiny Ennis, Elijah Wilson
Third grade — Blessed Thompson, Michael McLean, Daisy Albarran, Michael Bass
Fourth grade — Raymundo Montes-Medrano, Chloe Bowers, Hannah Brandt, Jon Richard, Ahmad Morris
Fifth grade — Jamarius Cline, Arin Davidson, Tyzai Lyles, Thomas Myers, Michael Murray