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June 12, 2020 For Immediate Release: Contact: Dr. Christine Catalano Executive Director of Communication, Planning and Engagement chcatalano@nrms.k12.nc.us 252.567.3003 Top Educators for 2020-2021 School Year Announced and New District Logo Unveiled Nashville, NC - Top educators, administrators, board of education members and community partners traditionally gather at Rose Hill Conference Center to honor various Nash-Rocky Mount Public School educators, however this year the annual event took on new twists. As with many other traditional mass gatherings, the normal celebration over a meal and awards ceremony had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 related restrictions on such events. In its place, district leaders coordinated a YouTube Premier video recording that maintained social distancing guidelines but still held an element of surprise. Jessica Richardson of Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School was named the 2020-21 Nash County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Her obvious surprise and excitement was captured during the taping of the video as Graham Nelson of Davenport Honda presented her with the keys to a brand new Honda CR-V. Keenan Mills, teacher at Nashville Elementary and Shanika Bratts of Rocky Mount Middle were finalists for Teacher of the Year. Hugh Scott, Principal of Southern Nash High School was named the 2020-21 Nash County Public Schools Principal of the Year. Tiffany Hopkins, Principal of Hubbard Elementary and Leon Dupree, Principal of Rocky Mount Middle School were Principal of the Year finalists. Nashville Elementary School Assistant Principal, Quarry Williams was awarded the 2020-21 Nash County Public School Assistant Principal of the Year. Tesha Dixon, Assistant Principal of Parker Middle School and Kevin Leonard, Assistant Principal of Nash Central High School were finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year. The 2020-21 Nash County New Teacher of the Year is Greg Ellington, teacher at Southern Nash High School. The finalists for this category were Bethany Williams of Swift Creek Elementary and LeJuan Walker of Rocky Mount Middle School. Southern Nash High School Senior Kathryn Marie Howard provided one of the highlights of the YouTube Premier with a beautiful vocal rendition of The Climb. Another new twist to the annual event, predicated by the mandated district name change, the YouTube Premier video featured the new district logo and name. As the overall award winners will serve as the top educators for the 2020-21 school year, they will no longer be Nash-Rocky Mount Public School educators of the year, but instead Nash County Public School educators of the year. As previously reported, effective July 1, 2020 Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools will become Nash County Public Schools pursuant to North Carolina Session Law 2016-14 (Senate Bill 382). The new district logo, which was selected through a design contest open to all NRMPS high school students, was highlighted throughout the Teacher and Principal of the Year YouTube Premier video. A total of thirty-five logo designs were submitted during the contest in March 2020. School and district leaders voted on the top design based on each logo’s relevance, originality and aesthetic quality. The winning logo was designed by Southern Nash High School senior Matt Foster. Matt was recognized by the school board at the April Board of Education meeting and was presented with a $100.00 gift card donated by First Financial Group. He will also receive district promotional items with his winning logo showcased on them.
June 12, 2020
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Dr. Christine Catalano
Executive Director of Communication, Planning and Engagement
chcatalano@nrms.k12.nc.us
252.567.3003
Top Educators for 2020-2021 School Year Announced and New District Logo Unveiled
Nashville, NC - Top educators, administrators, board of education members and community partners traditionally gather at Rose Hill Conference Center to honor various Nash-Rocky Mount Public School educators, however this year the annual event took on new twists. As with many other traditional mass gatherings, the normal celebration over a meal and awards ceremony had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 related restrictions on such events. In its place, district leaders coordinated a YouTube Premier video recording that maintained social distancing guidelines but still held an element of surprise.
Jessica Richardson of Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School was named the 2020-21 Nash County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Her obvious surprise and excitement was captured during the taping of the video as Graham Nelson of Davenport Honda presented her with the keys to a brand new Honda CR-V. Keenan Mills, teacher at Nashville Elementary and Shanika Bratts of Rocky Mount Middle were finalists for Teacher of the Year.
Hugh Scott, Principal of Southern Nash High School was named the 2020-21 Nash County Public Schools Principal of the Year. Tiffany Hopkins, Principal of Hubbard Elementary and Leon Dupree, Principal of Rocky Mount Middle School were Principal of the Year finalists.
Nashville Elementary School Assistant Principal, Quarry Williams was awarded the 2020-21 Nash County Public School Assistant Principal of the Year. Tesha Dixon, Assistant Principal of Parker Middle School and Kevin Leonard, Assistant Principal of Nash Central High School were finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year.
The 2020-21 Nash County New Teacher of the Year is Greg Ellington, teacher at Southern Nash High School. The finalists for this category were Bethany Williams of Swift Creek Elementary and LeJuan Walker of Rocky Mount Middle School.
Southern Nash High School Senior Kathryn Marie Howard provided one of the highlights of the YouTube Premier with a beautiful vocal rendition of The Climb. Another new twist to the annual event, predicated by the mandated district name change, the YouTube Premier video featured the new district logo and name. As the overall award winners will serve as the top educators for the 2020-21 school year, they will no longer be Nash-Rocky Mount Public School educators of the year, but instead Nash County Public School educators of the year. As previously reported, effective July 1, 2020 Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools will become Nash County Public Schools pursuant to North Carolina Session Law 2016-14 (Senate Bill 382).
The new district logo, which was selected through a design contest open to all NRMPS high school students, was highlighted throughout the Teacher and Principal of the Year YouTube Premier video. A total of thirty-five logo designs were submitted during the contest in March 2020. School and district leaders voted on the top design based on each logo’s relevance, originality and aesthetic quality. The winning logo was designed by Southern Nash High School senior Matt Foster. Matt was recognized by the school board at the April Board of Education meeting and was presented with a $100.00 gift card donated by First Financial Group. He will also receive district promotional items with his winning logo showcased on them.