Teachers in Anson County and in communities across the nation are in the spotlight during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6, as students, parents, school administrators and the general public learns how teachers are making great public schools for every student. Few other professionals touch as many people as teachers do. As an educator for 30 years, a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators/Anson County Association of Educators and most importantly, grandparent to Peachland-Polkton Elementary School second-grader Kamryn Winfield, I am truly aware of the efforts made by teachers and parents (the strongest teacher) to mold children into productive members of society.
National Teacher Appreciation Week is a good time to learn about the contributions educators make to our community every day. We recognize we are role models. That brings satisfaction. It also brings responsibility. We want to take it to the next step. We believe we all have to work together to make our schools even better. That means everyone in the community: parents, business owners, retirees, other workers, local government and yes, students. Public schools are at the heart of any community. When there are problems, we address them. When there are kudos, we share them.
This year, the teachers and para-teachers at Lilesville Elementary School — Camille Ballard, Sharon Belcher, Emily Bowers, Melinda Corbett, Paul Currie, Tina Currie, Lauren Dugan, Susan Fowler, Katie Gaddy, Deborah Gathings, Stacy Harrington, Stephanie Harward, Dusty Hunter, Lori Ingram, Gloria Lilly, Thomas Martin, Cheryl McLeod, Dale Rivers, Jackie Rivers, Mary Kait Rivers, Lynn Sheppard, Cindy Sikes, Maggie Staton, Monica Stokes, Tiffany Tallent, Joan Waring, Natalie Williams, Sammi Williams and myself — have made a conscious effort to give back to the community through various activities. We have participated in events such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Special Olympics, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, The United Way of Central Carolinas, Toys for Tots, the “Souper” Bowl for the Anson County Domestic Violence Coalition and many more.
Community involvement brings learning to life. This is an opportunity for all of us to reach out to each other. I ask the community to learn about how we advocate for high standards for students, fair and meaningful evaluations of their work, and resources that go directly to the classroom. Better than an apple or a thank you card, a community’s active support of the work we mutually do to teach and care for the community’s students would be ample reward for all of us.
Maresa Dutton Phillips
Wadesboro, N.C.
Lilesville Elementary School principal