Spelling Bee winners recognized at Board of Education meeting
TOP TWO SPELLERS — The top spellers in the county were recognized at the February Board of Education meeting and they are both sixth graders. Pictured from left to right are: Runner-up Daniel Costner from East Alexander Middle School, Noah Wingler from West Alexander Middle School, and Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin. The winning word for Wingler was “zygote.” Noah will go on to the regional Spelling Bee at the Bank of America Stadium.
By ANGELA FARR KING
The Alexander County Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2025, at 6 p.m.
The Alexander County Spelling Bee was held on February 4 at 10 a.m. in the ACHS Auditorium. Students from each elementary school and each middle school competed. Two sixth grade students took home the trophies. The first place winner was Noah Wingler from West Alexander Middle School and the runner up was Daniel Costner from East Alexander Middle School. The winning word for Noah was “zygote.” Noah will go on to the regional spelling bee at the Bank of America Stadium to be held on March 9.
Three Alexander County teachers were recognized at the meeting for completing their National Board certifications for the first time, Risa Sink Cook from Alexander Central High School, Annie Hollar from West Alexander Middle School and Kimberly Brown from Bethlehem Elementary School. According to nbts.org, “National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. To become a Board-certified teacher, eligible candidates must demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills, and practice in their individual certificate area by completing four components: three portfolio entries and a computer-based assessment.” Becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is an extremely rigorous process. North Carolina has the most National Board Certified teachers in the entire country and there are 70 certified staff members in Alexander County.
Five teachers were recognized for renewing their National Board Certifications. According to nbts.org, “Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requires you, as a National Board Certified Teacher, to document your professional accomplishments every five years in order to keep your Board certification current and valid. This five-year timeline is aligned with the five-year renewal period found in a majority of state licensure systems.” It is important to note that teachers achieve these prestigious certifications at a great deal of expense to themselves. There was a reception held in their honor prior to the Board meeting.
NEW NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS — Three Alexander County educators were recognized at the February Board of Education meeting for achieving their National Board Certification for the first time. This is a lengthy and rigorous process that involves three portfolio entries and one computer based assessment. These candidates completed the process in two years. They are pictured from Left to Right: Annie Hollar from West Alexander Middle School, Kimberly Brown from Bethlehem Elementary School, Risa Sink Cook from Alexander Central High School, and Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin. North Carolina has the highest number of National Board Certified teachers in the nation and there are 70 NBCT in Alexander County.
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED RENEWALS — Five Alexander County teachers were recognized at the February Board meeting for renewing their National Board Certifications. This must be done every five years to maintain certification. National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools. Pictured from Left to Right are: Andrea Austin from Taylorsville Elementary School, Jessica Mundy, Principal of Stony Point Elementary School, Heather Houston, Assistant Principal of West Alexander Middle School, and Bridget Horn from Bethlehem Elementary School. Not pictured: Natalie Millsaps from Sugar Loaf Elementary School.
Also honored during the honors and recognition portion of the meeting was Jennifer Bass, who was recognized as Alexander County’s Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence. According to Dr. Denita Dowell-Reavis, the Director of Accountability and Communications, “Bass has been a teacher at ACHS since 2012. She was chosen by her peers based on certain criteria, including her leadership, dedication, and service in extracurricular and nonacademic activities that have improved the quality of education for exceptional children and youth.”
BASS HONORED — Jennifer Bass, an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Alexander Central High School, was selected as Alexander County’s Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence. She was chosen by her peers for her qualities of leadership, dedication, and service in extracurricular and nonacademic activities that have improved the quality of education for exceptional children and youth. Bass, far left, is shown with Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin.
Chris Marshall was announced as the new head coach for the varsity football team at Alexander Central High School (see article here). Coach Marshall addressed Superintendent Griffin, the Board of Education and those in attendance at the meeting by saying, “I would like to start by thanking my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I feel like He has led me down this path and I have said that in every interview and with the committee. I also said that with Dr. Griffin when we met in a private session. I would also like to thank my family. I would especially like to thank my wife. We are all in. I’ve got two little cheerleaders and we are super excited to get going. My role is now to inspire and put forth a product on the field that we can be proud of and not just a successful program in terms of wins and losses but a successful program in terms of preparing the kids in everything they do in the game of life.”
Andrea Robinette, the Assistant Finance Officer and Director of Federal Programs gave the monthly financial report. She shared a budget update document to show where the school system stood as of January 31 regarding budget expenditures in comparison to the school system’s budget. She stated that “there have been 7 of 12 months completed in this year’s budget, which would put us at approximately 58% of the fiscal year.” When making the comparison, the school system is on track with budget spending.
Robinette also shared three budget amendments. The first was an increase of $77,410 from the state for allotments for Summer Reading Camp, test results bonuses and the purchases of transportation equipment. The second amendment was an increase of $75,472 for a lease payment made by the Department of Public Instruction for the purchase of yellow school buses. The third amendment was in the amount of $100,128 for additional funds to Career and Technical Education. The Board voted unanimously to approve all of these amendments.
In his Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin shared that on January 30, he pulled together members of the faith community to begin a Faith and Family Collaborative. It was announced to numerous churches in the county. He said the first meeting was low in attendance but he knows there is an interest in the county for this. He said that those in attendance discussed ways that the faith community can partner with the school system to work together for the students and staff within the Alexander County School System. He said he will continue to reach out to the faith community to hold more of these meetings in the future.
Assistant Finance Director Andrea Robinette presented three policies for approval upon second reading. Those policies were: Policy No. 3227/7322: Web Page Development, Policy No. 3410: Testing and Assessment Program, and Policy No. 3420: Student Promotion and Accountability. The Board voted unanimously to approve these. She then brought forth nine Board Policies for first reading. They were: Policy 2010 – Board and Superintendent Relations, Policy 2130 – Board Member Compensation and Expenses, Policy 2210 – Duties of Officers, Policy 2230 – Board Committees, Policy 2240 – School Advisory Councils, Policy 2302 – Remote Participation in Board Meetings, Policy 2320 – Compliance With the Open Meetings Law, Policy 3225/4312/7320 – Technology Responsible Use, and Policy 7650 – Employee Travel and Other Expense Reimbursement.
School Board members then took time to thank all of the schools and individuals who took the time to recognize them and give them gifts at the January Board meeting when School Board Appreciation was celebrated.
