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inside nhcs January 28, 2021

'Your Kids Are My Kids': Subs Help Learning Go On | Rookie of the Year Finalists Surprised | Jared Worthington is New ED of School Support | NHCS Recap | Black History Month Celebration | Board of Education Staff Updates | Staff Bonus Updates | Mili Dunlap Completes WILMA Institute | Teacher Scholarship for Coastal Maine Retreat | Inside NHCS Submissions

'Your Kids Are My Kids': Subs Help Learning Go On

“Retired teachers don’t die,” Janice Foster joked during a lively transition in a first grade classroom recently, “they just become subs.”

And that day, she was just the gal. The classroom teacher was out, and the TA, too.

A student walked into the room at Murrayville Elementary, saw Ms. Foster’s face instead of her usual teacher, and immediately burst into tears.

“I’m so nervous being new in this class,” Ms. Foster confided in the girl. “Do you think you could be my helper today?”

The girl sniffled, and nodded yes.

Others needed help with addition worksheets, they needed a pencil sharpened, they needed a sore spot with a classmate patched up.

In short, they needed her.

And Ms. Foster delivered.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she taught the classroom teacher’s prepared lessons while sprinkling in songs, and silly little dances, and games of pictionary on the easel pad.

The tears were gone and the day was saved.

“There’s such a need for a substitute teacher who wants to be there,” said Foster, who retired three years ago after teaching at Sunset Park and Pine Valley, before finishing her career as a family life educator teaching what she called “Puberty 101” to sixth graders across the county.

“I think teaching with enthusiasm and an element of fun is contagious,” she said. “I don’t have to be there but I choose to — there’s a love for teaching that I can’t get out of my system.”

The Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare a sub shortage that started before two years of remote learning and classroom precautions and teacher absences.

Any building principal will tell you, if you’ve got some good subs that you can count on to effortlessly pick up where the classroom teacher left off, you’re sitting on gold.

Kim Brinson is another one of those subs at Murrayville. A former EC teacher, she started subbing in the district when her two kids were at the school years ago and she hasn’t stopped. “I’ve got the best of both worlds,” she said. “I work almost full time, but I can say no when I want to.”

Not that she ever does.

She’s the kind of sub whose phone number teachers have saved on speed dial and pass along in hushed tones to colleagues.

She handles behavior challenges with ease, she teaches exactly what the classroom teacher left for her, and every student in the school knows her because she’s subbing in someone’s classroom almost every day.

“I’ve built a reputation. I tell the kids, ‘It’s up to you what kind of a day we can have,’” she said. “I tell them it’s all in their hands.”

During Covid, she has felt especially pressed to be there for the teachers. She was subbing for someone on maternity leave in March 2020 when the schools shut down, and she had to immediately learn how to teach third grade over Zoom and Google Classroom.

She has hardly taken a day off since.

“I have a hard time saying no because teachers are going through enough as it is, and they know that learning is going to go on just as normal when I'm here,” she said.

Plus, she loves seeing the kids.

“They’re so inquisitive and they want to learn and they want to have fun. I’m just a kids person,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I like being with them more than adults sometimes.”

Ms. Foster feels there is a misconception in the public that a substitute teacher is just a body filling an empty space in the classroom.

“I'm not a babysitter, I’m an educator,” she said. “Anybody who has the best interest of kids at heart could be a wonderful sub. Your kids are my kids when I’m in the classroom, and it’s no different when I’m a sub.”

Foster and Brinson are two of five regular, beloved subs at Murrayville — and Principal Sabra Wright knows a good thing when she’s got it.

“They are totally dedicated and they put everything into our school. That’s a significant part of how we can continue instruction,” she said. “We don’t have to miss a beat.”

Wright shows her appreciation through inclusion — her subs are invited to staff meetings, they go on school outings, and when she orders t-shirts for staff, she gets their sizes.

“We want them to know they are appreciated and we look forward to seeing them, and we hope it goes toward them continuing to be with us,” she said. “They’re part of our school family.”

NHCS is always looking for substitute teachers who have kids' best interests at heart and are able to help learning continue during times of change and transition. Know someone in the community or a former NHCS staff member who would make a great substitute teacher? There is more info about the application process HERE or they can contact Yvonne Eason at yvonne.eason@nhcs.net.

Rookie of the Year Finalists Surprised

Brooke Russell, a kindergarten teacher in her 2nd year at Wrightsboro Elementary School

Congratulations to our five finalists for Rookie Teacher of the Year, who were surprised with the announcement in their classrooms this week.

Rookies are educators in their second or third year of teaching, which means that these teachers began their careers in the pandemic have not had one “normal” year yet.

Melissa Daria, a kindergarten teacher in her 2nd year at Forest Hills

But step into their classrooms unannounced on a Wednesday morning, and it will be clear that they have been teaching their tails off, building deep and meaningful relationships with their students, and inspiring incredible growth and learning — and doing it better than the circumstances would lead anyone to believe.

“What do you love about your teacher?” we ask their students. From kindergarten to high school, the answers are the same:

Meredith Cash, a fourth-grade teacher in her 2nd year at Rachel Freeman

“She always respects us.”

“She’s the kindest teacher I’ve ever met.”

“She makes me want to do my best work.”

“I love when she reads to us.”

“She’s the best teacher in the whole world.”

“I love her.”

Shelby Yardley, an EC teacher in her 3rd year at New Hanover High School

And the rookie teachers, without fail, each wiped away a tear, shook the Superintendent’s hand, got wrapped in a proud hug from a principal or mentor, tucked their shiny new plaques under their arms, and quickly got back to the matter at hand.

Samantha James, a third-grade teacher in her 3rd year at Winter Park

“As long as you’re here, let me show you what my students are working on,” they’d say. “Let me show you what they’re learning. I’m so proud of them.”

It is not an easy time to be in the field of education, but our rookie teachers’ dedication to their students and tenacity in making their classrooms a safe, welcoming space where every child learns and grows inspires us, and reminds us of the “why” that brought us here.

We’re so happy they chose teaching as their vocation, and so proud to be their colleagues.

2022 Rookie of the Year Finalists:

Winter Park Elementary - Samantha James, a third-grade teacher in her 3rd year

Forest Hills Global Elementary School - Melissa Daria, a kindergarten teacher in her 2nd year

Wrightsboro Elementary School - Brooke Russell, a kindergarten teacher in her 2nd year

Rachel Freeman School of Engineering - Meredith Cash, a fourth-grade teacher in her 2nd year

New Hanover High School - Shelby Yardley, an EC teacher in her 3rd year

The Rookie of the Year award is sponsored by the Wilmington Rotary Club. The winner will be announced at a banquet Feb. 8.

Jared Worthington Is New ED of School Support

Jared Worthington has one goal as he joins the district as the new Executive Director of School Support: To be of service.

The fifth generation educator, who most recently was principal of an 800-student elementary school in Union County, said he understands the challenges principals are facing.

“As someone who has just moved out of that role and knows what the stressors and hurdles look like, I can either help them find creative solutions or advocate for change from the top down,” he said.

This year in particular, Worthington said, principals are tasked with keeping an eye on the big picture of school growth and student achievement while putting out countless day-to-day fires — often with many staff members absent.

“I’ll be able to say I’ve done a good job,” he said, “if I help get things out of principals’ way so they can do theirs.”

Worthington is a native of Whiteville and has taught and coached at the elementary, middle and high school levels in Robeson, Columbus, and Union counties. His wife is an instructional coach and they have two children.

In this new school support role, he hopes to carry forward a mantra of his dad, a longtime school counselor who died in 2020:

All you have to do is do a good day’s work and act like somebody.

“If you’re going to act like somebody, you’re responsible for your actions, you’re respectful to every single person who comes across your path, and when others think of you they think of you as a support and someone they can trust and lean on,” he said. “If someone has a need I want them to think, ‘I can go to Jared and he can help.’ A life in service to others is a life well lived.”

NHCS Recap

Celebrate Black History Month Starting Monday

Black History Month begins Feb. 1, and a presentation with a new slide for each school day of the month is available for all classroom teachers to use as an instructional tool.

The slideshow features photos and brief, engaging narratives about local and national figures in Black history and is appropriate for all grade levels. We hope it helps prompt discussion in your classrooms as you celebrate and recognize Black leaders and their contributions. Thank you to Travis Matthews, Caress Clegg, Tyler Shumate, and Lauren Gray for their work in developing the content.

To view the slideshow, CLICK HERE.

Board of Education Staff Updates

Update on NHCS Staff Bonuses

From Mary Hazel Small, NHCS Chief Financial Officer:

District-wide salary schedule increases went into effect on January 1 and will be reflected in January paychecks. All state bonuses will be paid on January 31, with the exception of the retro pay bonus.

Unfortunately, there will be a delay in the retro pay bonus due to a pending software update.

Our payroll team has been working nonstop to process all of the salary changes and bonuses, and we apologize for this delay.

We are confident the retro pay bonus will be distributed no later than February 15.

Dr. Mili Dunlap Completes WILMA Leadership Institute

Congratulations to Dr. Mili Dunlap for recently completing the WILMA Leadership Program. She was selected for this nine-month training as part of WILMA’s Women to Watch Leadership Initiative which aims to reach high potential leaders in their organizations. She was recognized for her accomplishments by other local leaders and members throughout the community.

Dr. Dunlap currently serves as the Lead Psychologist for New Hanover County Schools, and has been a part of NHCS since 2005. Over the years, she has developed and presented numerous in-service trainings, mentored other district professionals, served on district and state-level committees, and promoted positive educational and intervention practices throughout the county. Dr. Dunlap has utilized her knowledge in mental health, learning, and behavior to serve the students, families, schools, and district staff of NHCS for over 15 years. Please help us congratulate her on her accomplishment!

Educator Scholarship Available for Maine Retreat

Cape Fear Audubon (CFA) is sponsoring an educator scholarship for an elementary teacher passionate about science to attend Sharing Nature: “An Educator’s Week” (July 17-22, 2022) at Hog Island in Bremen, Maine.

The $2,000 scholarship includes $1,590 paid to Hog Island to cover standard shared room/board and a check for the balance to the recipient to support travel costs.

For more information about Hog Island and the summer program for educators, visit https://hogisland.audubon.org/programs/sharing-nature-educator’s-week

All applications must be completed/received by March 7, 2022 and the scholarship awardee will be notified by March 15. For any other questions, contact Catherine Nesbit, CFA Educational Coordinator, at Cnesbit716@gmail.com.

https://hogisland.audubon.org/programs/sharing-nature-educator’s-week

Any other questions please contact:

Catherine Nesbit, Educational Coordinator at Cnesbit716@gmail.com

Inside NHCS Submissions

Our staff are the heart of our district, and we know great things are happening in every division and school across the county. We wanted to create a space to share news and stories with one another, to cheer each other on, and to lift each other up. We look forward to showcasing your great work.

If you know of someone who should be featured in Inside NHCS, please email Christina Beam at christina.beam@nhcs.net or call ext. 4109.

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