Rhonda Berry named Administrator of the Year

Superintendent Glenn Harris announced that Rhonda Berry, Principal at Mendenhall Elementary School, was selected as the School District’s Administrator of the Year. In making the announcement, Mr. Harris asked staff to: “Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Rhonda Berry, Principal of Mendenhall Elementary, as our Simpson County School District Administrator of the Year for 2011-2012. I know Mrs. Berry will represent our district well in the next level of competition in the state wide administrator of the year competition.  Again, congratulations Mrs. Rhonda Berry. “

Ms. Berry began pursuing her degree in education after graduating from Houlka Attendance Center. She went on to attend Copiah Lincoln Community College as well as Mississippi College. Principal Berry obtained her administrative degree from William Cary College.

 

This is her 23^rd year in education. All of Ms. Berry’s years have been with the Simpson County School District with the exception of her first year. She has taught at Simpson Central, Mendenhall Jr. High and Mendenhall Elementary.  Eighteen of her years of service have been at Mendenhall Elementary where she taught Kindergarten and became the first assistant principal at Mendenhall Elementary. Ms. Berry served in this capacity for eight years before becoming principal.

 

Rhonda Berry is married to Mack Berry. They have four boys and two grandsons. They are Nick and his wife, Lesley Berry; Mason Thornton, Cody Berry and Seth Berry. The two grandsons are Ryder Berry and Preston Berry. Ms. Berry attends Shivers Baptist Church and lives in Shivers, Mississippi. She enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

 

 When advised of the recognition Ms. Berry stated: “I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. I could not be Simpson County School District Administrator without the guidance and direction of those before me as well as the wonderful faculty and students in front of me at Mendenhall Elementary.”

    

Flags Flown in Iraq Presented to Simpson County School District

Chief Warrant Officer Larry D. Banks, Jr., a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, presented flags to Superintendent of Education Glenn Harris and the Simpson County School Board at the Board January meeting. Two flags, one for the Magee Schools and one for the Mendenhall Schools, were provided by the US Army. These flags were flown in Iraq on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 aboard a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Pictured below are Larry Banks, Superintendent Harris, School Board President Dale Shoots and School Board Member Doris Perkins.

Traci Brown named District Teacher of the Year

Traci Brown, First Grade Teacher at Mendenhall Elementary, has been selected to represent the District as the 2012 District Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Brown attended 1st through 12^th grades at Mendenhall schools, received her BS in Elementary Education from USM in 1986, and received her M. Ed. in Elementary Education from William Carey in 1990.

Committed to excellence in education, Traci Brown went through the rigorous process of achieving National Board Certification in 2000 and is currently renewing her certification. She is a member of Mississippi Professional Educators, a member of Sigma Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and has been consistently recognized as a Renaissance Model and Master Teacher.

Mrs. Brown has served as grade-level chair, pilot teacher for new educational programs, served on district committees, coordinated professional development sessions, served on advisory teams to the State Department of Education, served on an advisory team to the governor, and served as teacher representative for the state of Mississippi at national teachers summit . She is currently in her 26^th year of teaching with 7 of those as a 2^nd grade teacher.

Mrs. Brown was informed of her selection with a song from School administrators and her students broke into applause. Mrs. Brown commented: “Being with my students and watching them grow and change brings me so much joy. I am so grateful to my students for inspiring me each day. I want them to experience joyful learning and I encourage them to be their personal best in all that they do. They are amazing. Being a classroom teacher is a very special blessing in my life. However, I would not be the teacher I am if it were not for the strength I draw from my Heavenly Father and those I work with each day. I have amazing administrators, colleagues, and support staff. I would not be the person I am if it were not for my best friend and husband of 29 years, Bobby Brown, and my amazing family. Thank all of you for helping to build my character.” She added: “Our world needs a deeper understanding of each other. We can help through building relationships of care and respect. I challenge each of you to help build relationships as you share kindness, compassion, and respect.”

Principal Rhonda Berry of Mendenhall Elementary wrote in a letter congratulating Mrs. Brown: “We are blessed that everyday your provide students with the tools to be successful in life. Through your dedication, compassion, and expert knowledge you lay the foundation for the love of learning while building the pillars of character.”

 

Representing each school site as Teacher of the Year for their schools are:

Magee Elementary School -Debra Craft, Magee Middle School-Rita Dorsett,
Magee High School-Jacquelyn Odom, Mendenhall Elementary School-Traci Brown,
Mendenhall Junior High School-LaShunda Overby, Mendenhall High School- Melissa Harrison,
Simpson Central School-Karen Rhodes, Achievement Center-Christi Wester,
Technical Center-Dr. Dave Nicholas

 

Superintendent Glenn Harris stated: “All the candidates this year were exceptional and the selection and recognition of Traci Brown as District Teacher of the Year is a great compliment considering the many worthy teachers placed in nomination by the schools.” Mrs. Brown will be one of hundreds of teachers from across the state recognized by the Mississippi Department of Education and considered as a candidate for Mississippi Teacher of the Year.

English II Writing Scores are in!

Superintendent Glenn Harris announced the District had received the results of the Fall administration of the Mississippi English II Writing Test for high school students. Magee High School tested 41 students and had a 100% passage rate! Mendenhall High School tested 103 students and had 97 passing for a 94% passage rate. Superintendent Harris commented that we are proud of the work the high schools are doing as students work to reach their goal of DESTINATION GRADUATION and teachers and administrators are doing what is best for kids.