School Districts Top Teacher Honored

The Canton ISD Board of Trustees recognized their District Teacher of the Year, Julie Neff, with a plaque, during Monday night’s board meeting.

Neff is a teacher at the junior high campus working under the leadership of principal Amy Autry.

"She is absolutely wonderful and keeps the kids engaged and absolutely in love with her," superintendent Dr. Jerome Stewart said in introducing Neff.

Autry sung Neff’s praises expressing her hard work in the classroom to help her students succeed in English and keep "extremely good" test scores.

"You couldn’t beat her scores in English TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills)," Autry said.

"I am very, very proud of her," Autry added.

In other business the board:

-welcomed new board member Kenneth Pruitt and re-appointed board members Pat May and Reagan Sumner.

The new board was issued their certificates of election and took the oath of office.

Also, the board was realigned with the election of board officers. Dr. Ben Bratcher was reappointed president, Pat May was reappointed vice president, and Charles Beasley was reappointed secretary.

-Heard from Christy Barnard from the American Heart Association on the success of Canton Elementary School’s Jump Rope For Heart.

Barnard presented physical education teacher Brooke Brock with a plaque of appreciation.

She noted that for more than 15 years CISD has participated in Jump Rope For Heart and helped raise more than $130,000 and save 2,600 lives.

"Canton Elementary Schools is the number one school in the state of Texas," Barnard said.

"This is not me, this is the students," Brock said of the success.

-recognized senior Kaitie Gummelt with an Academic All State Basketball Team certificate.

"She is going to take this world and make something good of it," Stewart said. "But we hate to see her go."

Gummelt said her future plans are to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

"I have no doubt you will be a wonderful pediatrician and excel at that as well," Bratcher said.

-heard a presentation from second grade student council members Piper Beasley, Sydney Williams, Reagan Busby and Wyatt Bowers.

Canton Elementary School Principal Kelly Lamar described the students as "good role models for the school."

Piper Beasley gave the invocation, and all students led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then each student read aloud their definition of what a R.E.A.L. teacher is.

Sydney Williams explained that "Respect is to be polite to others, to share with people and to not say bad words."

Piper Beasley explained that "Expectation is to do your very best, to expect good work, and to have an ‘I can do it’ attitude."

Wyatt Bowers explained that "Attitude is the way you think about yourself, the way you treat other people, and being kind to others."

Reagan Busby explained that "Love is caring for people, helping others, and telling the truth even when it’s hard."

-approved the consent agenda.