The North Pike School Board doled out the hardware Tuesday afternoon, recognizing teachers of the year at the high school, middle school and elementary school, as well as the district teacher of the year.
Middle school teacher Jill Rousseau took home the most commendations, winning the honor for her school and the district as well. Middle school principal Janet Samuels described Rousseau as “the little lady with the Cajun fire.”
“This is the best home I could’ve had,” Rousseau said. “North Pike has taken care of my children since the first day we got here. The grass is not greener anywhere else, and I’m not leaving.”
When she received the district Teacher of the Year award, she had a little more difficulty finding her words.
“Thank you,” Rousseau said. “I’m usually not speechless.”
First-year teacher Kim Sawyer won the award for the high school.
Before he presented the award, Superintendent Dr. Ben Cox cited Sawyer’s work in state test strategy classes and her students’ positive results and reaction to her teaching methods.
“She takes it personal,” Cox said. “It’s her job to get them to pass, and she takes care of each and every student. We’re glad we have her.”
Sawyer added, “Thank you so much. It’s an honor and a privilege, and one I don’t feel like I deserve. I’ve enjoyed this first year here, I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed.”
Kathy McIntosh won the plaque for the elementary school. McIntosh is in her 35th year of teaching with the North Pike School District.
“I think she has more joy about her job and approaches it that way than a lot of first-year teachers,” said elementary school Principal Bobbi Jayne Dunn. “Now that’s a big accomplishment in itself.”
McIntosh added, “It’s been a privilege to teach in this district and to do a job that I love for 35 years.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved the transfer of six students to the McComb School District, one to Lincoln County and one from Lincoln County.
• Approved the district’s new pay scales, indexes and supplements. There was no change in the salary scales. The state didn’t increase teacher salaries.
• Approved the disposal of four desktop computers that were broken and deemed too expensive to fix. The board also approved the disposal of an obsolete laptop computer.
• Approved a new vocational plan. The vocational teachers’ salaries are paid out of state and federal funds that total about $146,437. The district matches up to 10 percent of the teachers’ salaries and benefits.
• Accepted the donation of 16 laptop computers from Weyerhaeuser valued at $1,720 each.
• Approved a change order for the middle school building project. The change includes $8,956 more for the repair of the existing sixth-grade building where a bus hit the overhang, the addition of a concrete pad for garbage dumpsters and an additional sidewalk.
• Deleted the 4-H Club activity account. The account had $652, but the school has not had a 4-H Club in years. The funds were transferred to another account.
• Accepted the resignations of elementary teacher Brittany Lambert, middle school teacher Brenda Anders and high school teacher Billy Caston.
• Hired middle school teacher Joan Gurganus as a special education assistant, as well as middle school teachers Denise Tobias and Christi Freeny.
• Went into executive session to discuss a disciplinary matter involving high school students.
