001[music] [singing] [music] >> White slipper, white flash, white water, they dart and they dash. [music and singing] Run this frozen in arctic ice. When the silence falls, when the colors [singing] fall, pink and purple, yellow and red, indigo and gold, it spirals [music and singing] overhead, dancing in the darkness, lighting up the night. A beautiful >> [music and singing] [music] [singing] [music] >> I now call to the meeting to order that our business regular business meeting of March uh would ask you to please silence your cell phones and other devices. And we will have a moment of silence followed by the pledge led by students from Northside High School, Emma Alford and Hannah Shaw. A word of a moment of silence. Thank you. Ladies. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
002of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [clears throat] >> This month our meeting will begin by recognizing the employees who have reached the milestone of serving 30, 35, and 40 years for the Houston County School District. Our assistant superintendent of human resources and district operations, Dr. Walter Stevens, will MC today's years of service ceremony. Dr. Stevens, will you please come forward? >> Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here on today. Each year we set aside time to celebrate something truly special. Our employees who dedicated decades of their lives to Houston County School District. Today, we're proud to recognize those who have reached the remarkable milestones of 30, 35, and even 40 years of continuous service. To our honorees, thank
003you. Your commitment to our students, our schools, and this community has helped shape the success of our district. Staying in one school system for so many years says a lot about your dedication and heart you bring to your work every day. The impact you've had on students, colleagues, and families over the years is something that can't really be measured, but is is deeply appreciated. On behalf of the entire Houston County community, thank you for the difference you've made. Today, we're honored to celebrate you and present a small token of appreciation for all you've done and continue to do for the Houston County School District. As I call your name, please come forward to receive your years of service plaque from Dr. Richard Rogers. You'll enter the stage on the right and exit on the left.
004After you leave the stage, Dr. Chris Brown will have a special gift bag waiting for you. And Mr. Brad Hamlin from HEA Federal Credit Union also has an additional gift for each of our honorees. I will begin by recognizing the employees with 30 years of service. First, we have Dr. Elgin Mayfield, teaching and learning. >> [applause] >> We're beginning with Dr. Mayfield so he can assist with our other honorees assist our honorees down the stairs if they need any help. We also have Dr. Stephen Hornyak here to help as well as you're coming up the stairs. Next, Teresa Bowden, Centerville Elementary School. >> [applause] >> Dr. Dana Brock, Miller Elementary School. >> [applause] [clears throat] >> Stacy Brown, Northside Elementary School. >> [applause] >> Dr. Karen Cannon, Perry High School. >> [applause] >> Nikki Cooper,
005teaching and learning. >> [applause] >> Darcy Emerson, Veterans High School. >> [applause] >> Laura George, Matt Arthur Elementary School. >> [applause] >> Teresa Gutierrez, Bonaire Middle School. >> [applause] >> Jennifer Hall, teaching and learning. >> [applause] >> Vicki Jackson, King's Chapel Elementary School. >> [applause] >> Jennifer Pritchard, Centerville Elementary School. >> [applause] >> Alyssa Rodriguez, Houston County High School. >> [applause] >> Tiffany Rommel, Houston County High School. >> [applause] >> Kevin Smith, Perry High School. >> [applause] >> Christy Stokes, School Nutrition. >> [applause and cheering] >> Dr. Tammy Strickland, Houston County High School. >> [applause] >> And Dr. Tanya Wallace, Houston College Career and Career Academy. >> [applause] >> Unable to be here with us on today celebrating 30 years are Lori Atkins, Warner Robins High School, Tanya Grant, Transportation, Dr. Mike Jackson, Thompson Middle
006School, and Nell Tibbs, Transportation. Next, we will honor our employees with 35 years of service. Margaret Bagley, transportation. >> [applause] >> Denise Boyd, Lindsey Student Support Center. >> [applause] >> Bradley Burris, Russell Elementary. >> [applause] >> Finally, we honor one employee who is celebrating an incredible 40 years of service with the Houston County School District. And if you if you've eaten well at Northside High School, you know this individual. Martha King, Northside High School. >> [applause and cheering] [applause] >> All right, Ms. Martha. Baked chicken. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I mean fried chicken. Oh, males. Before we end today's ceremony, I would like to acknowledge our premier district sponsors who helped make today's reception possible and provided gifts for our honorees. Our sponsors are Development Authority of Houston County, Emory Healthcare, Flint Energies, HEA Federal
007Credit Union, PBK Architects, Parrish Construction, The Roderick Group, Total Benefit Solutions, Yancey Bus Sales and Service. To all of our honorees, congratulations and thank you for your many years of service. Please join me again in one more time for a round of applause as we celebrate these outstanding members of the Houston County School District family. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you, Dr. Stevens. On behalf of the entire Board of Education, I would like to thank all of you for your selfless service to the students and staff of our district. At this time, we will hear from five of our school principals who have brought special guests they would like to introduce. First off, Dr. Dusty Dykes, Northside High School. >> Good afternoon. Thanks for having the Eagles out. Um thank you for all you do
008for our students and staff in this Board Appreciation Week. Great to have you guys out last night. Have uh three queens and their jester from Northside High School today. >> [laughter] >> WE HAVE UH MS. RANKIN, THE QUEEN OF RANKINVILLE. Um we started our career together um over 20 years ago and it's funny we were talking at lunch about the tail end of our careers. So, uh she's uh she's a miracle worker. Um she's special now. Um I don't know how to tell you exactly what she does, but she does it better than anybody. >> [laughter] >> Some Some of our students in the need of the most support um come to see her and they leave a completely different person than they came through the door. So, I'm I'm glad to know her and
009glad to work with her. Um Ms. Emma Alford is a senior with us, class of '26. She is our homecoming queen and uh captain of the cheer football team, basketball cheer as well, involved in various clubs and organizations within the school. She uh will continue her education at the Harvard of the South, Georgia Southern University, and she plans to major in nursing. Um we look forward to seeing her uh shine in the future. And then Miss Hannah Shaw is our current Miss Northside as well as Miss Warner Robins and has various other crowns. She'll compete in the Miss Georgia pageant this summer. She uh is also a senior grad- graduating class of 26, very involved in various clubs and organizations, a gifted uh singer and actress, and we're real proud of her. She's going to
010go on to UAB, where she plans to major in theater education to be the next great theater teacher at Northside High School. >> [applause] >> It's me. Next we have Houston County High School, Dr. Jay Jones. >> Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you, Dr. Rogers, Board of Education. You're going to hear this a lot today, guys, but thank you all for what you do. Uh not just this week, we we celebrate you extra special this week, but thank you every day for what you do, making the decisions for our our students and staff in our district. Um got two outstanding Bears here today and Dr. Jones, who's also an outstanding Bear. Throw Um want to start with Michelle Jones. Uh Michelle's got an interesting story, born in Italy, in northeast region of Italy, uh moved here
011very young in life, uh but has done her entire schooling career here in Houston County School District. Uh she's number seven for us in the class of 2026, and uh oddly enough, the only female in our top 10. So, she's showing the other girls how to get it done, Hustle County High, you know? Um she's the current student council senior president. She's a marching band captain, a Build-A-Bear ambassador, and the Beta Club, and also a member of Future Medical Scholars of America. You'll see what that is in a second. In our community, she volunteers to get hours for all of those clubs, but also is very involved with her church. Uh for her future, she thinks she's going to Georgia Tech, but she's waiting on a couple of other acceptance letters to roll in. But,
012that's the plan wherever she goes, uh she's going to major in biomedical engineering and taught us a little bit today about CRISPR technology. That's part of that field where she is going to analyze and break apart and do things with genetics for the hopes of finding cancer treatment and prevention options. So, that's Michelle Jones. Uh here we have Ethan Kenny, who is the only non-Jones with us today. So, we're going to adopt him as a Jones. [laughter] Right? You What What's like? Um Ethan was born and raised here in Warner Robins, done all of his schooling here in the school district. He is a product of a family of educators. Uh he is number 28 in our graduating class this year, a proud member of our Partners Club, helping out with those special needs students
013at all of their events, does an awesome job with that. Uh he's pretty talented baseball player, been on the varsity for 3 years, first baseman and a pitcher. He was named the Region 2-5A Academic Player of the Year, so getting it done on both playing fields there academically and on the baseball diamond. Uh for the future for his future, uh got a friend over there, uh right now planning to attend Georgia Southern University, but I'm certain has a couple of other baseball scholarship and commitment opportunities that are going to come his way. So, we're going to hold out on a a full commitment to head to Statesboro and see just kind of what's down the road coming up soon. Wherever he lands, plans on majoring in civil engineering uh with an ultimate plan to come
014back home and find a job in civil civil engineering on Warner Robins Air Force Base hopefully one day. So, those are my two outstanding Yeah, yeah, give it up. Yeah, yeah. >> [applause] >> Build your own products to return, right? That's the goal. So, uh finally, uh not a teacher here with us today, but one of the most influential Bears in our building, no doubt, on our students, our staff, um I I don't know what I would do what I'm going to do without this lady here, much less what our students are going to do. Um Dr. Melissa Jones is our current lead counselor. She's an All Binnie native uh who came to education from DFACS. She spent 10-plus years in the DFACS world uh starting in 2001. Began as an interrelated teacher at Northside
015Middle School before coming to Houston County High in 2004 and we never let her go. She's been there ever since. Uh she started as the career tech counselor and those of you who like me know what that was. That was a thing back in the past, right? Um she's got all aspects of counseling in her career and her personal life. Her daughter Kalea uh graduated from HoCo in 2016. Her daughter Kai passed away in 2011 while a member at Houston County High School. Uh and there she says she told me I was welcome to tell that story and say that's where she truly learned about the Houston County Bear family support and that kind of springboarded her into where she is now, retiring to get more time since she achieved her doctorate degree in 2023
016in counseling and psychological studies to now have an emphasis in helping students and families through the grief process when they lose a member of the family or someone close to them. So, she's got a far-reaching influence. She uh helps with the band. She manages our SOS Club. Uh she's retiring to pursue all of those things. A- and what does she says whatever the Lord calls me to do, but first he's going to call her to do some traveling. >> [applause] >> Yep. I've I've already gone longer than I'm supposed to. They're going to start the music soon, but Dr. Jones said her goal is for her and her daughter to see all of the Disney parks worldwide before she gets too deep in anything. So, these are my outstanding Bears, Dr. Jones and my two
017students. Thank you all again for what you do and thank you for having us in the D and D today. >> Thank you, Dr. Jones. >> [applause] >> Next, MacArthur Elementary School, Ms. Casey Hopkins. >> All right. Hello, everyone. I'm so excited to be here today to just be able to spotlight these outstanding Knights from MacArthur Elementary, which we affectionately call the castle. We like to say castle life is the best life. And these three individuals are definitely a big part of that. So, I'm going to start with our teacher. This is Ms. Ashley Wright. Ms. Wright has served as our teacher of the year for the 25-26 school year. She is a third grade gifted teacher with us at the castle. She leads her team. She's the grade level team leader. She also serves
018in a couple different leadership roles in our district. She's one of our STEM teachers in the district and has just been an outstanding representative for us at the castle this year. She leads her team so well and just highly respected by her peers, super positive all the time, and I just can't think of anybody better to have represented our school this past year. She's going to be moving up to teach fifth grade next year, and I'm very excited about that for her, and I know she's going to be amazing in that role as well. Ms. Wright is a military spouse, and so when I asked her about just how special MacArthur is and what that's meant to her, she talked a lot about that military connection. Because being a military spouse, she's lived through some
019deployments. They've moved around a lot, and she said that MacArthur is really like her family outside of her family and has stepped in and been that role for her and we're just so so happy that she's a part of our family at MacArthur. And then I'll go ahead and start with our students. I'm going to start with Miss Annelise Freeman. I have brought today two outstanding fifth grade students and Annelise is just a wonderful and bright student. She has been at the castle since first grade. When you ask her teachers about her and just in general about students her name comes up a lot when we talk about just outstanding role models, you know, a student that just does her best all the time kind of that quiet leader. And so she just does such
020a great job. Um one thing that's kind of fun about her, she just portrayed Orville Wright in our fifth grade wax museum project. So she was kind of telling me all about Orville, that was fun. And then I love this. Annelise is one of our Boogie Nights. We have a dance team at MacArthur and this is her second year being on the Boogie Nights and she has just the most beautiful smile and sweet disposition and personality. I love watching them perform and I always enjoy seeing her. She does a fantastic job. So I'm excited to have her here today. And then this is Mr. Wallace Ritter. Wallace has just been an outstanding representative for MacArthur Elementary throughout this school year in many different capacities. We've been so proud of him because he's been able to
021represent our school in different ways. So he was our spelling bee champion at our school. He went on to compete at the district competition and placed in the top four as an elementary student against some middle school kids. It was just an incredible you know, competition and we were so proud of that. He also is on our academic bowl team and served as the captain this year and that team placed second in the district. So super proud of him in that. He recently had the most PBIS points in the whole fifth grade for the second nine weeks and so he got a big recognition for that. That was super fun. And so he says that he he loves MacArthur. He loves his teacher because he makes learning challenging but fun. And so very excited to
022to spotlight these amazing nights here today. So there we go. >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you Miss Hopkins. And now from Quail Run Elementary School Dr. Amanda Miller Milner. >> All right. Well, thank you so much for having us. Thank you board members. I know we have this week to celebrate y'all but we appreciate the decisions y'all make and that you always make them with what's best for our students and of course our staff. That makes HSD a county a great place to be in. All right. I have with us I'm going to start Miss Fiser. I have our teacher of the year Miss Julianne Fiser. She teaches pre-K. She actually started teaching when she was 18. She taught the Bible at then the private sector and then she became with the children's ministry did
023some teaching there but then has taught really 27 years in education as a primary expert. She's taught pre-K, kindergarten first. I know I know you would make a face because she's so humble. It's really hard for her to hear me talk about her which is kind of great because she is so phenomenal and even though she is a pastor's wife and she's so busy. You've taught in Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Georgia she said is her favorite. Um even though she's so busy doing that work she is very involved in our school as well. She's a PBIS um coach well works with our with our coaches. She works on our count talent show committee. She works she's on our school council um and then anytime we need something. We had a STEM night she
024had ideas she came and helped. And even when there's events that her students don't necessarily always go to she's still there and showing up. And my favorite thing about Miss Fiser is she is probably the most gracious kind person you will meet and I see heads nodding cuz if you know Miss Fiser and you know Fiser friends um that's what she calls her class. She'll say, "Feeser friends are here." She really is that. She is a friend to anyone. She will write you a thank you note to thank you for your thank you note. Because she is that precious of a soul. If you don't know her, you need to know her. She loves every student as if they are her own, and it has been an honor to have her represent our school as
025our teacher of the year, Ms. Jillian Feeser. >> [applause] >> All right, I'll go to Ja'Kayla White. You might recognize this gorgeous face because she's on our spirit squad. They recently performed at the Sharks game this weekend. She also is on our student council. She was chosen by her classmates to represent her class, and she was one of the faces of the Lost and Found video trying to reunite the clothing to their parents. So, she was great in that work, and she's also in our gardening club. She enjoys gymnastics. She loves to dance. She's been in our talent show. Um, she's really a true leader, an example of what it is to be a Quail Run Cub. And when she grows up, she wants to become a surgeon. And I'm just glad I know her.
026Hopefully, I don't need it, but Ja'Kayla is the person that I would want. If I had to have something done, I would trust Ja'Kayla with with my body because I love her so much. But, this is Ja'Kayla White. >> [applause] >> Um, my two fifth graders, so my second fifth grader is Cooper Bell. Cooper is in our gifted and talented program. He is on this He's on orat- well, he was oratorical runner-up academic bowl. He's on the robotics team. Mr. Goodman, our STEM teacher, said, "If he doesn't know how to do something with the 3D machine or with robotics, he goes to Cooper." Isn't that true, Cooper? Yes, he does. It's okay. He wouldn't mind me saying that. Uh, he's in the Partners Club. He's in the Sports Club. He actually did the talent show
027a couple years as a comedic act and placed. He's pretty hilarious. You can get that later. He does charge for jokes. And he likes to uh play soccer. He's very big into soccer. And when he grows up, he wants to be a space engineer, and he will do it. You believe me. So, these are our guests from KIPP Run. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Dr. Milner. Uh and now Dr. K. Ison from WIN Academy. >> Thank you for having us, and thank you. Our orders appropriate, they saved the best for last. >> [laughter] >> And I have here with me three outstanding Cougars. I'm going to start with our current teacher of the year. This is Ms. Harris. I'm going to read from my cards because that's important that I get everything right. Our Our
028teachers voted her as teacher of the year because she really is the WIN. We We almost can't survive without Ms. Harris. She She's on the check-in team. She knows every student's name. She does lunch duty. If there's something to be done, Ms. Harris does it. She says that she loves being a media specialist because it gives her an opportunity to interact with every student. And she loves building relationships. I don't know why I'm so nervous here. Oh my gosh. She wears many hats. Our students I asked our teachers to give me the names of students who would represent the WIN well here, and these two names kept coming up. I'm going to start with Mishay. She's our ninth grader. I asked the teacher, "Why did he nominate her?" And he said she has a great
029attitude. She constantly helps her peers, and we have a teacher who was out on disability, and when Ms. Lockett came back, Mishay helps her and helps her often. I asked Mishay why did she think she was chosen? She says, "A lot has changed about me. I used to not listen to anyone. Now I take the time to listen to adults and my attitude is much better and I want to make my mom proud." She's an AB student who wants to be a cosmetologist. Next, Talia Grant. She's a eighth grader and we are proud of Talia. When asked by the teacher why she nominated, the teacher said, "I just see a change." She's completing all of her assignments and working hard to stay out of trouble. I asked Talia why did she think she was chosen
030and she said, "I've been at the Winn for 3 years, but this year with the help of my teachers, my principal, I am back on track and I'm doing amazing at school and at home." She's also an AB student and she wants to be an elementary school teacher. Thank you. Thank you for them and thank you for having us. >> [applause] >> Thank you to each of our guests. It's always great to hear about our wonderful students and our teachers. Now at this time I will turn it over to Dr. Rogers who will recognize our other visitors. >> Good afternoon. Welcome to the board meeting. We are glad you're here. And let me tell you, 5 years from now I look forward to seeing you all again. We'll celebrate years 35, 40, and 45. Does
031that sound good with everyone? Well, listen, I want to thank you all. I mean, just look around at all the amazing things happening in Houston County. That's what makes this county special. And it's the folks in this room, so thank you. Um want to begin with our FFA. We are always excited to recognize students who win first place at a statewide competition. And today we will begin with FFA students from Veterans High School. And they're already coming forward. Let me tell you something about this group. I received a handwritten note. Not computer generated, not AI generated. On my desk inviting me to the event with this group here. So I had to go check them out and say and I appreciated that so much as superintendent. So nice to get a handwritten note from a
032student. So I'm proud of you guys. It shows that leadership. And at this time I will turn it over. Who's speaking? >> Um your 2026 state actual champions is Blythe Avery, Roy Lockerman, Olivia Wood, and Cameron Graham. Um on February 6th we uh went to the fairgrounds. They started taking the test at like 8:00. They waited for 48 kids to do individual sales. And then we're in the final four of the team activity after four. So they had to stay locked in for almost 9 hours. But uh we're really proud of them and look forward to uh representing Georgia in October. >> Thank you. Let's hear it for these guys. >> [applause] >> So uh on that same day >> this team right here, these four young ladies, Anniston Batchelor, uh Marley Shwartwood, Bella Riddle,
033and Ariel Davidson, uh won the state vet science CDE. Uh so, we'll be going to uh uh Indianapolis in October. Um Anniston was the high individual in the state, uh and I think from what I was told, that's the highest score ever. >> Wow. >> Um so, uh >> [applause] >> Marley Shwartwood was third high individual, and Bella and Ariel were both in the top 10. So, we had a very >> [applause] >> Let's hear it for the team, guys. >> [applause] >> In Houston County, we believe a well-rounded education means giving students opportunities to explore their talents and interest, whether that's through agriculture, like we just saw, athletics, or through creativity in the arts. At this time, will Perry High School come forward? >> [applause] [applause] >> Well, we didn't have anything written down
034and Ms. Walker walked past the mic and she is so fantastic. But uh she is the one that deserves all the credit along with our students, but she's building an amazing program at Perry High School. If you get a minute, check out our website, uh check out the different things we put on Facebook about Perry High School art. Our students work extremely hard. Behind us, you can see some of the the images that we uh that they have displayed and different things that they're doing to represent not only our art program, but Perry High School. So, we're super proud of Ms. Walker and our two students who are here that joined us today. So, Ms. Walker, would you like to say a few words for us? >> All right. So, I have brought Tanea Spence.
035Um she's one of our sophomores and Ally Gibson, who is a senior. Um on February 27th, we traveled up to Piedmont University uh with a team of 12 and they took art workshops all day with the art professors and we were able to learn some new things that we can take back and implement into our classroom. >> [applause] >> Yeah, I was nervous about giving our abilities the mic, guys. I'll be honest with you. But but he did all right, so we're good. We're good. >> Perry High is okay. >> All right, guys. Just like visual arts, music education plays a vital role in the life of our schools. We are excited also celebrate students who were selected for All-State Band. Eight of our schools had students attend All-State Band this year, and today three
036of them are here, and the others will join us next month. We will begin with no other but Perry High. Come on back up here. >> [applause] >> All right. Check. Uh my name is Rob Ingram. I have the distinct pleasure of teaching these four students at Perry High School. We just got back this weekend from a weekend at Athens in Athens with the GMEA All-State Band. These students, along with the others in the county, went through a very strenuous and competitive audition process that starts all the way back in September with the first round auditions um that happened in December, and then again another round of in-person auditions that happened in January against against thousands of students in the state where only about 200 per grade level make it. We have four with us
037this year. Starting on my left, your right, is Miss Emma Johnson. She made it this year >> [applause] >> on clarinet, and this is her third time making it in GMEA All-State Band. Um next we have Miss Livvi Herbst, also made it on clarinet in the 11-12 band. This is her second time making it this year. >> [applause] >> Then Ryan O'Connell made it on trumpet this year, but this is not his first time in the All-State Band, but his first time making it on trumpet. I found out I think it was at some point last year. Ryan came to me. He normally plays the French horn in our band, and he came to me and said, "Hey, can I play trumpet, too?" And then next thing we know, he's made the All-State Band on
038trumpet, also. >> [applause] >> And lastly we have Mr. Carson Story who also made it on trumpet. Uh this is his first time making it, but it's no shock to me for how he's represented our program over the last four years. I knew it was only a matter of time. Um thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> I really don't want to call Perry High up again. Let's let him sit first just in case. All right, guys. Next we have Let's hear it for Veterans High School. Come on down. >> [applause] >> All right, good afternoon, everybody. >> Good afternoon. >> My name is Mr. Grayson Mellis. I'm the director of bands. I'm joined by our associate director of bands, Ms. Katie Ruffin here. And we have our three All-State students to present. And just to
039echo a little bit of what Mr. Ingram said a second ago, depending on what section these students are auditioning for, getting from the first round to the actual All-State band sometimes comes down to about a 1 to 6% chance depending on what it is that they play. So, it's a huge testament to have these students and our other students in the county that have made the band in the first place. We have here Ms. Amelia Carroll, freshman clarinet player. Mr. Brennan Barnwell, senior percussionist. >> [applause] >> And Elizabeth Tomberlin, French horn player, 11th grade. >> [applause] >> For all of these students, this is a multiple time that they've made All-State. They've all made it at least once before. They represented us super well in Athens this last week and have put on some fabulous
040performances. We're very, very proud of them for being leaders in our school and for being represented here today. Thank you so much. >> [applause] [applause] >> And finally, with Warner Robins High School, please join us up front. >> [applause] >> Good afternoon. I am Ernest Stackhouse, director of bands at Warner Robins High School, and I have with me Mr. Butler, our assistant principal, and our distinguished principal, Dr. Wallace. And we're all just pleased to have with us today and to be here to celebrate one of our special students, Mr. Ignacio Resendez. Ignacio made the All-State band this year on French horn, but just like Dr. Rogers said, he's a well-rounded student who represents Houston County well. He's not only an All-State player, also a salutatorian for the class of 2026 Warner Robins High School. >>
041[applause] >> So, Ignacius has plans on attending Georgia Tech majoring in biochemistry. And we wish him well. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> And lastly for this portion, would Meredith Potter and Annette Pinder from our school nutrition program, please come forward. Let me talk to you about this for a moment while they're walking forward. The Georgia RISE Award recognizes classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students in pre-K through high school. This year the Georgia Department of Education named two employees in the state as the 2026 Georgia RISE winners. And one was our very own Annette Pinder from our school nutrition program. But not only was Annette selected as a state winner, she was also selected as a national finalist for the US Department of Education's RISE Award. >> [applause] [applause] >> I'm going
042to tell you something about this lady. She does not like attention. >> [laughter] >> So, thank you for what you just did cuz she deserves that. National finalist here in Houstin County. >> [applause] >> And our director, Meredith Potter, will say a few words. >> Well, in true Annette fashion, she came to me several times today and gave me instructions for this speech. She did. Yes, she said keep it short and sweet. So, I wrote a whole page. Uh like Dr. Ison, I want to get all the dates and times correct. So, Annette came to us 19 years ago. And she started as an assistant manager and then she moved to the manager of Perry Middle. And then later she became a training manager where she uh trains our assistant managers to be managers. Throughout
043her career, she only earned perfect health scores and she was named middle school manager manager of the year five years in a row. She finally uh gained the system-wide manager of the year title and now she serves with us up in central office. And I think one of the things you need to know about Annette is she told me when she came to central office to never stick her behind a desk. She wanted to be with the students all the time. Um Annette will go to any lengths to make a student smile. She might say you might say she has no shame. Uh she's willing to dress up and cut up just to bring joy to a student. She's also incredibly persuasive. If you've been to any of our end of the year events uh
044in the schools, you've seen some of the foolish things she's made me do. Uh and I do it because I know Annette loves us and loves the ones around her and loves the students. So, while I could go on and on about Annette's contributions to our district and our community, one of her most lasting impacts is her partnership with the Transition Academy. Annette has a heart for students and ensures everyone feels valued and included. She was the first area manager to hire some of our Transition Academy graduates as food assistants in her school. Because of her initiative initiative doing that, she was asked to partner with the Transition Academy to help design a training program to prepare these students for careers in food service. Today, 20 students across five schools are training under this model
045and multiple graduates have been hired into food service industry positions. Her leadership with this program directly equips students with the confidence and skills to succeed. Annette, you show us every day the incredible difference classified staff can make in the lives of students. The size of your fan club here today shows the respect that you've earned and the friends that you've made. So, as we celebrate Annette, I want to invite three very special students to come join us down front. So, please welcome Ali, Markel, and Johnique. >> [applause] >> We wanted to include these students because they're part of your story, Annette, and we're all grateful for being able to work with you and learn from you. So, congratulations, Annette. >> [applause] [applause] >> Okay. Back to business. Need a motion to adopt the agenda. >>
046Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment to decide the process of filling the vacant post 5C. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second uh for this uh to amend the agenda. Is there any discussion? Okay. All in favor, please raise your hand. Vote is 6-0. Motion carries. Next, we need a motion to approve the minutes from the previous meetings. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to move we approve the minutes from the previous meeting. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second from Ms. Johnson to approve the minutes as presented from the February 10th, 2026 regular board meeting. All in favor? Vote is 6-0. We have our board member comments and tonight um Mr. Clyde Jackson's going to lead us off. >> Thank
047you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, everyone. >> Good afternoon. >> March is a remarkable month full of celebrations, gratitude, and a little bit of friendly competition. It's a time where we honor the legacy of trailblazers during Women's History Month, celebrate the spirit and the heritage of Saint Patrick's Day, feel the excitement of the NCAA March Madness, and pause to recognize those who guide our schools during School Board Appreciation Month. Each of these celebrations reminds us of something powerful about community. Women's History Month reminds us of the progress often begins with courage. The courage to lead, to challenge, to nurture, and to build paths where none existed before. The women who shaped history did not simply wait for opportunity, they created it. Their resilience echoed in our classrooms, in our boardrooms, and the lives of our students
048we serve. Saint Patrick's Day reminds us of heritage, faith, and the belief that hope can flourish even in difficult seasons. It celebrates perseverance, the idea that identity, culture, and belief can sustain a people and inspire generations. March Madness reminds us that anything is possible when preparations meets opportunity. Teams that may not be favored rise to the moment. They play with their heart, discipline, and belief. And in many ways, that is what education is about. Preparing our students for their own moments when they must step forward with courage and confidence. And today, we especially recognize those who dedicated uh 30 years or more to serving our district. 30 years represents thousands of mornings opening up school doors, countless students encouraged, lessons taught, problems solved, and the lives quietly shaped. That kind of service is not simply
049a career, it's a calling. We also extend deep appreciation to our school board members. Leadership in education requires vision, patience, and a steadfast commitment to the future. Your decisions make um your decisions shape the opportunity available for every child who walks through our doors. So, today we celebrate legacy. Those who paved the way, those who lead today, and those who continue to work year after year. Because education, much like March itself, is a season of growth. Seeds planted long ago are still blooming. Courage continues to rise, and the work of shaping the future goes on. Today, everyone who serves, leads, teach, and believe in the power of education. Thank you. Your impact reaches further than you'll ever know. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Are there any other comments? Any other board member have something heavy
050on their hearts? >> Well, I I I want to say a couple of other things. I know it's been a couple of hours this morning, but I want to give some shout-outs. Um I don't know if the superintendent's report got it, but you get a double dose if it is. Okay. All right. Coach of the year, Warner Robins High School, Ms. Rebecca White, won the region championship, and she made it to the Elite 16, right, Coach Ivory? >> Rebecca White Ivory. >> Oh, Rebecca White Ivory. >> [laughter] >> Also, okay. Thanks for that correction. Also, um Buddy Bivins, one of the former Jaguars that I taught at Bonaire Middle School, they won the region championship, and they made it to the Elite Eight, I think. >> Right. >> Dr. Jones, am I correct? All right,
051you didn't correct me, so I was right on that one. All right. So, that's that's awesome here. Um glad to see Dr. Mayfield that was there, Dr. Brown, Dr. Rogers. The kids were excited to see y'all at the the gyms, and of course, they they did awesome. And next year, I think we're going to kick the door in, and we're going to have some state champions in basketball. Also, uh seventh grade uh middle school championships, um Thompson seventh grade girls, Mr. Ivory >> Say it again. >> Mr. Ivory Thompson seventh grade girls won the seventh grade championship. Perry seventh grade boys won the championship. And of course Perry eighth grade girls won the championship. And Huntington Middle School Hawks eighth grade boys won the county championship. So, it was great to see a lot of
052the chairs of board chairs and of course uh once again uh you guys made a big difference and of course they like to see you there. Dr. um Dr. Brown, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Mayfield, uh Dale Martin was there did a great job presenting those trophies for the second time or first time? Second time. All right, did a great job. Um and of course want to give a shoutout to my board members. Um Hall of Famers. Oh my gosh, we got Hall of Famers already. Dr. Andrew and Mr. Nichols um were elected to the Hall of Fame at Northside High School. So, let's give them a round of applause. >> [applause] >> And last but not least, I could not leave Mr. Ivory off because you saw he corrected me. So, he got um his name
053in in I guess blue and orange at Thompson Middle School. They named the snack shack after Coach Ivory uh over there. So, that was a great honor and pleased to recognize you, Mr. Ivory, on your accomplishments and the first athletic director at Thompson Middle School. So, congratulations. Thank you, sir. All right. >> [applause] >> That's it. >> Okay, well thank you. That's a lot. That's good. It's very good. All right, before we uh before I turn it over to Dr. Rogers for the superintendent report, I just want to say personally thank you and on behalf of the board, you always that you schools always blow us away with your uh expression of appreciation. And uh it seems like every year you top it. And uh we are the ones who need to be expressing appreciation.
054Y'all do it every day. You're right there in the trenches. You're doing what's important for our kids, and we appreciate you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> All right, it's good to be back with you guys. Here we go. Teacher Recruitment Fair. Our Teacher Recruitment Fair was a huge success with over 500 potential teachers in attendance. 500, guys. Thank you to our Human Resources team for organizing such a great event, and also our schools who made their rooms welcoming to potential applicants. Anyone interested in teaching in Houston County can visit our website to learn more about our district and view our available positions. I personally think the secret's out. Houston County is the place to be. And it was obvious at that Teacher Recruitment Fair. So, thank you for what you guys did. Our Regional Science
055and Engineering Fair. We had two students win the best project at the Regional Science and Engineering Fair, and will be competing in the State Science Fair in April. Congratulations to Ella Thrasher from Mossy Creek Middle School and Joy Sanders from Warner Robins High. Joy will also compete at the International Science Fair in May. Congratulations to those students. Also, Region Literary Champions. Congratulations to Houston County High and Perry High for being named Literary Champions in their respective regions. And Region Basketball Champions. Congratulations to the girls basketball team from Warner Robins High and the boys team from the Houston County High for winning their region championship games. Now, guys, this next one is our middle school champions. Just take a look at that picture. Mr. Jackson said it. Seventh grade was Thompson Middle School, seventh grade boys,
056I'm sorry, the girls. Boys was Perry Middle, eighth grade girls Perry Middle, and eighth grade boys Huntington Middle. Congratulations, those were exciting to watch. We went to a couple of the playoff games too before and and just seeing, I mean, again, we talked about this earlier, athletics, arts, agriculture, everything we do to take care of the whole child in Houston County. All right, athletic director of the year, Jason Brett from Houston County High School was named the athletic director of the year for 5A. Congratulations to him. >> [applause] >> In March, we celebrate Exceptional Children's Month, Gifted Education Month, Music in Our Schools Month, Social Work Month, and Youth Arts Month. I also was invited to attend a proclamation at the Houston County Commissioners meeting last week, where they proclaimed March as Theater in the
057Schools Month. We had students from all five high schools there to receive the proclamation, and it was great to spend time with them. We have lots to celebrate in March. Our district is proud of the phenomenal staff who work in each of these areas. They are all critical to our students' success. All right, students and teachers. Spring break will be March 30th to April 3rd. >> [applause] >> And for students with a site collaboration day on Monday, April 6th. I hope that everyone enjoys the break, and on a serious note, please get rest, spend time with your family, spend time for yourself, and just really let's enjoy this time and come back renewed because we're here for graduation, and when we come back, it's on. Also, happy birthday to Dr. Rick Unruh, my friend here,
058who'll celebrate his 29th birthday on March 23rd. Let's wish him a happy birthday. >> [applause] >> Finally, I want to take a moment to recognize this week in Georgia School Board Appreciation Week. Serving on a school board requires a tremendous amount of time, thoughtful decision-making, and a strong commitment to students, staff, and the families of this community. We are grateful for the leadership each of you provide and for the many hours you devote to supporting the work of our schools. Our schools and district programs have shared small tokens of appreciation to express their gratitude. Each of you will receive the items displayed in front of our board desk as a small reminder of how much your service is a value to all of us district-wide. And guys, did y'all hear that? Each of them will
059receive this right here. Cuz they are behind here in the hallway. It's amazing how well our schools did to show their love and support for these people who work so hard on the behalf of students and staff. So, on behalf of the school district, thank you for your leadership, your continued support that you provide to students and staff. It is an honor to be the superintendent of Houston County and to work with you all. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> At this time, we'll take a short intermission for the students to exit and return to schools. And we'll be back in just a few. >> Mhm. >> All right, we are back and um last night we received our department reports and I just want to give any of our board members opportunity to to
060respond or to make comment if you have something that like to make a but I see no response here. >> So what you'll go ahead. >> Yeah, I I just wanted to say I I talked to Dr. Rogers last night and I just want to uh really make a plug for the Lindsey Student Support uh Center. And if you had a chance to look in this, if you go down a little ways, it's learning and laundry. And we talk about soft skills. We talk about needing our children to have today to to know how to be able to go out and take care of themselves in the world. And and I'm telling you and I'm saying this very diligently and very loudly as I can, it would surely be nice if the 31,000 kids we
061have in Houston County could go to the Lindsey School Support Center and be able to take this learning and laundry class. I know we can't do that, but I'm just saying it would be nice if we would open that up and allow many, many, many, many, many others to be able to go and learn those soft skills. To be able to support themselves. Um if if they if they don't get taught how to do laundry at the house and how to do other things that that they're teaching them there, punctuality, um communication, teamwork, problem solving. These are things that we talk about when we're hiring all day long. And I I'm just thankful that uh we've got a collaboration going on with Classic Laundry on Moody Road and and that we're able to to offer
062that, sir. >> Great. >> Okay. Anyone else? All right. Um we will move on to our new business, Mr. Crockett. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the process of filling the vacant post five seat following Mrs. Hughes resignation effective Tuesday, March 31st. The board will accept resumes and letters of interest beginning this afternoon through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20th. Submissions may be emailed to Mrs. Claudia McDaniel at [email protected] or submissions may be mailed to the attention Claudia McDaniel at 1100 Main Street, Perry, Georgia 31069. Residents who live in the post five district and submitted their documents may address the board up to three minutes at the April 6th work session which will be held at Northside Middle School at 6:00 p.m. The board will make a final decision on Tuesday, April
0637th at the regular monthly board meeting. The new board member will begin after the appointment and will serve the remainder of Mrs. Hughes' term. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Crockett and a second by Mr. Ivory uh to approve the procedures for filling post five board seat. Are there any questions, comments, discussion? We did that last night. So, I guess we're ready to vote. All in favor of this motion, raise your hand. Motion passes 6-0. Okay, next our financial reports, Mr. Nichols. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I make a motion that we accept the financial uh reports March 2026 as presented. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve the financial reports the January 2026 financial report as presented. Is there any discussion? All in favor
064of this motion raise your hand. Motion passes 6-0. Mr. Ms. Johnson. >> Yes, sir. I make a motion that we approve the purchasing report as presented with a total financial impact of $9,665,916.89. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mrs. Nichols. >> No, Mrs. I'm looking at the wrong one. I'm sorry. Mrs. Nichols. That's the second time. Well, see my problem is my eyes jumped. Ms. Johnson, I know who you are. >> Okay, thank you. >> [laughter] >> And I apologize the second time. Have a motion by Ms. Johnson. I'm going to start crossing out the ones I do these. By Ms. Johnson seconded by Mr. Ivory to approve to approve the request for March 2026 purchases. Discussion. >> No discussion. >> Okay. All in favor of this motion raise your hand. Motion passes
0656-0. Cross that name off. Mr. Ivory. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, I move we approve the personnel reports as presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Ivory seconded by Ms. Johnson to accept to approve the report personnel reports. Is there any discussion? Okay, if we're ready to vote all in favor, raise your hand. Motion passes 6-0. This time we have some additional personnel items to take care of. Ms. Johnson. >> Yes. I make a motion that we approve the superintendent's recommendation for Mrs. Jessica Nixon for the position of assistant principal of instruction at Centreville Elementary School. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion by Ms. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Crockett to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. Jesson Jessica Nixon for the position of assistant principal of instruction at Centreville Elementary
066School. Do Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, raise your hand. Motion passes 6-0. Mr. Crockett. >> Mr. Chairman, I move we approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. Cassandra Cheek for the position of assistant principal instruction at Lake Joy Primary School. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Crockett, second by Mr. Nichols to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. Cassandra Cheek for the position of assistant principal of instruction at Lake Joy Primary School. Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, raise your hand, please. All Motion passes 6-0. Ms. Johnson. >> Yes, sir. I make a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation of Ms. LaQuenya Brandon for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Westside Elementary School. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Ms. Johnson,
067a second by Mr. Ivory to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. LaQuen- LaQuena LaQuenya Brandon for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Westside Elementary School. Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Ivory. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to make a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Dr. Bridget Hunt for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Thompson Middle School. >> Second. We have a motion by Mr. Ivory, seconded by Mr. Nichols, to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Dr. Bridget Hunt for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Thompson Middle School. Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. And Mr. Nichols. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll make a motion
068that we approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. Magdalene Grange for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Veterans High School. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Nichols, seconded by Mr. Crockett, to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Ms. Magdalene Grange for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Veterans High School. Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. And Mr. Ivory. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to make a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Mr. Marvin Williams for the position of athletic director at Fagan Mill Middle School. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Ivory, seconded by Mr. Nichols, to approve the the superintendent's recommendation for Mr. Marvin Williams for the position of athletic director at Feagin
069Mill Middle School. Any discussion? Okay, all in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Okay. Taking care of our personnel. The next is uh Mr. Crockett. >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the new job description for the virtual learning specialist that defines the duties and responsibilities of that position. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Crockett, seconded by Ms. Johnson to approve the new job description for virtual learning specialist. Any discussion? All in favor, may please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. And Ms. Johnson. >> Yes, sir. I make a motion that we approve the recommendation for the new job description of a YAP facilitator, which is a youth apprentice coordinator. >> Okay. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Ms. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Crockett
070to approve the new job description for youth apprentice uh coordinator facilitator. Um Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. We have Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Ivory. >> Yes. >> Sir, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the intergovernmental agreement with the city of Warner Robins for the annual Independence Day celebration in the McConnell Talbot parking lot. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Ivory, seconded by Ms. Johnson to approve uh the intergovernmental agreement for the Independence Day celebration. Is there any discussion? All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Ivory again. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I make a motion that we approve amendment number 10 to contract between design professional Altman Altman Barrett Architects for the Quail
071Run Elementary and David Perdue Elementary renovation capital outlay projects. Uh financial impact from the 2027 e-SPLOST, 5 and 1/2% of final project construction costs. >> Second. Have a motion by Mr. Ivory, seconded by Mr. Nichols to approve amendment number 10 with the Altman Barrett Architects for Quail Run and David Perdue Elementary renovations. Is there any discussion? All in favor of this motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Jackson. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to make a motion to approve the agreement between Houston County School District and Raikon Construction Incorporated for Northside Middle School athletic upgrade project. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Crockett to approve the agreement with Raikon Construction Incorporated for the Northside Middle School athletic upgrade project. Any discussion? Comments? Okay, all in
072favor, raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Crockett. >> Mr. Chairman, I move we approve amendment number two, which is an agreement between Houston County School District and ICB Construction Group for the STEM Academy. Financial impact $41,013,875.75 $875.75 local capital outlay funds. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Mr. Crockett, seconded by Mr. Ivory to approve amendment number two with the ICB Construction Group for the STEM Academy. Is there any discussion? >> My one comment would be that we were told last night that this project is currently under budget, which is a good which is good news. Great news. >> Anyone? Okay. All in favor of the motion, please raise your hand. Motion carries 6-0. Mr. Nichols. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll make a motion that we approve the policy revisions for policy
073DJEB and DJEG. Um has to do with purchasing. As presented. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Nichols, seconded by Mr. Crockett, to approve policy revisions uh that deal with um purchasing. I won't give all those numbers. They Well, I will. Policy DJEB and DJ EG. Um Any discussion? All in favor of approving these policy revisions, raise your hand. >> DJ Coach Albright. >> [laughter] >> Motion carries 6-0. That concludes the business that is on at hand. We uh Listen, we we heard uh persons who wished to address the board last night, and we have no executive session business. So, I believe that it is in order to have a motion to adjourn. >> Motion. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adjourn. All in favor, raise your hand.
074Motion carries 6-0. We are adjourned.