The Mount Airy Board of Education held recognitions for a large amount of student achievements at the close of the school year while pausing Tuesday night to honor the horror tornadoes brought to Oklahoma.
Board member Ben Cooke’s invocation asked for a moment of silence from the audience to mark the lives lost and damage to Oklahoma’s schools by the recent violent weather. He gave thanks for a “wonderful school year in Mount Airy Schools” and hoped to see everyone back safely in the fall.
J.J. Jones Intermediate School Principal Jason Dorsett later in the meeting said fifth-graders at the school had championed a special ceremony which was being held at 9:30 a.m. today around the school’s flagpole to honor Oklahoma tornado victims.
Mount Airy Middle School Principal Eric Riggs announced a 1:1 laptop initiative would begin on Oct. 1, which would provide Google Chrome Books for every sixth-grader in the system. He said this project hopes to expand one grade level at a time until all middle school students will participate.
New Curriculum and Instruction Director Dr. Kim Morrison was welcomed by the board. Morrison had taught for 12 years with the Mount Airy Schools before serving eight years for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Morrison’s first official day of work is June 1. She was accompanied by her husband, Tommy, and their children, Eli and Caleb.
The system’s English as a Second Language teachers were recognized for meeting all three of the Title III Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives for the 2011-12 school year for more that four consecutive years.
Taylor Wright, a Jones fifth-grade student, was honored for receiving a North Carolina Association of Gifted and Talented scholarship. Wright’s scholarship supported her organizing a club called Bears Bulldozing Bullies. She received $250 to start the club and hold special events to target students who have experienced bullying or want to prevent it.
Head Coach Dennis France’s wrestling team was honored for finishing Foothills Middle School Conference Co-Champions. The team’s regular season record was 10-2 overall with two wrestlers going undefeated, and they won first place in the conference tournament. The team had five first-place winners in the tournament, seven second-place finishes, three in third place and two in fourth place. A total of 17 of the 20 Bear wrestlers placed in the top four.
Wrestling team members honored were Holden Burroughs, Connor Cooke, Tyler Daughenbaugh, Johnny Dollyhigh, Martine Epperson, Jorge Guarneros, Lupe Hernandez, Jacob Hogue, Jesus Martinez, Euardo Perez, Joan Ramirez, Derek Sanderson, Dakota Smith, Gray Stone and Hyzton Summers.
Also honored were Ceasar Valverde, Chris Villanueva, Matthew Vindich, J.M. Wheeler, Terrian Maxwell, Austin Gwyn, Rebel Houdek, and team managers Ethan Hogue, Nate Kiebler, Sebastian Renteria, Tristan Sanderson, Alex Valverde and Bryce Watson, Armando Estrado. Scorekeepers honored were Kendra Folger, Alexis Fulton, Sydney Gwyn, Stember Ingram, Selena Lor, Jesse Nester and Cornelia Pegues.
Mount Airy Middle School’s boys swim team was honored for winning the Foothills Middle School Conference Championship. The team captured five gold medals, 11 silver and seven bronze medals. Swim team members honored were Tucker Corbin, Matthew Dowell Sean Evans, Chandler Gammons, Dawson Lievsay, Grant Perry, Jack Stancil, Grey Tucker and Dustin York.
The next business session of the board of education is scheduled for June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the system’s central office. Other student accomplishments honored at this meeting will be listed in an upcoming article in The Mount Airy News.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@civitasmedia.com or 719-1952.





















