History starts now and in the Surry County Schools, that looks to be a good thing.

That was the theme of this year’s convocation ceremony which took place Thursday morning at Meadowview Middle School. Teacher of the Year Lyndsey Haywood and Principal of the Year Tony Hall, both from East Surry High School, were the speakers for the event, along with North Carolina Association of Educators Surry County Chapter President Rodney Pell, and they used the theme as the basis of their speeches.

“For all of these students, history is now,” said Haywood. “A teacher’s role as mentor and facilitator never changes. For each of your students, history will start the moment they walk into your classroom. You will mold his thoughts and feelings. We don’t know what the future will hold but we can commit ourselves to bettering the lives of our students.”

Hall chose to focus on the idea of “be careful what you wish for.” He cautioned teachers that sometimes they may get something they did not realize they asked for. Teaching is full of possibilities and unexpected moments.

“When we become educators, we ask for everything we get,” he said. “The most memorable moments, the good and the bad, come quite unexpectedly.

“You are a part of (the students’) history and you are amazing. You are a teacher and this is what you’ve wished for.”

As the teachers begin this new school year, they will see some changes. Many have already seen changes as they have been moved to a new position or even a new school because of the budget cuts.

“Honestly, I am glad that you are all back,” said Dr. Ashley Hinson, superintendent, in his welcome, acknowledging the fact that the school system was able to retain all of its teachers. “Let me tell you something. I love you and I love my leadership team, and I’d certainly be remiss if I didn’t say I loved my school board.”

“I don’t know that you realize what you have done. Last year, you achieved at greater levels with one million less dollars. That achievement carries on because our power is our people,” said Assistant Superintendent Chuck Graham. “We preserved our people because our people are what’s most important. You won’t let us not succeed — I am firmly convinced of that.”

This year will also be a year of newness for the county schools. Two new school buildings are under construction and set to be complete by the start of the 2010-11 school year. Rockford Elementary School will be in the central district and Pilot Mountain Middle School will be in the east district. The current Pilot Mountain Middle School will be converted into Pilot Mountain Elementary School.

“These two new schools will eliminate 40 mobile units,” said Hinson, to a loud round of applause from those in attendance. “We might have a mobile unit burning.”

The new schools will serve more than 900 students who are now in mobile units because of a lack of space.

In further recognition of those new schools, Hinson announced the unveiling of the names for the media centers at the schools as well as a rendering of the design of each. The media center at Rockford Elementary has been named in memory and honor of Charles C. Graham, a former teacher, principal, superintendent and board of education chair in the Surry County School System who passed away in June.

The media center at Pilot Mountain Middle School will be named in honor of Sue Stone, a member of the Surry County Board of Education since 1978. That tenure includes eight consecutive re-elections.

“This is a very humbling honor,” said Stone of the announcement. “Even though this is an honor, it belongs to you folks. It’s what you do every day in education.”

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.