The Watson Chapel School Board has hired seven paraprofessionals to assist teachers in instructing reading and writing.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn recommended these hirings to help teachers provide a total of two-and-a-half hours each day of reading and writing instruction to students in kindergarten to sixth grade. The Watson Chapel School District began providing this level of instruction in November, Hathorn said.
“Our teachers need assistance in the classroom,” Hathorn said. “Literacy is our focus this year. We want all kids to read and make progress each year.”
Hathorn said the board hired these paraprofessionals: Anthony Brown, Erika Compton, Sarah Eastwood, Kentra Jackson, Rosalind Robinson, Dequintus Womack and Crystal Wright.
In other personnel news, the board hired Janie Horton and Mark Morehead as full-time bus drivers and Christy Reed as a school nurse.
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In other news, the school district recognized the following students for outstanding behavior, responsible decision-making, academic success and great attendance for the first semester.
*Alyssa Rushing, a kindergartner at Edgewood Elementary School.
*Akeira Luster, a first-grader at Edgewood Elementary School.
*JaNiyah Goins, a second-grader at L.L. Owen Elementary School.
*Joseph Dockett, a third-grader at L.L. Owen Elementary School.
*Asia Bennett, a fourth-grader at Coleman Intermediate School.
*Hytaecia Gray, a fifth-grader at Coleman Intermediate School.
*Rilencia Moore, a sixth-grader at Coleman Intermediate School.
*Lavonta Fells, a seventh-grader at Watson Chapel Junior High School.
*Ethan Traugott, an eighth-grader at Watson Chapel Junior High School.
*Morgan Edwards, a ninth-grader at Watson Chapel Junior High School.
In other personnel news, Hathorn said he received letters of resignation from Charles Dean, James Fox and Melvin Wilkes; and letters of retirement from Nina Hubbard, Sam Wamble and Patty Wilson.