Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Madison County High School cafeteria was the site for the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc.'s Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Banquet. The cafeteria was packed with educational staff members and supporters from across the community to honor those teachers in the district who have distinguished themselves as truly being “the best of the best.” Each school in the Madison County School District had previously named their individual Teacher of the Year. From this list of teachers, a district-wide Teacher of the Year would be named.
The individual school Teachers of the Year were:
• Madison County High School – Leslie McLeod;
• Madison County Central School Middle – Daphne Brooks;
• Madison County Central School Elementary – Carie Diepersloot;
• Madison Creative Arts Academy – Jessica Webb;
• Pinetta Elementary School – Bobbi Pinkard;
• Lee Elementary School – Lisa Smith;
• Greenville Elementary School – Monika Hopkins;
• James Madison Preparatory High School – Mandy Bergeron.
When it was time to announce the district's Teacher of the Year, Bobbi Pinkard, from Pinetta Elementary School (PES), received the honor. Pinkard, a kindergarten teacher, has been teaching at PES for nine years. During her heart-felt remarks earlier in the evening, Pinkard expressed gratitude to her family and especially the Take Stock in Children program, of which she is an alumnus. Pinkard explained she would not have been able to go to college without the financial support from the Take Stock in Children program.
Pinkard's words were all the more poignant, since the banquet itself was a way to raise funds for the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, which helps fund the Take Stock in Children scholarship and mentorship program.
Since its beginning in 1995, the Take Stock in Children program has successfully served nearly 40,000 students. Mentors from across the community are paired with students to serve as a source of support and encouragement for the students. Those students who successfully complete the program are offered a scholarship for the first two years of college. To be eligible, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average and maintain good attendance and clean behavioral records.
In addition to financial support, there is a great need for volunteer mentors for the program. Anyone wishing more information or wishing to volunteer to serve as a mentor for a deserving student is encouraged to go to www.takestockinchildren.org.
Pinkard will now go on to represent Madison County in the statewide Florida Teacher of the Year competition to name the state's 2024 Teacher of the Year.