The Pearl River County School Board is excited for the ending of another successful year within the District, Superintendent Alan Lumpkin said. But before the school year ends, a couple of end of the year appreciation awards were given out during Monday’s meeting.
Danna Barnes, PRC Lower Elementary kindergarten teacher and instructor of a parent tutoring program, shared her gratitude for all the parent tutors who helped the PRCLE students excel academically.
Last year, a lot of hard work by the parent volunteers got the program on its feet, Barnes said. Now in the program’s second year, kindergarten testing results ranked sixth in the state and has shown the most growth statewide in the testing results.
“To be sixth in the state is great, but I am more proud in our growth. That means our babies grew a lot last year and it was due to a lot of hard work from teachers, volunteers, parents and anyone that came in contact with these children,” Barnes said. “Getting these kids to where they want to be in life starts at the ground level.”
The volunteers worked with students on chronological awareness to help them develop better reading skills, Barnes said. This helped the students pick out sounds and hear rhythm within structural sentences.
“Without any of that, the students won’t be able to read. They need to understand the sound before they see it in print. That is what these teachers and volunteers worked so hard to do with these kids and their hard work shows,” she said, highlighting one of her kindergarten students who has already read 50 books.
The parent tutoring volunteers include Kayla Reed, Sherri Baxter, Melissa Lumpkin, Reva Henegar, Jennifer Teal, Tiffany Penton, Michele Swartz, Danene Jarrell, Ella Mae Penton, Elizabeth Hart, Emily Blackwell, Rose Vicknair, Carol Hodge Foster and Twila Crabtree.
Another recognition award was given to Sherri Quarterman, administrative assistant, during School Board Appreciation Week for dedicated commitment to the leadership team of the Board and superintendent and promoting student achievement and “keeping all of us in line,” Board President Jeremy Weir said, jokingly.
More on Monday’s PRC School Board meeting will be featured in Wednesday’ edition of the Item.