Wonderful Aspiring Valued Employee Service
NHCS WAVES
A publication of the Public Relations Department of New Hanover County Schools
April 2012
G oing A bove & B eyond
Three NHCS Employees Exemplify Exceptional Customer Service
This month, WAVES recognizes three NHCS employees - Dominique Allen, custodian at Blair, Brian Jones, social worker at Murray, and
Gary Harris Exceptional Children’s teacher assistant at NHHS - for their commitment to the students and fellow employees of NHCS.
Here’s what their colleagues had to say about them.
“Dominique comes in several
days a week to facilitate a
book club with some of the
boys who need help with
their reading. He is known
to create behavior incentives
for some of our little ones
with struggles and provides
rewards when they meet their
goals. He keeps a pocket
full of ice cream tickets on
Fridays for those students
who cannot afford to buy ice
cream.”
Heather Hurd, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Therapist
Dominique Allen
Custodian - Blair
“Since joining our staff during the 2010-11 school year,
Mr. Allen has served Blair as a custodian and role model to
students. He builds relationships with our students and will
often times talk to them regarding academics and behaviors
that directly affect them now and in the future. He does his job
with pride and ‘owns’ his building. While our custodial team
cleans assigned sections, Mr. Allen is quick to respond to any
area needing immediate attention.”
Karen McCarty,
Assistant Principal
“Brian is ALWAYS
there for anyone
who needs him,
whether they are
staff or student. He
has a great rapport
with the students.
He is able to get
things done and get
answers with his
easy, approachable
manner. He never
Brian Jones
hesitates to help
Social
Worker - Murray
out a teacher and
always takes time out of his super busy schedule to listen to our
needs, no matter what they are. Mr. Jones is a sponsor of ROCAME
and works so hard to give students the best opportunities possible.
He doesn’t settle for second best and pushes our students to
strive to do better. He offers great support to our students...helps
them check their grades, works on organizational skills and even
counsels students to work on behavior management. He runs
numerous programs here at Murray from the student talent show
to assisting with the backpack food program. Our school would
not be what it is today with out Brian Jones. He is the backbone
of our community and makes this a great place to work everyday.”
“Gary helps ALL kids either at school or in the community. I can’t
tell you how many times he is getting other students involved with
activities. He always volunteers to help with school activities. He also
feeds the homeless every Tuesday night and when you go to help, there
are always kids there helping. They even come back on college breaks
to help. He works with his church’s youth groups, takes mission trips
with kids, and is in charge of the FCA here at NHHS. The list goes on
and on.”
Missy Macinowski,
Exceptional Children’s Teacher
Gary Harris
Teacher Assistant - NHHS
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Darmaris O’Connor, 7th Grade Science/
Social Studies Teacher
Do you know of a NHCS
employee who goes Above
and Beyond in their role? If so,
please email crystal.buie@nhcs.
net and share why you think
the employee deserves to be
recognized as a NHCS Above
and Beyond Employee.
THE DOCtOR IS IN:
NHCS Educator Receives Doctorate Degree
Kim O’Briant, Lead Staff Development Coordinator - Instruction, has
Kim O’Briant, Ed.D.
obtained her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington - Watson School of Education. Dr. O’Briant defended
her dissertation entitled, “The Impact of Online Professional Development
on Teacher Practice and Student Learning.” She will graduate on May 11,
2012. “Obtaining my doctorate was an incredible experience,” said
Dr. O’Briant. “With my dissertation focusing on online professional
development, I will be able to share what I have gained with fellow
educators as the district moves forward with providing online professional
development opportunities.”
During her last semester of study, Dr. O’Briant found time in her busy
schedule to participate as a model in the Dress for Success Fashion Show,
Dress for Success Fashion Show Models
which was a part of the Community Job Fair on February 18, 2012.
Julius Berry, ISS Coordinator - Noble,
& Dr. Kim O’Briant
E m p l oye e
All-Stars
Eddie Anderson, Director of NHCS
Facility Planning, is the recipient of the 2012
Planner of the Year Award, the highest and
most distinguished individual honor conferred
by the North Carolina Chapter of the Council
of Educational Facility Planners International
(CEFPI). In addition to the state honor, Mr.
Anderson has also received the national
Southeast Region Planner of the Year Award.
He will now be the southeast region’s nominee
for the International Planner of the Year Award, which will be
awarded in September at the World Conference in San Antonio, TX.
Congratulations Eddie!
Jo Todd, Child Nutrition driver and
assistant at Isaac Bear and Roland-Grise,
received the State Child Nutrition “Heart of the
Program” Award. This award recognizes nonmanagement staff who exhibit an extraordinary
commitment to the nutrition program. She was
nominated for the prestigious award because
of her excellent customer service skills and
genuine interest in the Child Nutrition program.
Ms. Todd is a certified Child Nutrition assistant and a member through
the School Nutrition Association (SNA).
Congratulations Jo!
Ashley Sutton, Director of Finance,
has been awarded the individual Award
of Financial Reporting Achievement by
Government Finance Officers Association of
the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the
sixth consecutive year as the primary individual
responsible for preparing the award-winning
comprehensive annual financial report
(CAFR). NHCS’ CAFR was able to meet the
GFOA’s high standards and demonstrated a constructive “spirit of
disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate
potential users and user groups to read the report.
Congratulations Ashley!
Clary French, third grade teacher at Murrayville, was selected
as WWAY’s Teacher of the Week. News anchor Chris Phillips presented
Ms. French with a check for $300 sponsored by WWAY NewsChannel
3, Parkway Automotive Group, Your Neighborhood Scotchman,
and Perry’s Emporium. Congratulations
Clary!
Brooke
Stephens,
art
teacher at Carolina Beach, received
a grant from Donors Choose for
art supplies valued at $190. She
received two complete classroom
kits of basket-making supplies.
Fifth grade students used the supplies to make authentic baskets.
While creating the baskets, students learned about the craft of basket
weaving and how it was part of early settlers’ lives in North Carolina
and South Carolina. Outstanding Brooke!
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D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy Principal Appointed
Mr. Irizarry to take the Helm in May
Eric Irizarry has been appointed as the new principal of D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy. A Wilmington
resident and former NHCS educator, he returns to the district from Roger Bacon Academy’s Charter Day
School where he is currently serving as the middle school principal.
In addition to his education roles, Mr.Irizarry is the Curriculum Director and Co-Founder of the Wilmington
Housing Authority’s and UNCW’s Reading Program, an after-school reading program for economically
disadvantaged youth. He is also a member of SEAAM, Seahawks for Empowering African American
Males, an organization concentrating on the needs of African American males at the university and in the
surrounding community, and he is active on the Blue Ribbon Commission’s Education Action Team. Mr.
Irizarry will begin his position as the principal of D.C. Virgo on May 5th. His office will be located at the NHCS
Administration Building until July 2012.
Eric Irizarry
Hart to Hart: Husband & Wife
Earn Teacher of the Year Awards
Brandon Hart, math teacher at Hoggard, and his wife, Candace, third grade teacher at
Supply Elementary in Brunswick County, have each won their respective school’s 20122013 Teacher of the Year Award. The husband and wife educator team met while attending
UNCW’s Watson School of Education and working at the local Texas Roadhouse restaurant.
The couple both began teaching in 2003, and along the way, Mr. Hart earned his Masters
in Education - Curriculum and Instructional Supervision in 2006, and Mrs. Hart achieved
National Board Certification in 2010.
Mr. Hart, along with fellow NHCS Teachers of the Year, will be honored during the New
Hanover County Board of Education and Wells Fargo Foundation Educator of the Year
Banquet on Wednesday, June 6th, at 6:30 p.m., in the Ashley High School cafeteria.
Brandon and Candace Hart with their
son, Britton, and daughter, Taylor.
Employee N E W S
John
Our Condolences
Dubendorf
Transportation, and Jeanne
Dubendorf, Finance - Lead
Payroll
Support
Associate
Holland, on the loss of John’s
father, John M. Dubendorf, on
March 26, 2012.
Dot Doak-Hill, Human
Resources
Benefits
Support Associate, on the
loss of her sister, Eunice
Barlow, on March 19, 2012.
College Graduations
Congratulations
to
Dale
Pelsey-Becton,
Assistant
Superintendent of Instruction
and Accountability, and husband,
Nick, on the graduation of their
son, Nicholas Julian Becton, from
Virginia Tech University on
May 11, 2012, with a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Residential
Property Management.
Congratulations
to Miriam
Salas, fifth
grade teacher
- Wrightsboro, on receiving
her
Masters
in
Curriculum
and
Instruction
from
the
American College of Education.
Each month, WAVES features a segment, Employee News,
to announce important events in employees’ lives, Births,
College Graduations, Deaths, Marriages, and Military
Appointments. The announcements should be submitted in
writing to [email protected] or fax (910) 254-4477. News
items should be regarding employees or employees’ family
members (i.e. children, grandchildren, siblings, parents,
etc.) and should include all names involved and pertinent
dates. News items should be no more than six months old.
W.A.V.E.S. is published by the Public Relations Department
of New Hanover County Schools.
News items should be submitted to the
Public Relations Department.
6410 Carolina Beach Road • Wilmington, NC • 28412
(910) 254-4317 • [email protected]
Dr. Tim Markley
Superintendent
Valita Quattlebaum
Chief Communications Officer & Managing Editor
Crystal Buie
Graphic Designer, Photographer & Writer
Debbie Trafton
Writer
New Hanover County Schools is an equal opportunity employer and
does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age,
disability or national origin.
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THIS & THAT
FOR SALE
CAR:
2003 Lincoln Continental Town Car. Only 39,900 miles. Excellent condition & mechanically sound. Asking $6,500. [email protected] or 910-538-0833
CAR:
2000 Chevy Tahoe Limited. Black with gray interior, leather & all power, AM-FM/CD, towing package, 2-wheel drive, 119,000 miles. Asking $7,550. 910-262-6798
HOME:
Cozy 2 bd/1 ba cottage in Burgaw. Located 1 block off courthouse square. Recently renovated with small 3rd room that can be used as office or playroom. Beautiful large lot with mature trees. $78,500. 910-538-2873
SERVICES
BABYSITTING: Local middle school counselor offers babysitting services on nights/weekends, nanny service during the summer & K-6 tutoring. 910-368-7111
MUSIC LESSONS:
Area music teacher with 20 + years of experience is offering private instruction in the following: Piano, guitar, bass, banjo & ukulele. Call 910-228-8083 or e-mail [email protected] for times and rates.
CHILD CARE:
Local certified special needs teacher offering child care in her home to fellow NHCS CLEANING:
Office, commercial, & retail. Free estimates. Email [email protected] or
910-232-6200
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children with developmental disabilities. $25/hr. In-Home Services. 908-303-8212
CONSULTING:
GIFTS:
employees. Call 910-352-2604 or email [email protected]
Purses & accessories by Thirty-One Gifts. www.mythirtyone.com/jennifermccroskey or call 910-233-2733
HVAC SERVICE: HVAC Service & repair. Gas logs & furnaces included. Over 35 years experience. 910-512-3570
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