Final Five Staff Award Recognitions Presented
The final five staff appreciation awards were presented on May 7 to deserving DPS staff members who were nominated for the awards by parents and colleagues. These staff members were presented gift certificates, certificates and flowers by Interim Superintendent Hank Hurd.
The goal of the program is to encourage our employees to be more customer-service oriented by recognizing them for outstanding efforts. The program values employees for some of the same character traits that have been adopted for students, including perseverance, respect and responsibility. DPS is grateful to Elmo’s Diner for their support of this recognition effort.
Winners are:
CENTRAL SERVICES
Vickie Goff, Payroll in Financial Services
Vickie has worked in DPS payroll since 1993 and is the senior payroll technician. She is a Southern High School graduate and has worked in accounting since 1975.
A colleague said “Vickie is committed to delivering the upmost respect, and customer service to DPS employees. She always gives 110% whether the deadline falls on a regular workday or maybe a holiday for everyone else…”
HIGH SCHOOL
Terry McCann, Early College High School
Terry has taught math at Early College since 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in math from UNC-Chapel Hill and an associate degree in accounting from Durham Tech. He previously taught in Wake County and at a private school and was in private industry.
A parent said “Mr. McCann is the first teacher that I have encountered in the last four years of my daughter’s education that has exemplified the professionalism of an educator. He’s a teacher that immediately gained my daughter’s confidence and caused her to grow in her academics and mature in her relationship with her classmates and her teacher….”
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Patrick Blackburn, Pearson Elementary
Patrick Blackburn has been the music/band teacher at Pearson since 2006. He holds a bachelor’s and master of arts in music from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a Stokes County native. He was a NC Teaching Fellow.
A parent had this to say about Blackburn: “Mr. Blackburn’s creation of Durham’s only elementary school band is a major achievement, but his real accomplishment is his daily inspiration of students to greater achievement, excellence, and love of music and teaching…”
Ashley Hoyle, Lakewood Elementary
Ashley is completing her second year teaching second grade at Lakewood. She is a graduate of the University of NC at Asheville and is a NC Teaching Fellow.
A colleague said, “She makes work a wonderful place to be by making me challenge myself to be a better teacher. She is extremely dedicated and a great addition to our school!”
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Audrey Robinson, Githens Middle School
Audrey has been employed as a resource teacher at Githens since 2006. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Urbana University in Ohio where she majored in special education.
A parent said “Audrey Robinson exemplifies all of the characteristics of a great teacher and advocate for special needs students. ….As the parent of a child with autism, I continue to be amazed at her strength and perseverance in dealing with these issues on a daily basis in her classroom…Audrey Robinson is an exemplary teacher, and deserves recognition from the school and the district as well.”
