ALBEMARLE — At the Stanly County Board of Education meeting on Jan. 7, the board headlined the meeting by formally announcing various recognitions for local educators and schools.
Richfield Elementary School fourth grade teacher Emily Emery was honored by Stanly County Schools for being selected into the Curriculum Associates Extraordinary Educator program, which celebrates teachers who are heralded for their service in their respective teaching communities.
Emery will now receive the chance to attend the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit, as well as professional learning skills opportunities and access to a network of celebrated educators nationwide.
“I’m thrilled to announce that one of our own has been selected as a 2025 Curriculum Associates Extraordinary Educator — a prestigious recognition honoring top educators nationwide who go above and beyond for their students,” said Lynn Plummer, chief academic officer for Stanly County School. “Please join me in congratulating not only Stanly County’s first recipient, but also one among the first in North Carolina.”
Emery was not the only teacher who was recognized at the school board meeting.
Lydia Hedrick, assistant superintendent of human resources, named Aquadale Elementary’s Susan Bird (curriculum coach) and Mallory Harrington (fourth and fifth grade teacher assistant), as well as Albemarle High School’s Sarnya Ervin (math teacher) and Kesha Branch (in-school suspension coordinator), as the latest recipients of the school district’s Stanly Stars awards.
According to criteria provided by SCS, the honor is given to “exceptional educators and staff for their dedication to our students and schools.”
Additionally, the school board awarded trophies to the Top Growth Schools for the 2023-24 academic school year in an honor based on overall growth and performance.
In four categories divided up by school type and appraised by growth, Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis presented the awards to Badin Elementary School (3.91 growth index), South Stanly Middle School (0.97 growth index), West Stanly High School (1.02 growth index), and Stanly Early College (4.99 growth index).
“Some children in some schools in some areas come better prepared than others when it comes to proficiency, but growth is something that every teacher should strive for,” Dennis said. “No matter where the student comes in, being able to move the student forward is extremely important. I always tell principals that if you can grow your kids, the proficiency will take care of itself eventually.”
Stanly County Schools also recently provided its congratulations to Locust Elementary School for being named a recipient of the Best Elementary Schools Award by U.S. News & World Report.
The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is set to meet again on Feb. 4 at 6:15 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.