July 2021 Communicator
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Grenada School District Education, Training, Dreams Communicator Information for the Grenada School District Community July 19, 2021 Community 2020/2021 Teacher of the Year ed to the challenging start of skill!” Celebration the 2020-21 school year. With Conley has taught for six her classroom decorated and years with four of those at ready for students, Conley was GES 4-5. She attended the Superintendent's asked to make a last-minute University of Southern Mis- Message switch to virtual instruction. sissippi, where she earned a Tharpe was impressed by degree in tourism manage- Dr. David Daigneault her willingness to change ment, before completing her gears at the last minute. “Mrs. elementary education degree Conley put in countless hours at William Carey University. Back in January, in this space, of research, even taking an I wrote about how we planned to available online class to pre- Conley is married to Steven rebound from the pandemic by pare herself for this daunting Conley, with whom she has coming together with the com- task of virtual instruction,” three children. Triston and munity to work for and with each Tharpe said. “As she does Sims are in third and first other. I wrote about our support in all aspects of her job, she grade respectively at GES, and from Grenada businesses, which went above and beyond by Eliza is two years old. comes in many forms, and the networking with other virtual “I am really thankful for programs we’re building to train the teachers across the state to the opportunity to work in next generation of workers for local ensure she could provide our this district, especially at the industry. students with the highest qual- Upper Elementary School,” Our community’s buy-in to this ity education.” Conley said. “The support that partnership has earned Grenada “Teaching virtually was we receive at this school from School District another national a neat experience, however, administration, colleagues, honor, the Project Lead the Way nothing takes the place of the and parents is like no other.” Community Celebration Award. hands-on learning that hap- Five other teachers across Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is pens inside the classroom,” the district were nominated a program we use to teach science, said Conley. “I have learned for Teacher of the Year. Those technology, engineering, and math that when a child knows that who were also honored as through a hands-on, project-based you care about them and that their school’s Teacher of the curriculum. The non-profit orga- By Jamie Kornegay “[Conley] embraces every you are invested in making Year were Martha Reyes nization that designs this mate- GSD Reporter day with the utmost profes- their learning engaging, they (Grenada Elementary, PreK- rial pays special notice to diverse sionalism, vigilance, and perform to the best of their 3), Tiffany Griffin, (Grenada communities like Grenada, where Erica Conley was named excitement,” GES 4-5 Prin- ability.” Middle School), Jessica Lynn school and community come to- Grenada School District cipal Carol Tharpe wrote in Conley said her number-one Grantham (Grenada High gether in times of need. 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year the award citation. “There is goal as a teacher is to make School), Michelle Downs It’s a true honor to be recognized by Superintendent Dr. David no challenge that goes unmet. learning fun for her students. (Grenada Technical and among so many other hard-working Daigneault. Her students consistently “My favorite thing to do in Career Center), and Monica communities throughout the nation, Conley, a fourth-grade math exceed our expectations in my classroom is play games,” Reece (Grenada Enrichment and I especially value this award teacher at Grenada Elemen- growth and set standards for she said. “The most rewarding and Transition Center). because it recognizes our success in tary 4-5, was singled out for all the rest.” thing is when the kids leave fulfilling our mission. I am a firm the district’s top honor among Tharpe complimented Con- my classroom thinking that all believer that education improves nominees from all six district ley’s adaptability by telling we did was play, but little do lives and improves communities. schools. the story of how she respond- they know they learned a new In a recent announcement on their website, PLTW highlighted some of Grenada School District’s positive attributes that earned us 2021 GSD Retirees this recognition. For instance, our tradition of working with the community can be seen in our long-running Partners in Education program, High Hopes. Local businesses adopt schools in the district and then lend their expertise, their products, and their involvement. Their participation in our efforts to educate the commu- nity’s youth is an encouragement, an investment, and a demonstration of the way healthy communities function. PLTW was impressed by the way we’ve created value-added programs to enhance the educa- tional experience of children at every level. Our Pre-K program, one of the most extensive and highest-performing early learning initiatives in the state, grows each year in size and performance. Our hands-on supplementary education at the elementary school takes the form of classroom museums, such as the award-winning Kidzeum and GSD retirees were honored with a reception in the high school cafeteria. Retirees in attendance were: (front, l to r) Discovery Lab, where science and Nancy Anderson- 34 years; Laura Byrd- 38 years; Doreen Williamson- 13 years; Fawn King- 22.75 years; (back, l to r) Dean Miers - 35.75 years; Charles Washington- 40 years; James McClain- 14.5 years; (not pictured) history come to life. Suzanne Angle, Belinda Bradshaw, Deborah Brown, Annie Gholston, Hazel Hendricks, Patricia Hood, Josephine See “Community” Hughes, Kim McCalop, Florence Peacock, Diana Salley, Valinda Smith, Debra Stephens, Marvis Watson, Kim McCa- Continued on page 2 lop, Alecia Shelton, Jeff Pickle, and Dosha Kitt. Communicator, July 19, 2021, Page 2 Alumni Spotlight Ron L. Blanch - GHS Class of 1987 serve his country. got the chance to attend college. His life after the Army because he was able The son of Hal and Elma Bowdry two years of study at Midland Technical to secure multiple degrees with no debt, Blanch, Ron Blanch recalls several influ- began a long, enriching journey through including a Master of Arts in Computer ential people outside the family who in- higher education, including a transfer to Resources and Information Management spired him as a kid. “For starters, my first the University of South Carolina, where and Cybersecurity from Webster Univer- grade teacher, Mrs. Springfield,” Blanch he earned a degree in criminal justice and sity. says. “She provided that initial guidance social work. He began to focus on information as a hands-on teacher and mother figure.” Blanch was selected for the Army technology many years ago because Christopher Weathers was a family active duty Officers Candidate School he saw where society was headed. “I friend who seemed like an older brother and was commissioned as a second realized technology would drive the to Blanch. “Chris was someone who lieutenant Quartermaster Officer. Later world, between artificial intelligence and carried himself well and someone I could he joined the Acquisition Corps, organiz- machine learning.” always look up to as a role model.” Simi- ing specialized projects to keep soldiers Another valuable piece of advice he larly, Derwin Dewayne Bibbs was like equipped and improving supply efficien- often gives is, “Time doesn’t wait on a brother. The two men have remained cy. The various projects and positions anyone. If you have a dream or some- close friends throughout Blanch’s mili- gave the opportunity to learn new things thing that you want to do in life, make a tary career and life. “Wayne is someone and to see the world —Africa, Iraq, plan and go after it.” that I talk to daily and he provided me Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea, Pakistan, He often cites this quote from Denzel with various knowledge and guidance on Colorado, and Virginia. Washington: “Dreams without goals are By Jamie Kornegay different matters regardless of the situa- Blanch settled in Virginia, where he just dreams.” GSD Reporter tion.” retired from active military service in Blanch lives in Virginia with his fam- Finally, Blanch credits Coach Herman 2017. He currently serves as a project ily and often visits Grenada to check on After enlisting in the Army at the Sanders, his football and track coach. manager with the Defense Counterintel- his mother. He remains excited about his age of 17, Ron Blanch (Class of 1987) “He saw something in me I didn’t see in ligence and Security Agency (DCSA), an different pursuits and the many roads still graduated from Grenada High School myself,” he recalls. “He showed great arm of the Department of Defense that open to him. and went straight to work in the dining leadership on and off the field, and he protects against attacks on the federal But he often looks back to where it all facility at Schofield Barracks near Ho- told me that I could be whoever I wanted workforce, technology, and information. started in Grenada. nolulu, Hawaii. He chose food services to be and go where I wanted to go.” He is also President and CEO for “My military experience not only because he thought it would be easy, but Blanch believed he could excel in Helping Hands Veteran & Non-Veteran changed my life, it changed my entire never dreamed his military career would college, but he always knew it would be Consulting, a non-profit organization that family,” Blanch says. “As a little boy span 30 years, multiple continents, and a difficult financial burden on his single helps veterans find jobs and make VA from Grenada, I always told my mother, that he’d retire at the rank of lieutenant mother.