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Polk County Schools’ faculty is routinely ranked among the top in the state, and the district took time Monday to honor some of its finest educators.

 

At its monthly meeting at Stearns Education Center, the Polk County Board of Education saluted its 2022-23 Teachers of the Year, recognizing each winner with a plaque and a round of applause.

 

Teachers honored included: Nikki Gilreath (Polk Central), Lori Connet (Polk County High), Jamie Graber (Polk County Middle), Stephanie Fletcher (Saluda) and Kellie Bradley (Sunny View).

 

Tryon Elementary winner Kelly Welsh was also selected as the 2022-23 District Teacher of the Year. Welsh missed Monday’s ceremony while attending a professional development program at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. That trip was given as part of her award.

 

That wasn’t the end of the night’s celebrations, though. Graber was also honored for her selection as a North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) Outstanding Secondary Math Teacher.

 

In other business:

 

* The board adopted a resolution to recognize the 30 years of service to the district of former Assistant Superintendent David Scherping, who retired last month.

 

* Polk County Early College students gave a presentation to the board regarding their Citizen Science project on bird observation.

 

* Preschool Director Kathy Harding provided an annual Head Start program update and received approval to carry forward Head Start capital grant funding from the previous year slated for a preschool addition at Tryon Elementary.

 

* The Board approved an overnight field trip request for the Polk County High School wrestling program.

 

* Administration received approval for the district’s 2022-2023 budget resolution, and the board agreed to accept grant monies for an activity bus and to utilize state lottery capital funds for the recent track renovations at PCHS.

 

The next Polk County Board of Education Meeting will be held on December 12 at Stearns Education Center.