Spotlight

The Remember Your Why Award was presented to Keith and Missy Jarvis at the Sept. 18 Board of Education meeting. This husband and wife duo serve as head custodians at Grapevine Elementary and Jesse Stuart Elementary, respectively. They regularly work together to meet the needs of students and staff at both of their schools. When one of their schools is short-handed or has an approaching deadline on a project, they both will collaborate to help. They truly embody Team Hopkins and the “Remember Your Why” initiative!

Keith said his “why” is, “I love working at Grapevine because I like talking and joking with the kids. Occasionally, I learn something new and they do, too. I like working with my Wildcat family. I never mind to help anyone out who needs help.”

Missy said her “why” is, “I love my Eagle family. I enjoy working and getting to know the students every day. I take pride in my work in making sure the students and staff have a clean and safe place to learn and work.”

Melissa “Missy” Cobb, the PE teacher at Southside Elementary, received the Remember Your Why Award at the Board of Education meeting on May 15. She is described as a teacher who cares, and one who goes out of her way to spread love to others. As an example, she was given the task of morning outdoor car rider duty. She decided to make it her mission to bring a smile to students’ and parents’ faces! She has purchased costumes that she wears when greeting the children and has developed relationships with their parents. The car rider line has gone from a place of frustration to one of joy. She also reaches out to co-workers, checking in with them and offering to help when they are going through a difficult time. She is described as a teacher who shows up for both students and co-workers!

When asked her “why,” Cobb said, “Sometimes joy and/or comfort are found in the simplest of actions. My why is to extend kindness, a smile, a reason to laugh in hopes of bringing at least a glimpse of joy or comfort into the lives of our students, their families and my co-workers. I view each of those groups of people as an extension of my family. In return, I am the recipient of joy and comfort.”

Sarah Neathery, a 4^th grade teacher at Pride Elementary, received the Remember Your Why Award at the Board of Education meeting on May 1. She has gone above and beyond the past few months to help people at her school who have been hit with serious health problems. She puts other’s needs above her own and goes out of her way to help others. She loves on her colleagues, which is shown by little gifts she leaves to brighten their day. She recently organized the “Falcons Fight Together” T-shirt surprise for a teammate who was getting ready to begin chemotherapy treatments. She has a special way of doing things for others without expecting anything in return!

When asked her “Why,” Neathery said, “I work alongside many amazing individuals who I consider ‘family.’ We all have a joint mission: to see students succeed and become the best version of themselves. When I heard the news about staff members having health issues, I knew it was my chance to try and spread light and kindness to see them smile.  It brings me pure joy to see others smile. Many ideas that we have carried out have been student initiated. Watching them grow, mature, and show so much empathy to those hurting around them has been the highlight of my career. It shows that as a ‘Falcon Family’ we have led by example to teach students to be kind individuals.”