The El Dorado School District's student, teacher and classified employee of the month were recognized during a regular School Board meeting earlier this month.
All three of January's honorees attend or work at Barton Junior High School. The School Board meeting, held Jan. 9, was packed with parents and other BJHS employees there to support the three who were recognized.
January's Student of the Month is Sophia Clark. School Board member Wayne Gibson shared comments Sophia's teachers and BJHS administrators wrote as part of her nomination.
"The nominating teacher said, 'Sophia is so helpful and always has a smile on her face,'" he read. "Assistant Principal Cori Martinez said, 'Sophia is one of the kindest students. She is positive, respectful and polite every single day' – and that'll take you a long way in life."
Sophia is a seventh-grader at BJHS who works in the office, takes honors classes and participates in archery.
The Teacher of the Month for January is Karen Silmon. A mother of three and grandmother to three more, Silmon is a seventh-grade math teacher at BJHS. She previously taught third- and fourth-grade at Yocum. She's been a teacher for 34 years, with 29 of those spent in the ESD.
"The nominating co-workers say that Ms. Silmon teaches hard every single day. 'Math is her language, and the kids know, in her room, it's time to learn and focus,'" Gibson read. "Another state, 'Ms. Silmon is an amazing teacher. She goes above and beyond to ensure that no child has what they need to be successful.'"
Silmon earned her bachelor's in elementary education from Louisiana Tech University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. She also previously worked at Washington Middle School and El Dorado High School, and she works early-morning cafeteria duty every day at BJHS.
The Classified Employee of the Month from BJHS is Brenda Richards, a 12-year veteran of the BJHS cafeteria.
"The nominating staff member said, 'Brenda is always so sweet, polite and helpful. She loves what she does and Barton students,'" Gibson said. "Ms. Geneva Odems (food prep manager) states, 'Brenda cares about her job. When she is assigned a task, you don't have to worry about it being done right... She calls the cafeteria workers her family.'"
Richards, who is a mother of two and grandmother to one more, said she was honored by the recognition.
"Thank the Lord I'm able to work and be there and serve," Richards said. "All my co-workers – we're family and we love each other."
The School Board also recognized December's Classified Employee of the Month, Denise Allgood, a paraprofessional at Washington Middle School.
"Co-worker Kristyna Newton shared, 'Ms. Allgood is such a valuable asset to WMS... The students love her because she holds strong academic expectations, yet she is able to use each child's unique strengths to help them overcome their struggles and develop a positive self-concept,'" Gibson read. "Principal Bethanie Hale (said), 'Denise Allgood is irreplaceable at WMS. She is one of the hardest workers I have ever met and will jump in wherever she is needed with a positive attitude.'"
The El Dorado School Board recognizes a student, teacher and classified employee of the month at their regular board meetings. The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 13.
Karen Silmon, a seventh-grade math teacher at BJHS, waves to co-workers as El Dorado School Board member Wayne Gibson reads comments submitted with her Teacher of the Month nomination. Silmon was named January's Teacher of the Month at the School Board's meeting on Jan. 9. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Classified Employee of the Month Brenda Richards, a cafeteria worker at BJHS, listens as School Board member Wayne Gibson reads comments submitted with her nomination during a school board meeting on Jan. 9. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Denise Allgood, a paraprofessional at Washington Middle School, was the El Dorado School District's Classified Employee of the Month in December. (Courtesy of Taylon Steele/Special to the News-Times)