DeSoto County Schools Names "Parent of the Year"

Supt. Milton Kuykendall presents Sherrie Ming with the 2015 Parent of the Year Award.

   The teachers at Hernando Hills Elementary selected the candidate they felt should be nominated for DeSoto County Schools' Parent of the Year.

  They picked a winner.  Her name is Sherrie Ming.

   Both of Sherrie's children have attended Hernando Hills where teachers and students alike have a great respect for the countless hours she volunteers at school.  Her son, Ethan, is a third grade student at HHES, and her daughter, Emma, is a fifth grade student at Oak Grove Central Elementary.

   "I believe Sherrie is an excellent candidate for Mississippi Parent of the Year," said Tara Hood, HHES PTA President.  "Her giving spirit, cheerful nature and selflessness in helping others are just a few of her characteristics which make her stand out."

  Stephanie Gilder, principal at HHES, added that Sherrie never seeks attention for the work she does.

   "Sherrie assists or serves wherever she is needed," Gilder said.  "She is happy to be in the background and quietly gets things done.  She never seeks any attention for all the work she does and goes above and beyond on any project she is given."

   Case in point:  In previous years, HHES' annual Valentine fundraiser made on average $200.  When Sherrie ran the program, it made $1,712. Instead of a candy bar, she made thousands of handmade fuzzy characters, each one slightly different, and attached them to a card with a small piece of candy. 

   "When Sherrie takes on a project, she maximizes it-no matter how many hours of work it requires," said Gilder.

   Sherrie says volunteering has many positive benefits for her as well.

   "I love the kids' reaction," she said.  "I can come into a classroom and help with an art project or science lesson and provide the fun."

    Sherrie, a biology major, offered to make salt dough and help students make "fossils" when they were doing a unit in science on prehistoric animals.

   "I love to help with science experiments, listen to a child read, or help with PTA projects such as a 'Back to School' breakfast for teachers," Sherrie said.  "It is important to me to be involved in my children's schools."

   Sherrie's husband is Kevin Ming, a safety specialist for FedEx Ground.   Sherrie was honored at the Board of Education for being the DCS Parent of the Year.  This qualified her to be in the running for Mississippi's Parent of the Year which will be announced in May. 

   There is one overall Parent of the Year winner for DCS but there are many finalists from individual schools.  These finalists were recognized by the Board of Education in Hernando with a reception.  Supt. Milton Kuykendall said, "Parents are the foundation to the success of students.  Besides helping your own children, this group helps other children to be successful. "

   Parent of the Year nominees include:  Ronald Jeppe, Career Technical Center West; Emily Medlin, Center Hill Elementary; Sylvia Earwood, DeSoto Central High; Beth Snow, Greenbrook Elementary;  Taneisha Woodard-Spearman, Hope Sullivan Elementary; Jenny Degan, Horn Lake Intermediate; Michelle Moore, Horn Lake Middle; Stephanie Viglietti, Lake Cormorant Elementary; Jennifer Ware, Lewisburg Elementary, Sonya Lageman, Lewisburg Primary; Jennifer Childress, Oak Grove Central Elementary; Amanda Hill, Olive Branch Elementary; Gerry Long, Olive Branch Middle; Melissa Green, Shadow Oaks Elementary; Wendy Barulli, Southaven Middle;  and Mike Webb, Walls Elementary.

From left, Taneisha Woodard-Spearman, Sonya Lageman and Stephanie Viglietti

From left, Ronald Jeppe, Emily Medlin, and Amanda Hill

From left, Jenny Degan, Jennifer Ware and Jennifer Childress

From left, Wendy Barulli, Beth Snow, Sylvia Earwood, and Michelle Moore 

 Horn Lake Student Earns $400,000 Scholarship 

  She is small, but mighty.

  Even though Nyjah Turner, a senior at Horn Lake High School, is small in stature, she is mentally and physically tough and is the Commanding Officer of her JROTC program.  She is the first DeSoto County Schools' female student to earn an appointment to attend the U.S Coast Guard Academy, a scholarship worth $400,000.

   "She has true leadership abilities along with an 'A' average in academics," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Hicks, the head instructor for the JROTC program at HLHS.  "Less than 100 appointments are awarded each year nationwide."

   The United States Coast Guard Academy is one of five federally funded military academies.  This program is known for its work in search and rescue, maritime defense and humanitarian missions.  Located in New London, Connecticut, the academy offers four years of rigorous coursework in the sciences, engineering and maritime-border defense.  Nyjah had the opportunity to visit the Connecticut campus twice before she was awarded the scholarship.

   "I joined JROTC my freshman year," said Nyjah.  "I am receiving this scholarship because of what I learned and the opportunities I have been given at Horn Lake High School.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime."

   As Commanding Officer of the Horn Lake JROTC, she oversees 130 cadets.  Citizenship, leadership, character and community service are the core tenets of high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.  The Horn Lake program has been in existence for six years.

   "In the last four years, our program has had three students earn military appointments," said Master Sgt. Hicks.  "This year we will have a former student graduate from Annapolis."

   Students who participate in Junior ROTC are not required to join the military after high school, and the program is not a military preparation class.

   "That is not the mission of JROTC at all.  The mission is to prepare children to become better citizens," MSgt. Hicks said.  "We teach leadership."

   But the programs do have a strong military influence. They are taught by retired military personnel and partially funded by the military. Coursework includes military history and customs, and students are required to wear a uniform at least twice a month.  DeSoto County School District has three JROTC programs-Horn Lake High, Lake Cormorant High and Olive Branch High.  Applications have been filed to get similar programs at the remaining five DCS high schools.

    Students also partake in physical fitness training and drill instruction, among other activities. Students at Horn Lake get to work out on an obstacle course built to Marine Corps standards.

   "In a Junior ROTC class, we work out and get in shape.  More importantly, students can build soft skills such as leadership, self-confidence and discipline - qualities that are necessary to thrive in any career.  That is my hope for every student in our program," MSgt. Hicks said.  "Nyjah is a wonderful example of what can happen to a student who works very hard to be successful."

DCS Teacher Wins Farm Bureau "Teacher of the Year"

Dr. Sandy Slocum, Education Coordinator with Mississippi Farm Bureau, Teacher Tiffany Lyles, and Deniese Swindoll, Region 1 Women's Chair for Mississippi Farm Bureau.

   Tiffany Lyles, a second grade teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, was selected as Mississippi Farm Bureau's "Teacher of the Year," an award that will send her on an all-expense paid trip to their national conference in Kentucky this summer.

   Only one teacher is selected statewide for this honor and for the second year in a row this title has gone to a teacher from DeSoto County Schools.  Last year Todd Willis, a third grade teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary, won.

    "Teachers across the state submit programs, lessons, special events that have an emphasis on agriculture in the classroom," said Deniese Swindoll, Region 1 Women's Chair for Mississippi Farm Bureau.  "The contest is open in all 82 counties.  Tiffany Lyles' application stood out."

  Swindoll said it was very unusual that back-to-back statewide winners would be from the same school district-and the same school.

   "Todd Willis shared many ideas with me and we work well together," said Lyles. 

   Both teachers believe "real world experiences" make learning relevant.

   "I am a hands-on learner.  I use our classroom garden to teach measurement, teach fractions," she said.  "I think it is the best way for a student to learn."

   Besides a garden that the students designed and have nurtured, live animals are a part of Lyles' classroom.  The students cared for eggs, watched them hatch, and have the responsibility for feeding them.

   "Incubation and hatching in the classroom is one of the most amazing experiences you will provide your students. It's a firsthand view of life and can be an experience your students will never forget," Lyles said.  "Our students write in their journals each day.  They cannot wait to write after seeing these eggs come to life."

   Jamie Loper, principal at PHES, said, "Mrs. Lyles uses innovative agriculture projects to make learning relevant.  She thinks 'outside the box.'  She uses multi-sensory learning techniques and students love to be in her classroom."

Overpark Elementary Wins $5,000 Grant 

from the CenturyLink Foundation

Bill Welch, CenturyLink Area Plant supervisor, left, presents a $5,000 grant check to Overpark Assistant Principal Sherry Anderson and Counselor Stacy Conklin.  OES students on hand for the presentation are from left, Walker Moore, Bryania Brooks, Nia Jones, Matthes Nastasi, Cailan Neely, Callia Paulino, and Olivia Dekker.

   Overpark Elementary was awarded $5,000 for a project titled:  iPADS - Incredibly Purposeful Academic Discovery at School.  The grant will allow teachers and students to co-teach by connecting to several interactive websites at the same time. 

   Fourth Grade Teacher Jana Long submitted the grant.  Across the country, more than 1,000 grant applications were received.  In Mississippi, one winning school was selected by a review committee comprised of community members and a CenturyLink representative.  The winning teachers' schools received grants to be used to purchase technology to benefit students in the classroom.

DeSoto County Schools
 2015-16 Tentative Calendar

December 21, February 12, February 15, March 28, May 23, and May 24 are scheduled makeup days.   State law requires a student schedule of 180 days. The calendar is subject to change due to emergency conditions.