Hopkins County Schools' retirees were honored during a luncheon May 21 at Catering & Creations. Pictured, front row from left, are Diane Clark, Grapevine Elementary teacher; Sherry Corbin, Jesse Stuart Elementary teacher; Retha Plunkette, West Hopkins secretary; Karla Dunbar, Earlington Elementary CIA; Anna Hoot, JSES teacher; Meleah Griffith, Southside Elementary teacher; Patricia Bailey, EES teacher; back row from left, Shelia Spears, GES cook/baker; Cheryl Vaughn, West Broadway Elementary teacher; Jeanie Killough, South Hopkins Middle teacher; Sheila Metcalfe, WBES teacher; Pete Phelan, Hopkins County Schools Academy teacher; Janet Walker, WBES teacher; Brad Johnson, director of pupil personnel; Carolyn Harris, Southside teacher; Sue Adams, Madisonville North Hopkins secretary; Richard Clemons, MNHHS teacher; and Cheryl Lykins, Hanson Elementary teacher. Retirees not pictured include Cindy Ray, Browning Springs Middle School guidance counselor; Judy Priar, DPP secretary; Nancy Stevens, Central Office custodian; Kim Hardesty, Hopkins County Central teacher; Maranda Laffoon, HCCHS custodian; Cheryl Larkins, HCCHS secretary; Dana Ball, James Madison Middle teacher; Vicki Buckner, JMMS teacher; Kathy Sutton, JMMS secretary; Kathy Phillips, Southside SOS CIA; Sandra Eli, Transportation Department bus monitor; Carroll Hutton, WBES teacher; Cindy Unland, WHS KERA CIA; and Susanne Walker, WHS nurse's assistant.

MNHHS earned a Silver Medal and is nationally ranked.

Hopkins County Central High School earned a Bronze Medal and is nationally recognized.

The U.S. News rankings include data on more than 21,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. In Kentucky, U.S. News & World Report recognized four gold medal schools, 29 silver medal schools and 54 bronze medal schools. The analysis reviewed 357 high schools in Kentucky. Data is based on the 2012-2013 school year.

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2015 Best High Schools

Charles Gant has been selected as Hopkins County Schools' director of pupil personnel.

"I'm very excited about it," he said. "I just want to continue to serve the school system, serve the community, and continue to work with students and families. This role is really no different. ... All of it centers around continuing to make students and their families successful."

Gant's most recent role is as principal of West Broadway Elementary School. He has held that position since 2008. He has worked with Hopkins County Schools since 1991, previously serving as assistant principal of Browning Springs Middle School and West Hopkins School and teaching at Hopkins County Central High School, South Hopkins High School, James Madison Middle School, Adolescent Day Treatment and West Hopkins.

He also works as community outreach director for the Hopkins County Family YMCA during the summer, which he has done since 1991.

He earned his bachelor's degree in history from Wabash College, and a master's degree in special education and Rank 1 in administrative education, both from Murray State University.

He is involved in the Hopkins County Board of Education Human Relations Committee, Hopkins County Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Council, Relay for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Trustees, Robert F. Woods Foundation, Eastview Baptist Church Board of Trustees, and Baptist Health Foundation Madisonville Inc. Board of Directors. He was also named Hopkins County Schools Administrator of the Year.

"We are pleased to make this announcement," said Superintendent Linda Zellich. "Mr. Gant is very active in our community. He has done an excellent job at West Broadway, and we expect that will continue in his new role."

Next school year, the DPP's office will be dealing with a change in the dropout age.

"We will seek out those resources within the community and district to help us, to correlate new alternative programs and community programs," Gant said. "We have to make sure families are also involved in that process. It's a family and community issue, and there are a lot of stakeholders involved. It all centers on finding resources for those kids, and I think we'll be successful in doing that."

He succeeds Brad Johnson, who is retiring.

Students at Southside Elementary are in for a big surprise in August when they find themselves treated to a brand new playground.

Southside was recently chosen as the grand-prize winner of a $30,000 playground makeover in a national sweepstakes held by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, Discovery Education and the Together Counts program.

Principal Millie Seiber said she could not be more thrilled that her school won the award.

"We are excited because it's been a long time since we had any new playground equipment," Seiber said. "This will really help our school."

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The Instructional Employee of the Month for May 2015 is Lisa Rodgers, special education teacher at Southside Elementary.

Tonia Griffey, director of special education, nominated Rodgers, who has served as a special education teacher for Hopkins County Schools since 1992. During her 23 years with our district, she has assumed many roles such as LBD teacher of K-8 students, EBD teacher, DT teacher, mentor, and teacher leader just to name a few. 

"She always maintains high expectations for all of her students and develops lasting bonds with them as well as their families," Griffey said.  "Her positive, caring, and nurturing demeanor allows her to draw the very best out of her students. They see her as their advocate and their voice. She only seeks recognition for her students, but she deserves recognition herself. For these reasons, I nominate Lisa Rodgers."

The only two schools to finish ahead of JMMS were Campbell County High School and Atherton High School from Louisville. About 30 schools participated from across Kentucky, with many having multiple teams.

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