Local teachers attend national conference

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Dec. 19, 2003
Newton County Elementary School's staff and student performance have been attracting a lot of attention lately.
This year, the school received a Level 4 accreditation, or "exemplary," from the state. And a group of teachers traveled to Florida to present the school's highly regarded Character Education program.
Eight members of the school's faculty and staff recently joined more than 450 other educators from more than 20 states and 250 schools at a national school conference at Walt Disney World.
More specifically, the group attended the Nova Southeastern University's Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services National School Reform Conference.
Joining Thompson on the trip were Joyce Luke, media specialist; Danny Lindsley, assistant principal; Tracy Holliman, counselor; Pat Johnson, third-grade teacher; Melesia Reed, first-grade teacher; and Tamara Mills, fourth-grade teacher.
The group attended the conference last year, but this was the first year they were a part of the program. Johnson said she and other teachers picked up helpful hints to use in the classroom.
Johnson said through the postal system, students are learning how to write thank you notes, invitations and personal letters all of which will help with their writing skills on the Mississippi Curriculum Test.
Principal Jeanette Thrash said she is proud of the hard work the teachers and students put in at Newton County Elementary.