Good News! Asheville City Schools: February 2013

Good News!
Asheville City Schools: February 2013
This past Holiday Season, Superintendent Allen Johnson, on behalf of Asheville City Board
of Education, sent a beautiful greeting card to a number of our district’s partners and
supporters. What made the card really special was the art work of Hall Fletcher Elementary
School 4 th grader, Rebekah Wyrick, supported by the school’s talented art teacher, Elizabeth
Garlington. Let’s hear how Rebekah brought this card to life [introduce student & teacher]
AMS science teacher Alfons Prince has been awarded a competitive fellowship from the
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Dow. Founded in 1944 and
headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, NSTA is the largest organization in the world
committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
NSTA's current membership of 60,000. Peer teacher Betsy Ray says “a BIG WHOOP
WHOOP!!! Go ALFONS!!!!!”
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association recently presented the Charlie Adams
Distinguished Service Award at regional meetings across the state. AHS Athletic director
Rex Wells was one of those recipients! Awards are given to individuals with at least 10
year’s experience in education and athletics who are still active in the field and have
regularly gone “above and beyond” the call of duty at both the local and the state level.
Veteran athletic director Rex Wells, the citation read, has been involved with the NCHSAA
in a number of capacities: conference president; participation in the North Carolina Athletic
Directors Association, serving on the Board of Directors; and the NIAAA State Award of
Merit. And by the way, Coach Wells is now a National Board Certified Athletic
Administrator! Congratulations!
Next we’d like to recognize two AHS apprentices and their mentors: Matthew Pate at
Biltmore Estate in Culinary and Nick Ulrey at GE Aviation in Machining. Both are having
great experiences, CTE coordinator Sharon Caffrey tells us and Nick’s mother says “it has
changed Nick’s future plans.” Let’s meet them and their mentors: GE Aviation: Kenny Allen;
and Brian Hour, chef at the Stable Café on the Biltmore Estate for mentor Cole Pate. [Also
recognize parents!] Monica Bissett, handles internships and apprenticeships for AHS
students as the Internship/Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Each January our community pauses to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King,
Jr. Let me now introduce the students recognized for their achievements for the 2013 MLK
Youth Awards, which were first presented at our community’s Annual Martin Luther King,

Jr. Breakfast on January 19th. [Read List and have students introduce themselves] Jacquelyn
Hallum, Director, Health Careers & Diversity Education is a valued member of the MLK Prayer
Breakfast Planning committee. Read list to introduce the 14 students and introduce their parents.
Recognition of AHS Bands participation in the Inaugural Festival and Parade as well as
the award of Honorary Band Member certificates to Asheville Citizen-Times reporter Casey
Blake and photographer Erin Brethauer. Band Director Will Talley will introduce some of his
staff and students and show us the trophy.
On Saturday, November 17, Hall Fletcher Elementary music teacher, Melody McGarrahan
led her stylish and syncopated student musicians through the streets of Asheville during the
Annual Holiday Parade on the way to earning a First Place Ribbon and $250 prize for best
non-profit group. “Here's to the first of many such accolades!” Principal Gordon Grant
exclaimed. “We appreciate Ms. McGarrahan, the students, and the staff and parents who
made this happen and especially Melody’s passion and drive to excel and take her students
with her!”
For more information, or to report on “good news”, please contact:
Charlie Glazener
Executive Director of Community Relations and Communications; Asheville City Schools
(828) 255-5190 (direct); (828) 255-5131 (FAX); charlie.glazener@asheville.k12.nc.us