November Teachers and Employee of the Month are Chosen 

November Teachers of the Month:  Riversprings Middle’s Janet H. Weber and Crawfordville Elementary’s Sue Griffin are recognized with Employee of the Month: School Bus Driver Classie Franklin

Janet Weber began her career in education at Shadeville Elementary as a 5th grade teacher. However, she has been teaching 6th grade at Riversprings Middle School since 2003. Team teaching is an instructional organization Mrs. Weber loves. She adds, “My team-teacher, Cay Arant, and I share one large room and have a GREAT time co-teaching every class together. We possess very similar ethics and feel at ease encouraging one another, throughout the day, in an effort to create the most effective learning experience possible for our students.”

Mrs. Weber credits her friend and school board member, Becky Cook, for encouraging her and having faith in her ability to teach. Janet adds, “With the support of my friend, Becky Cook, I obtained my educator’s certification so I could teach in the BEST County in the State of Florida.”

Principal Dod Walker said, “The Riversprings family is proud to have Janet Weber represent us as the Wakulla County Teacher of the Month. Janet does an outstanding job and fills many roles. She has led our School Improvement Team for the past two years and has written articles for the View and the Superintendent’s Report. She stands above the crowd as an excellent teacher. She is always ready to help her colleagues, her students and her friends whenever they are in need. Janet Weber is a valuable asset to RMS.”

Janet grew up in Tallahassee and graduated from Rickard’s High School. She also attended and graduated from Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University.

For the past 24 years Sue Griffin has been the media specialist at Crawfordville Elementary School. Her dedication and desire to continually improve are some of the main reasons she was selected as the November Teacher of the Month. Mrs. Griffin shares, “The most enjoyable part of my job is connecting a student with a book he/she can read. Ordering and receiving new media, especially books, is very enjoyable. Students love new books.”

Mrs. Griffin received her masters in library science from FSU. She graduated from the Woman’s College of Georgia with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. With childhood roots in Georgia, Mrs. Griffin states that she moved to Wakulla County because of the reputable school system.

Principal Angie Walker adds, “Sue Griffin has been instrumental in bringing reading to a higher level and helping Crawfordville students and teachers ‘Kick it up a Notch!’” Mrs. Griffin is creative, patient, kind, flexible and shows a love for working with children. Her greatest desire is to find that perfect book which a sets a student on fire for ready. Mrs. Griffin richly deserves the honor of being selected by her peers as Teacher of the Month.”

Her career began in Albany, Georgia as a librarian and then proceeded to Louisiana where she taught junior high. Before moving to Wakulla County Mrs. Griffin worked as a bookkeeper for the Leon District Media Center.  She is a member of the Florida Reading Association, SAC Committee and PTO Council. Mrs. Griffin plans to retire this year. The Crawfordville Cougars will miss her dearly.

Transportation Coordinator Pat Jones notes, “Classie Franklin is a lady with special talents. She is one of those people who demonstrates compassion and is always ready to listen and address the needs of her students.” Classie Franklin has worked with the Wakulla County School District since 1981 and this month is recognized as the Employee of the Month.

Ms. Franklin has worked as a para-professional and school bus driver at St. Marks, Gretchen Everhart, Medart Elementary and Crawfordville Elementary. When asked what she finds most enjoyable about her job she replies, “Experiencing the life of handicap children. They find what’s right with the world and they keep on smiling day after day.” Working with special needs students is a special calling for Classie. She adds, “It is very exciting to see a students’ face when I say I’m glad you came to school today. It is a wonderful experience to know I made a positive difference in the life of a child.”
Classie attended Buckhorn Elementary and graduated from Shadeville High School. She grew up in Sopchoppy, FL and attended Lively Vocational School in Tallahassee. Pat Jones notes, “Classie Franklin is an asset to the transportation department. She is organized, responsible, and enthusiastic. Not only is she knowledgeable when working with special needs students but she is compassionate and flexible. It is my pleasure to recognize her as the employee of the month.”

Superintendent David Miller noted that all three of these outstanding employees recognize the important of developing relationships and rapport with our students.

This article originally published on November 20, 2008.

Click here to discuss this article in our Online Discussion Forums.

Per Wakulla.com policy, all reader comments (submitted below) must include a valid first and last name.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

Comments (0)

You must be logged in to post a comment.