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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2023)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023 THE JACKSON HERALD PAGE 3A JCSS names teacher, support and bus driver of the year The Jackson County School System announced the dis trict Teacher, Support Person and Bus Driver of the Year during a banquet held Thursday, Sept. 28. Stephanie Westhafer, a first-grade teacher at West Jack- son Elementary School, was named the system’s Teach er of the Year. Keith Ware, the Plant Manager at Jackson County High School, was named the system’s Support Person of the Year, becoming just the second person to earn the honor in school system history. Pete McClellan was announced as the system’s first-ever Bus Driver of the Year. In total, the Jackson County School System recognized 28 individuals dining Thursday’s banquet, including the Teacher and Support Person of the Year from each school, the Support Person of the Year from the Central Office and three Bus Driver of the Year finalists. Keith Ware (L), Plant Manager at JCHS, was named Jackson County School System’s Sup port Person of the Year. Pete McClellan (L) was named as the Jackson County School System’s first-ever Bus Driver of the Year. Stephanie Westhafer, a first-grade teacher at West Jackson Elementary School, was named Teacher of the Year for the Jackson County School Sys tem. She is shown here with superintendent Philip Brown. JENNIFER TATE KIM MARY PHYDAN SIBCY WES MASSEY Commerce announces teachers of the year The Commerce School System has announced its teachers of the year. They are: KIM MABRY Commerce Primary School Teacher of the Year Mrs. Mabry received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Edu cation from Georgia Southern University in 1995. In 1998, she completed her Master of Science Degree in Interrelat ed Special Education from Brenau University. In 2006, Mrs. Mabry completed her Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. Mrs. Mabry teaches grades K-4 in the Emotional and Behavioral Classroom at Commerce Primary/Elemen tary School. She teaches all academic subject areas and a daily social skills segment. Mrs. Mabry has been married to her husband, Rob, for 27 years. They have two sons, Emmett (23) and Camden (20). In her spare time, Mrs. Mabry loves to exercise, work outdoors, garden, read, and travel to new places. PHYDAN SIBCY Commerce Elementary’ School Teacher of the Year Mrs. Sibcy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont College. She also completed a Masters in Ed ucation and a Specialist in Educational Leadership from Piedmont College. Mrs. Sibcy completed her ESOL endorsement and a gifted endorsement through RESA. Mrs. Sibcy is a third grade reading and writing teacher at Commerce El ementary School. She has taught both second and third grades in her seventeen years of teaching experience. Phy- dan and her husband, A.J., have two boys. Gamer is three years old, and Bass is five years old. Bass attends kindergarten at Commerce Elementary. JENNIFER TATE Commerce Middle School Teacher of the Year Mrs. Tate received a Bache lor of Science in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia. She has a Mas ter of Education in secondary mathematics from Geoigia State University. Mrs. Tate completed a Specialist Degree in Teacher Leadership from Geoigia College and State University. She has her gifted and ESOL endorsements. Mrs. Tate has taught 7th grade math at Commerce Middle School for nine years. She is married to Michael, and they have three sons- MJ (8), Miles (5), and Malachi (2). Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Tate loves working on the family farm, and she is passionate about cooking and spending time with her family. WES MASSEY Commerce High School Teacher of the Year Mr. Massey completed an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education from Gainesville College in 2004. In 2006, he completed a Bach elor of Science in Interrelated Special Education, hi 2008, he earned a Masters of Sci ence in Post-Secondary Edu cation from Troy University. In 2011, Mr. Massey received an Educational Specialist in Teaching and Learning from Piedmont College. Since 2006, Mr. Massey has worked at Commerce High School as the moderate/severe/profound spe cial education teacher. In his free time, Mr. Massey enjoys spending time with his wife of 13 years, Lauren, and two children, Walker and Amelia. Hoschton Women’s Civic Club to host political forum Oct. 17 The Hoschton Women’s Civic Club will host a politi cal forum on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Hoschton City Hall Community Room for candidates running for the city’s mayoral post and city council seats. Each candidate will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and answer questions presented by modera tor Tommy Jennings. Due to the number of candidates and time constraints, questions will only be posed by the moderator. Eleven candidates have qualified for Hoschton’s No vember elections. NGHS and Anthem announce two-year extension Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia have extended a new two-year agreement with the health system’s facilities - including all Northeast Geor gia Medical Center hospitals, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group practices, Urgent Care locations, Georgia Heart Institute locations, Laurelwood, long-term care facilities and other outpatient facili ties - in Anthem’s network guaranteeing continued access for Anthem members with employer-based health plans. “We are pleased at the collaborative nature of the discussions and at the willingness of both parties to work together to ensure our patients have certainty about their access to services at NGHS,” said Steve McNeilly, chief operating officer of population health and vice president of managed care opera tions for NGHS. “Because of this new agreement, our community can confidently choose Anthem when they enter open enrollment this fall.” “We are pleased to have extended an agreement that continues to make quality health care acces sible for our members across Northeast Georgia,” said Robert Bunch, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia. “We value our collabo rative relationship with NGHS as we work together to tackle healthcare affordability and improve lives and communities for the Georgians we mutually serve.” JCSO to host teen driving event on Oct. 10 The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Safe Driving Summit for 400 local high school students. The event will be held Oct. 10 at the Jackson County Ag Center. All local high schools are participating in the event. “This is a much-needed event for our teenage drivers,” said Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum. Mangum recently attended a similar event in Hall County. Lawrence named teacher of the year at Jefferson Jefferson City Schools has named Brittani Law rence as this year’s Teacher of the Year. Lawrence’s career at JCS has spanned over half a de cade. She is a health and physical education teacher at Jefferson Middle School and serves as head varsity volleyball coach. Coach Lawrence has led her team to four region championships and has earned the title of Region Coach of the Year. Lawrence is a member of the JMS leadership team and serves as an active member of the JMS Col lege and Career Commit tee. Coach Lawrence’s influ ence also reaches beyond the borders of the Jeffer son City School System. She holds statewide lead ership roles, including her position as the volleyball coordinator for the Geor gia Athletic Coaches As sociation. In this capacity, she plays a role in the de velopment and promotion of volleyball across the state. Furthermore, Coach Lawrence is a pivotal fig ure in the implementation of health and fitness ini tiatives as the physical activity coordinator for the Georgia Shape School Physical Activity and Nu trition Grant. “Coach Lawrence goes above and beyond,” says JMS Principal Carol Ann Knight. “She has a positive attitude, is always willing to help others and engages with each of her students. We appreciate all she does at JMS!” The Teacher of the Year recognition acknowledges educators who have demon strated “exceptional com mitment to their students and a dedication to main taining the highest standards of professionalism.” “This accolade is a re- BRITTANI LAWRENCE flection of the entire school system’s commitment to fostering a culture of ex cellence in education,” says Superintendent Donna Mc- Mullan. “We extend our con gratulations to Coach Law rence and express our deep gratitude for her outstanding contributions to our school system.” CITY OF COMMERCE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Commerce Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at its meeting on October 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Commerce Civic Center, 110 State Street, Commerce, GA, 30529, on the following matters. During its regular meeting on November 20,2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Commerce Civic Center, 110 State Street, Commerce, GA, 30529, the Commerce City Council may act on these applications. PAX 23-0005: Annexation: Aaron Kline, applicant and property own er, seek to annex approximately +/- .9 acres located at 252 Bradberry Ct., further identified as Map/Parcel 020E 008 not currently located in the city limits of Commerce. The property to be annexed fronts approxi mately 185 feet on the south side of Bradberry Ct. and gains access from the same. Current zoning of property to be annexed is R-l(Residential, Low- Density Single-Family District) in unincorporated Jackson Coun ty. Proposed Zoning and Use: R-l (Single-Family Residential) City of Commerce. (Companion Application: PR23- 0016). PR23-0016: Rezoning: Aaron Kline, applicant and property own er, seek to rezone approximately +/-.9 acres located at 252 Bradberry Ct., further identified as Map/Parcel 020E 008, from R-l(Residential, Low-Density Single-Family District) in unincorporated Jackson Coun ty to R-l (Single-Family Residential) City of Commerce. Proposed Use: Single-Family Residential. (Companion Application: PAX23-0005). PR23-0024: Rezoning: Oscar Carillo, applicant and property owner, seek to rezone approximately -1-/-.8 acres located at Map/Parcel C06 008A, View Street, from M-l (Light Industrial District) in the City of Commerce to R-4(Multi-Family Residential District) City of Com merce. All interested persons are invited to attend. The applications are on file at the Commerce Planning & Development Office, 545 Cedar Dr., Commerce, GA, 30529, and are available for public inspection during regular business hours. For more information, call 706-335-3359. This the 4th day of October, 2023.
