GENTRY — Teacher of the Year awards were announced and presented at the Oct. 15 meeting of the Gentry School Board.
The following award recipients from each of the Gentry campuses were selected by their teacher peers: Gentry High School Teacher Of The Year Alisha Ramsey
Ramsey is an 18-year veteran of education and has been employed by the district since August of 2008. She is certified in journalism and secondary English language arts. She holds a masters degree from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Ramsey is beloved by the GHS staff and by her students as was evident in their support for her during a recent bout with cancer. She works tirelessly as a junior class sponsor, as well as lending her support and expertise to the GHS newspaper staff as their sponsor. She was awarded the high honor of being chosen by her peers as the GHS Teacher of the Year.
Gentry Middle School Teacher of the Year Gale Carriera
Carriera began her career with Gentry Schools in 1990 as a special education aide. She left the district briefly in 1995 to pursue a teaching degree and returned to the district in August of 2000 with a masters degree in education. She continued to pursue higher education, completing 30 hours above her masters this past summer. Carriera is licensed for grades K-12 mildly handicapped. She has worked with all grade levels of special education students and has been successful in every assignment. She is an experienced, conscientious, professional and a compassionate teacher, well-liked and trusted by her colleagues, as well as staff, students and parents.
Gentry Primary School Teacher of the Year Jennifer Morris
Morris began her teaching career with the district in 1993. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in December of 1991. She is licensed in early childhood education P-4 and elementary K-6. Morris worked as a third grade elementary classroom teacher for 10 years and one year as a third grade Title I teacher. She resigned her position in 2005 to stay home with her youngest child but returned to the district in 2009 as an early intervention teacher. Morris is a confident, professional teacher with a love and a gift for teaching. She has proven to be an asset to the district in many ways. She has only been on the GPS campus a short time, comparatively, and it is to her credit that her fellow teachers have chosen her to represent their district as this year’s GPS Teacher of the Year.
Gentry Intermediate Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year Rachelle Thrailkill
Thrailkill began her career with Gentry in August of 2005 at the Intermediate School. She holds a bachelors in education from Northeastern State University and holds a license in early childhood P-4, middle childhood language arts and social studies 4-8 and middle level science and math 4-8. She currently serves as a fifth grade teacher. She is enthusiastic, friendly and a competent and dedicated professional. While not a novice teacher, Thrailkill is a relatively young educator, and so it speaks highly of her dedication to excellence that she has been chosen not only to represent her campus as their teacher of the year but was also chosen by her peers on other campuses to represent the Gentry District as the District Teacher of the Year.
News, Pages 7 on 10/24/2012