The staff of the Danville Independent Schools put a lot of work into making the 2024-2025 school year a great one.
Each year, the district names a Rookie Staff of the Year, Classified Staff of the Year and Certified Staff of the Year at each school and at the district level at a closing day ceremony for all staff of the Danville Schools. The recipient of the Lydia Ellis Innovative Arts Educator Award for the school year is also honored at the ceremony. Honorees are named below. Congratulations to all.
Edna L. Toliver Intermediate School
Rookie Staff of the Year: Art Teacher Whitney Mason
Classified Staff of the Year: Attendance Clerk Porsche Dunn
Certified Staff of the Year: 3rd Grade Teacher Kristen Gibson
From left: Assistant Principal Jennifer Shearer, Whitney Mason, Porsche Dunn, Kristen Gibson, Principal Renee Lanigan.
Mary G. Hogsett Primary School
Rookie Staff of the Year: Instructional Assistant Kelli Ladd
Classified Staff of the Year: Instructional Assistant Donisha Harris Taylor
Certified Staff of the Year: Library Media Specialist Norma Hopkins
From left: Assistant Principal Jerrica Funkhouser, Donisha Harris Taylor, Kelli Ladd, Norma Hopkins, Principal Pamela Hambrick
John W. Bate Middle School
Rookie Staff of the Year: Instructional Assistant Anais Sommers
Classified Staff of the Year: Cafeteria Manager Ebony Alcorn
Certified Staff of the Year: Math Teacher Ashley Land
From left: Principal Michelle Carver, Anais Sommers, Ebony Alcorn, Ashley Land, Assistant Principal JD Smith.
Danville High School
Rookie Staff of the Year: Health Science Teacher Teena Kissee
Classified Staff of the Year: Instructional Assistant Debbie Pixley
Certified Staff of the Year: English Teacher Laurie Pierce
From left: Assistant Principal Shelby Cameron, Assistant Principal Tomma Huguely, Debbie Pixley, Teena Kissee, Laurie Pierce, Principal Danny Goodwin
District staff
Rookie Staff of the Year: Chief Finance Officer Nic Senak
Classified Staff of the Year: The finance team - Kelly Cress, Jamie Maupin, Mary Jo Lownds and Jake Watson
Certified Staff of the Year: Danville High School Principal Danny Goodwin
From left: Danny Goodwin, Superintendent Ron Ballard, Kelly Cress, Jamie Maupin, Mary Jo Lownds, Nic Senak. Not pictured: Jake Watson.
Lydia Ellis Innovative Arts Educator Award for the 2024-2025 school year
Director of Arts Education Jane Dewey
From left: Kathy Ault of Friends of the Arts, Gail Wright of the Danville Schools Education Foundation and Alumni Association, Jane Dewey, Loudetta Robertson of the DSEFAA, Ron Ballard