Our Future, Our Commitment, Our Students

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

SEE BIOTECH PAGE 6

Jane Blevins, 2007 FCS Teacher of The Year, receives a check from Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Doug Moore dur-

ing the annual honors day program held at Louisburg Elementary.

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

F I R S T T H U R S D A Y

Look Inside!

Take a look at formula

for of success for Crea-

tive Education Centre

Principal Dale Byrns .

Top Spot

Louisburg High’s Jane Blevins Earns

FCS Teacher of The Year Award

I f teaching is an art, then it may not be a stretch to call Louisburg High School

teacher Jane Blevins the Picasso of teaching.

Blevins – 2007 Franklin County Schools Teacher of The Year – is going as strong as ever after 34 years of teaching.

She edged out a talented pool

of Teacher of The Year nominees to earn the title for the second time.

“Jane is the kind of person who all the kids really like,” LHS Prin-cipal Chris Blice said. “Other teachers admire and really seek her out for advice. Any time there

Biotech Program Building Steam After First Year Trying to figure out what you

are going to do with your life is not an easy task for anyone – including high school students.

With all of the career choices in the world, it’s hard to make a decision, but that choice may be a little easier for Franklin County high school students

This past school year was the first year of the biotechnol-ogy program offered through the FCS Career and Technical Education Department, No-vozymes and Vance Granville Community College. This pro-gram, which was taught at Franklinton High School and VGCC, allows students to ex-plore the field of biotechnology and earn college credit at the same time. In one case, a stu-dent earned a job in the field

SEE BLEVINS PAGE 4

Bunn Grad’s Success Leads to Commercial

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 2 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

Success can be a difficult item to measure, but it’s safe to say that former Bunn High School valedictorian and Duke graduate Kosha Tucker is experiencing a great deal of it.

Tucker was second to none in the academic arena in high school and used that talent to help earn a BN Duke Scholarship to Duke University. Tucker, who graduated from Bunn in 2002 and graduated with honors from Duke University in 2006, continues to receive major accolades.

Tucker joined the Teach for America (TFA) Program after leaving Duke and has just completed her first year of teaching first grade in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tucker has always excelled and not just in the academic world. She was a standout cheerleader and track and field athlete in high school and went on to cheer at Duke for four years. TFA was quick to realize her interesting story and decided to invite Tucker to act in a TFA commercial for Wachovia and the Professional Golfers Association. If you were watching the Wachovia Golf Championship in May, you probably saw Tucker in that commercial.

“I have no idea why I was asked to do it,” Tucker said. “I was contacted by the TFA-Wachovia liaison. She asked if I'd be interested sharing my experience for a video. I didn't even know it would be a nationally televised commercial--I just thought it would be like an infomercial-esque deal that people at the PGA Championship would see on shuttle buses.”

To Tucker’s surprise, it was a much bigger deal than she anticipated.

“I was wrong. So, the people at PGA Tours really liked my story about being taught by a corps member, coming from a pretty poor rural area, going to Duke on a full ride, and then becoming a corps member myself, and they wanted me to talk about all of that. I mean, it is a pretty neat and unique story.”

The TV commercial caught Tucker off-guard, but she was very pleased to have the opportunity to tell her story.

As one might expect, her success is trickling down to her students as well.

“My students are progressing really well,” Tucker said. “It's amazing because I don't feel like the greatest teacher most days, yet my students have managed to learn a lot somehow. One of my students who came in below a Kindergarten level is now reading (fluency-wise) on a beginning second grade level. It’s amazing.”

On average, each student in Tucker’s class has pro-gressed two years in one year in the classroom.

Tucker believes much her success with her students is her ability to relate to them.

“I think I've been able to connect to my kids and make them value education because of my background,” Tucker said. “My kids know I also come from a financially limited family, so I know what it's like to want and not have and see my parents struggle to make ends meet and give me the life they felt I deserved.

“I'm a perfect example of how you can use education to get out of that situation, though. So I'm able to serve as a role model to them. It's not everyday they meet someone who's been there, done that, and actually made something of themselves. I tell them all the time that their home lives do not give them any excuse to give up or feel defeated, that they don't have to normalize what they see at home, and they certainly don't have to live up to the low expecta-tions so many have of them. I hold very high expectations for them and wholeheartedly expect them to reach them.” Tucker grew up in rural setting with limited resources, but has not let that detour her from her goals. She recently had an article published in a TFA magazine that details her life and some of her very strong believes and con-cerns about society in the U.S.

The story can be read online at the following web ad-dress: http://www.teachamerica.org/alumni/one_day/reflection_winter2007.htm.

Tucker is enjoying her career as a teacher but has not ruled law school out of the picture. She earned a degree in public policy at Duke University and would like to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.

-Nathan Moreschi

Former Bunn High student Kosha Tucker now finds herself in the

opposite roll of a student in Atlanta Georgia.

Nice guys finish last – NOT TRUE.

Chances are if you ask Dale Byrns to help you out, he’s going to do everything he can to make sure your objective is met.

It’s that philosophy that has led him to a successful career in edu-cation in North Carolina. Not only is Byrns considered a good per-son, he is talented in many differ-ent areas, and that has made him a valuable person for Franklin County Schools.

Byrns, who is from Eastern, NC near Jacksonville, began his ca-reer in education in 1978 as an elementary physical education teacher in Kinston after serving three years in the Air Force.

Byrns graduated from Atlantic Christian College just prior to be-coming a teacher with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Educa-tion, but his days as a student were-n’t even close to being over. Deep down he knew he wanted to be a principal, so he continued to pursue degrees in education. He collected a Masters in Teaching from UNC-Chapel Hill, another Masters in Ad-ministration and a third six-year Masters from East Carolina Univer-sity that eventually led to a superin-tendent’s certification.

In 1983 Byrns inquired about em-ployment in Franklin County. He interviewed for a principalshp at Franklinton High School and was

one of the finalists but ultimately did not receive the post. Not to fear though, Franklinton City Schools was quick to realize Byrns’ talent.

“I went back home to New Bern High School to continue my job as an assistant principal, but that all changed after a phone call from Franklinton City Schools,” Byrns said.

That phone call was an offer to be the Community Schools Coordina-tor.

Byrns accepted the slot and re-mained there until 1994 when Franklin County Schools and Frank-linton City Schools merged. That’s when Byrns’ technical knowledge was called on. Byrns, who is an Amateur Radio operator and spent time as a Morse Code intercept op-erator in the Air Force, became part

of a two-man technology team to help keep the growing computer system in FCS running and expand-ing. His partner was Leamon Brantley, who continues to work in the technology department today.

“That was a lot of fun,” Byrns said. “I’ve been exposed to a lot of things, and I pride myself in being a team player and helping the system where I can.”

You might be led to believe that Byrns’ hopes of becoming a princi-pal were all but over after heading down the technology path; well, any doubts of that were erased in 1996. Byrns was asked to be an assistant principal at Franklinton High School, but solely on the third floor where Grades 7 and 8 were housed.

Our Future, Our Commitment, Our Students

Road to Success CEC Principal Dale Byrns’ People First Attitude Pays Off

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 3 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

SEE BYRNS PAGE 7

When it comes to school issues, CEC Principal Dale Byrns will figure it out.

Page 4

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

SEE HONORS PAGE 5

Marks, Williams Receive Superintendent’s Award

Debbie Williams, left, and Diane Marks, were caught by the element of surprise when they received the Superintendent’s Service Award from

FCS Superintendent Dr. Bert L’Homme (center).

If there is an awards ceremony, ban-quet or any other function going on that involves the central office of Franklin County Schools, chances are that Diane Marks and Debbie Williams are playing a big role in organizing the program.

Just like in years past, the two teamed up to help organize the year-end annual Honors Day Ceremony. Marks, Admin-istrative Assistant to Superintendent Dr. Bert L’Homme, asked L’Homme about making a plaque for this year’s Superin-tendent’s Service Award. L’Homme knew at that point that Marks and Wil-liams were going to receive the award, thus putting him in tight spot.

L’Homme told them to not worry about it because there wasn’t going to be an award this year. Williams, Administra-tive Assistant to the Board of Education and Student Reassignment, and Marks were surprised that there wasn’t going to be an award this year, but didn’t think much about it in the grand scheme of their busy schedules. Needless to say, they were both shocked when they

Honors Day 2007

is a problem, Jane knows we can get through it, and we do. She is truly a blessing.”

Blevins earned the award in 2000 and has been Teacher of the Year at Louisburg High on many occasions.

“This is totally unexpected,” Blevins said. “I do what I do. I don’t try any

harder each year – I just love my kids. It’s as important to learn communica-tion skills as anything else. I just want to make them laugh and really realize they can have fun in my class and learn at the same time. If I ever lose that, it’ll be time for me to go.”

Obviously Blevins has touched the lives of many of her students. One of those students is current Franklin Times intern and Boston University student John Benning.

“Mrs. Blevins is a great person,”

Benning said. “Her class projects were always fun and challenging. They have really helped me in college. She al-ways let you expand your horizons. It always seemed like people’s creativity came out in her class.”

The good news for Louisburg High School is that Blevins has no intentions of leaving, even though she is eligible for retirement. Her desire to teach is as strong as ever.

- Nathan Moreschi

BLEVINS Continued from page 1

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 5 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

learned on Honors Day that they were this year’s recipients. Williams began working with Franklinton City Schools in 1986 and began working with FCS in 1994 when the two systems merged. Marks has worked with FCS for 18 years.

2007 Awards 2007 AIG Teacher of TheYear

Heather Shipley

NCCTM Outstanding Mathematics Teacher

Katie McRacken – BES Nominee for Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics

and Science Teacher

Debra Frary, TLMS Exceptional Children’s Teacher

of Excellence

Kim Sledge, BES

Whole-Faculty Study Groups

BHS (Sarah Bean, Brandy Carter, Lynn Johnson, Sarah Lewis, Melissa Reed) TLMS (Crystal Cofield, Zoe Austin, Katie Tatum, Catina Jordan) BES (Connie Beddingfield,

Amanda Joyner, Randy Ka-garise, Ann Murray, Marne Watts) RES (Denise Bell, Wendy Faulkner, Brenda Parrish, Jennifer Holmberg, Sue Foust) Teacher Assistant of The Year

Princess Richardson, CCMS

2007 Teacher of The Year

Jane Blevins – LHS

Principal of The Year

Charles Fuller, FHS

Assistant Principal of The Year

Bill Askins, FHS

School Cleaning Score

Edward Best – 98 LHS, LES, YES, RES, CCMS,

LMES, BES – 95

Special Recognition

Superintendent’s Teacher Ad-visory Council

Honors Continued from page 4

FHS Principal Charles Fuller (left) happily accepts his Principal of The Year Plaque from Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Lynn Henderson.

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 6 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

right out of high school.

“This is a very important program because biotechnol-ogy is going to be the future in North Carolina,” VGCC Coordinator of Biotechnology Julie Kinlaw said. “Students need to come out of high school with this background ei-ther for the workplace or for college. This is really a great thing for the local school system. Students get that first course done and get a lot of hands-on time in the lab.”

Winn Clayton and Joe Don Robertson, both veteran teachers at Franklinton High School, each taught biotech-nology classes this year.

“I was excited about teaching it,” Clayton said. “Part of my background is medical, so this was a good opportunity for me. It was certainly needed because the students needed more programs to qualify them for jobs out of high school. This is a good way to do it, and I would like to see more programs like this.”

Robertson has thoroughly enjoyed the program, and he believes it will help students adjust quicker to university classes.

“After the students take this class, I think chemistry and biology will be a breeze for them in college.”

Science teachers got a better sense for what the pro-gram is about during the Biotechnology Summer Institute

the third week in June. “The institute went very well,” Robertson said. “It was

nice to see the teachers so engaged. It’s extremely impor-tant to get them involved so they can tell the students about the program.”

Seventy students participated in the program throughout the county this past school year, and the enrollment is ex-pected to grow next year.

Perhaps one of the biggest success stories this year was that of FHS grad Tim Chatman. Chatman earned a job at Novozymes after completing his coursework in the program.

“I had kids from all three high schools, and they really helped each other out,” Kinlaw said. “The students really supported Tim when he interviewed, and they were very excited when he got the job. I think that is very cool.”

The program has been met with great support from the FCS administration as well.

“The Board of Education and the Superintendent (Dr. Bert L’Homme) have been big supporters, and that really helps us out,” Clayton said. “They are really excited about it.”

Another similar program will start this fall. Clayton will teach Medical Science I and II. There is a possibility that students could get college credit for the second course.

-Nathan Moreschi

Biotech Continued from page 1

Julie Kinlaw walks students through a procedure.

Teachers and Counselors got a taste of the Bio-technology program at the summer institute.

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 7 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

That opportunity led to Byrns’ first job as Principal – Cedar Creek Middle School. When Cedar Creek Middle opened in January of 1999, it was a logi-cal choice to hire Byrns as principal, considering the students there were the former middle schools students at Franklinton High School.

Byrns has worked with quite a few people within the system who have gone on to be standouts. Among the many are Thomas E. Piper (Assistant Superintendent), Brooke Wheeler (CCMS Principal), David Averette (AP at LES), Williams Harris (LES Principal), and Linda Frederickson (FES Principal).

He stayed at CCMS until 2005 and then became Principal at the Creative Education Centre (CEC) for FCS.

“It’s really been a lot of fun staying in this area and being around all of the

kids,” Byrns said. “It’s very gratifying to watch former students grow up and have their own families. That is a big benefit of staying in one place for a long time.”

There’s no doubt that Byrns is a peo-ple person and that quality has led him to a great deal of success at the CEC.

“I pride myself on being a people per-son,” Byrns said. “What we do is always for the kids. I’ve always been satisfied living in this area and helping people as much as I can.”

The CEC often offers students an-other chance to get their educational career back on track. Students attend the CEC for a variety of reasons.

“A lot of people have the perception that the CEC is full of kids who have no chance, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Byrns said. “I’m the second or third chance person that a lot of kids need. I believe in giving people opportu-nities. I think that is one reason why I’m a good fit at the CEC. I want to embrace the kids and help them when they need

it most.” Byrns, 55, has two children and a

granddaughter and intends on living in Franklin County with his wife Kathy of 35 years for the remainder of his life. Kathy is also an employee at FCS in the human resource department.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today with-out her,” Byrns said. “She made a lot of sacrifices for me. It’s been a good part-nership – I’m very grateful for her.”

Byrns is eligible for retirement, but has no intentions on hanging up his gloves just yet.

“I’ll be here as long as I continue to feel needed, wanted and productive,” Byrns said. “I’m very grateful to have worked here. A lot of people have helped me. I owe my loyalty to the or-ganization.”

When Byrns does retire, you’ll find him in a different setting – one that includes hunting, fishing and golfing.

- Nathan Moreschi

BYRNS Continued from page 3

School Enrollment Report (month 8)

School Students

Royal 641

Youngsville 696

Laurel Mill 311

Franklinton 622

Bunn 688

Edward Best 524

Louisburg 499

Elementary Schools School Students

Bunn 850

Franklinton 704

Louisburg 659

High Schools

School Students

Bunn 664

Cedar Creek 715

TLMS 589

Middle Schools

Total for all Franklin County Schools : 8,160

J U L Y , 2 0 0 7

Page 8 F I R S T T H U R S D A Y V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 7

The annual FCS Retirement Banquet was held in June in honor of all of this year’s retirees. There were several laughs and tender moments shared throughout the event. FCS will miss the valued service that each and every one of the retirees provided throughout their careers. Pictured are Brenda Hedgepeth (BMS), Harvey Hartsfield (Central Office), Patricia Perry (FHS), Mary Smith (FES), Shirley Burchette (LES), Patricia Leonard (BHS), Sylvia Elliott (EBES), Lois Wiggins (CCMS), Carrie Stone (Bunn High), Margaret Murray (BES), Jean Brooks (LMES), Linda Loftin (Central Office), Robert McMillan (FHS), Betty Collins (Central Office), Margaret Osborne (Bunn High) Lois King (RES) Alice Weatherford (YES) and Carolyn Joyner (TLMS). Also retiring, but not pictured are Hope Coats, Paula Hux, Donald Pridgen and Margaret Osborne of Bunn High, Linda Sanders of LHS, Karen Wright of FES, and Ola Mae Lawrence of FHS.

2007 FCS Retirees

Congratulations