Pictured (from left) are I-SS Superintendent Jeff James, National Board Certified teachers Alison Whitaker, William Walker, Wendy O’Sullivan, Carla Moorefield, Sarah Hawkins, Beth Garver, Megan Evans, Lauren Irby and school board member Doug Knight.

BY KARISSA MILLER

Iredell-Statesville School officials continue to shine a spotlight on the importance of developing and retaining accomplished teachers in the classroom.

District officials recognized two teachers who have completed the National Board Certification process as prescribed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2023.

“This is a great accomplishment and recognizes you for the high quality of your classroom practices,” said I-SS Executive Director of Human Resources Jill Parker.

Newly certified national board teachers are North Iredell High School teachers Lauren Irby and Paul Veach.

The following teachers renewed their National Board Certifications:

• Megan Evans, Troutman Middle School;
• Beth Garver, Woodland Heights Middle School;
• Sarah Hawkins, South Iredell High School;
• Maria Imbrogno, Coddle Creek Elementary;
• Graham Lynch, East Iredell Middle;
• Carla Moorefield, Third Creek Elementary;
• Wendy O’Sullivan, Lake Norman High;
• Lisa Queen, Lakeshore Elementary;
• Tammy Reavis, North Iredell High;
• Adam Szafranski, Statesville High;
• William Walker, North Iredell High;
• Alison Whitaker, Cloverleaf Elementary; and
• Melvin York, North Iredell High School

NATIONAL CTE MONTH

Pictured (from left) are Superintendent Jeff James, student Jocelyn Mills, school board member Anita Kurn, student Jocilyn Chester and Crossroads CTE teacher Tracy Skeens.

Jocelyn Mills, Crossroads Arts and Science Early College FBLA president and Northwest Region VP for North Carolina FBLA, spoke about her experiences in FBLA and in her CTE classes.

FBLA is a student-led organization on the middle, high school and collegiate level.

“It’s an organization that not only provides you with prep for career and business, but for all different kinds of careers,” she said.

They hold competitions in accounting, journalism, networking, hospitality and many other fields.

“FBLA provides you with soft skills or as she likes to call them life skills — on how to public speak, how to communicate with others, how to network and much more,” Mills said.

These will be skills we will use in any career, she added.

She said that through her experiences she’s been able to engage in local efforts to better the community, including campus cleanups and volunteering with civic organizations.

In her role as VP for North Carolina FBLA, Mills has been able to connect and travel with students and adults across the country. Some of the NC FBLA team’s goals were to increase opportunities for engagement. She said that one of their main platforms is Instagram, where its easy to engage members and gain interest in FBLA.

“FBLA has been something that has helped me as well as other students. I’m glad we have the opportunity to keep it going. FBLA’s mission is to inspire and prepare students to become community minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. FBLA has done this and so much more for me and countless other students,” Mills said.

The school board also recognized Crossroads Arts and Early College FBLA winners
• Northwest Region VP Candidate – Alex Stansberry;
• Business Calculations – 2nd place – Ashley Carroll;
• Business Communications – 1st place – Annalise Walker;
• Future Business Leader – 1st place – Jocelyn Mills;
• Introduction to Information Technology – 3rd Place – Abigail Perz, and 4th place – Barry Mayfield;
• Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure – 1st place – Jocilyn Chester;
• Introduction to Public Speaking – 1st place – Iyona Reid;
• NCBEA Outstanding Business Education Student – Natalie McLean;
• Public Speaking – 1st place – Mia Deven Sundman;
• FBLA Spirit – Cheer & Chant – 1st place – Barry Mayfield & Quincy Sherill;
• FBLA Spirit – T-shirt Design – 1st place – Autumn Osborne; and
• FBLA Spirit – Web Banner & Theme – 1st place – Natalie McLean.