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The school board took a few minutes at the start of Monday’s work session to recognize faculty members and students who were awarded for exemplary work over the past month.

Two students were awarded for winning an essay contest, while the three faculty members were recognized for career achievements.

The students recognized were Rhiley Tatum, a fifth grader at Rosemont Elementary School, and Camien Jackson Fears, a sixth-grade student at Long Cane Middle School. The faculty members were Linda Hayes, cafeteria manager for Long Cane Elementary School, Sharon Mines, special education resource teacher for the Troup County School System, and Mike Pauley, athletic director of LaGrange High School.

Tatum and Fears were recognized for winning the American History Essay Contest, which LaGrange Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored in November. These two students won first place for their entries in their categories out of 116 entries. The topic was the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” as this year is the 100th anniversary of the monument.

The school board recognized Hayes and her school nutrition staff for their work during the National School Lunch Week in October. The school nutritionists decorated their cafeterias to the theme of “WILD About School Lunch!”

Tonya Jones-Cameron said LCE went above and beyond for their students.

“Ms. Hayes and her school nutrition staff took that challenge to heart and made their lunchroom extra special for the students. Not only did they win the TCSS elementary contest, they also were winners at the national level,” Jones-Cameron said.

“The National School Nutrition Association stated the school showed their creativity, talent and enthusiasm for their students.”

Mines presented “The STAR Buddy Program: Utilizing Peers to Increase Skills of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder” at Emory’s Autism Center’s Monarch 2021 Workshop. She focused her presentation on students with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, and how teachers can provide effective inclusive programming for their students.

“Thank you Mrs. Mines for representing the Troup County School System well at this national conference.  We are very fortunate to have such outstanding leaders such as yourself in Troup County,” Jones-Cameron said.

The school board additionally recognized Pauley for being named athletic director of the region.

“The award is won through votes by fellow coaches and athletic directors in their region. It is an honor this evening to congratulate Coach Pauley for a job well done in representing the Troup County School System and LaGrange High,” Jones-Cameron said.

“Coach Pauley, we are honored to acknowledge all the hard work you’ve done at LaGrange High over the past 20 years.”