Muscle Shoals City Schools honors Education Support Professionals at inaugural staff awards

Muscle Shoals City Schools held a special Board of Education work session to recognize the district's Education Support Professionals (ESPs) as inaugural Staff Member of the Year honorees. The ceremony opened with board protocols and a brief explanation of the nomination process, followed by introductions and plaques for each awardee.

The board's moderator said the program was created to honor support staff who "strengthen our schools, communities and associations across the country" and noted nominees were chosen from narratives submitted by colleagues and reviewed by an outside panel. The moderator added the district could not operate without its support staff and described the roles as a calling alongside classroom teachers.

Individual honorees were introduced by school and role. Kim Murphy, an auxiliary teacher at the Early Learning Center, said, "What I love most about my job is being with the children and watching them develop and grow." Tracy Willis, the school nurse at Howell Graves, thanked colleagues and recalled "fixing their boo-boos" with a Band-Aid or ice pack. Julia Beth Holden, secretary and bookkeeper at Webster Elementary, said she aims to "make everyone in my school's job easier" so teachers can focus on classroom instruction. Taran Pitman was recognized in absentia as Highland Park's secretary/bookkeeper.

Other honorees included Renita Abery, library assistant at McBride Elementary (noted for 25-plus years of district service); Doris Carter, custodian at Muscle Shoals Middle School, who said she strives to make classrooms and cafeterias "clean and welcoming"; Shelly Barry, secretary at Muscle Shoals High School; Gary Mifflin, facilities manager and custodian at the Career Academy; and John McLanahan, technology specialist supervisor in the central office, who highlighted variety and ongoing learning in his work. Becky Jacob, secretary in Community and Education & Technology with around three decades of district service, closed the recognitions by citing service and faith as guiding principles.

Family members and supervisors joined honorees for photographs as plaques were presented. The moderator noted the event drew a substantial audience from across the district and thanked attendees for supporting the honorees. The board then returned to its scheduled work session and announced a meeting to follow.

The recognitions were ceremonial; no formal motions or votes were reported during the presentation portion of the session. The work session continued after the awards.