JCPS honors outstanding first-year teachers

Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County Public Schools named Gabe Patton as the district’s First Year Teacher of the Year at the annual Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Banquet in April.

Patton, a CTE-Aviation teacher at Cleveland High, received a $500 check sponsored by Ryan Taylor of Horace Mann Insurance Company. Patton is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He is a lifelong learner who collaborates with other districts, DPI’s Career and Technical Education Department and local universities in an effort to grow and expand their program and generate learning opportunities for students across the state in the CTE-Aviation program.

Swift Creek Middle teacher Kaitlyn Havican and Riverwood Middle teacher Ashlee Brown were the two runners-up for the award. The Johnston County Education Foundation presented both Brown and Grant with a grant for $250 to use in their classrooms.

There were 33 firstyear teachers who were recognized for their outstanding performance in the classroom for the award. Those who were nominated for the award include Landry Moore, Archer Lodge Middle; Myainya Daniels,

Benson Middle; Josef L. Massey, Clayton High; Paul Marchese, Clayton Middle; Ana Johnson, Cleveland Elementary; Patton, Margarita Lumbreras, Cleveland Middle; Chloe Brummitt, Corinth Holders High; Tina Casa, Dixon Road Elementary; Jenna Relyea, East Clayton Elementary; Lauren S. Hodge, Four Oaks Elementary; Larry Jones Jr., Four Oaks Middle; Maryssa Proctor, Glendale-Kenly Elementary; Brooke Skelly, McGee’s Crossroads Middle; Taylor Krueger, Meadow School; Kaylynn Batten, North Johnston Middle; Talisha Parker, Polenta Elementary; Madison King Casburn, Princeton Elementary; Phillip Stone, Princeton Middle/High; Cierra Davis Ricks, River Dell Elementary; Brown, Clarissa Scarboro, Selma Elementary; Denise K. Daughtry, Selma Middle; Stephanie L. Bushey, Smithfield Middle; Rachel Ashworth, Smithfield- Selma High; Joshua Raynor, South Smithfield Elementary; Havican, MacKenzie Jenkins, Thanksgiving Elementary; Shari Hern, West Clayton Elementary; Amanda Doll, West Johnston High; Amanda Underwood, West Smithfield Elementary; Ashley Langley, West View Elementary and Diane Haschke, Wilson’s Mills Elementary.

Johnston County Public Schools named Gabe Patton, center, as the district’s First Year Teacher of the Year at the annual Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Banquet in April. Swift Creek Middle teacher Kaitlyn Havican, left, and Riverwood Middle teacher Ashlee Brown, right, were the two runners-up for the award.

From left are Kaitlyn Havican, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy, Gabe Patton and Ashlee Brown at the district’s annual Outstanding First Year Teacher of the Year Banquet.