Mud&Magnolias October. July 2020November August 2022 2013
Mud & Magnolias
Back-To-School
DAY TRIPS
LAUREL | IUKA | HUNTSVILLE
ELVIS AIRBNBS WORLD TRAVELER OPEN HOUSE:
August 2022
MEET SOME OF NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI'S EDUCATORS
Vol.10 No. 11
RECIPES:
GROWN UP KIDS' FOOD
mudandmag.com
FASHION:
THE FRESHEST LOOKS FOR THE CLASSROOM
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CATCH Kids FREE health clinics
for ages birth through 18 years Serving Lee, Pontotoc, & Chickasaw Counties FREE community-based and school-based clinics. Providing free medical exams & free medicines. Also, free dental care for those without coverage. Office: (662) 377-2194
Twitter: @CATCH_KIDS
www.facebook.com/catch-kids.org
l o o h c S o t Back ! s d e e R h t i w Historic Downtown Tupelo 842-6453 | Barnes Crossing District 842-5287 Historic Downtown Starkville 323-2684 www.reedsms.com M&M
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Imagine Career Connections allows businesses in Northeast Mississippi to provide tours to high school students across seventeen counties served by the CREATE Foundation, Inc.
Schedule Business Tours Now for Fall 2022 1
Businesses Create Tours 2
School Staff Register Students For Tours 3
Students Tour Businesses Schedule a tour for your business today!
www.careerconnections.tours
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CONTENTS
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KIDS' FOOD, GROWN UP
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OPEN HOUSE
We take some of your childhood favorites into adulthood.
Meet some of the teachers and administrators who will be educating the kids of Northeast Mississippi this year.
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THE MEAN GIRLS
50
BACK TO SCHOOL FASHIONS
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August 2022 vol. 10 no. 11
ON THE COVER
Clay County 10-year-old pens, publishes anti-bullying book.
Some of our favorite local retailers share the best looks for this Fall.
A school bus, door open, sits on a street in the Joyner Neighborhood in Tupelo. Cover Photo by Adam Robison.
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T
he back-to-school season evokes many emotions and memories for me. As the daughter of two school teachers, I have fond memories of playing in my mother’s classroom just weeks before the fall’s first bell rang. When it came time to start school myself, I was well-prepared with the necessary school supplies (and no frills) to start my elementary education. However, for me, the most thrilling part of going back to school wasn’t the pens, pencils and notebooks; it was the fashion! I still remember the yellow dress I wore on my first day of kindergarten. The ensemble was dotted with strawberries, and knowing my mother, I had to have a red bow to match. Along with my backpack, I had a new “Dora the Explorer” lunchbox in tow. My parents have since retired from teaching, and I’m far removed from the classrooms of Petal, Mississippi. But the feeling of excitement that accompanies the back-to-school season remains. I teach piano in my spare time, and nothing brings me joy quite like welcoming a new piano student in August each year. Seeing the twinkle in their eyes reminds me that you’re never too young – or old – to “go back to school” and learn something new. This back-to-school season, I hope you and your children, nieces, nephews or favorite kids in your life enjoy the little things. The pencils will wear down to the eraser and the markers will dry out, but the memories of that first day back to school will always remain, even decades after the last bell rings.
1242 S Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662.842.2611
ISSUE EDITOR Brooke Bullock Burleson
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Adam Armour Ginna Parsons John Luke McCord
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Shannon Johnson
FEATURED SALES CONSULTANTS Leigh Knox June Phillips Sonja McCord Teresa McDonald John Turner
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Blake Alsup
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS If you have any thoughts about this issue, please email us at editor@mudandmag.com.
Thomas Wells Adam Robison
subscriptions@mudandmag.com advertising@mudandmag.com info@mudandmag.com mudandmag.com This magazine is a monthly publication of Journal, Inc.
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Cold...Hot?
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TUPELO SMA
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Come Visit
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Johnny F. Miles, MD Kristen Y. Turner, MD Brandi S. McGehee, MD Brittney C. Billsby, DO Rachel Prust, WHNP-BC Dietriche “Dee” Jones, FNP-BC
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WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS
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Featured Artist:
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128 West Main St. • Downtown Tupelo • (662) 205-0351 Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm • Sat 10am - 3pm 407 Short 7th Ave. • Laurel MS • (601) 342-5129 Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm • Sat 10am - 3pm THECARONGALLERY.COM M &M
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Kid food
Grown Up
Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches
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Grilled Cheese Pizza Panini
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Mac 'N Cheese with Smoked Gouda and Cheddar
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Adult Limeade & Adult Pink Lemondae
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Sloppy Joes
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Dipping Sauces
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Who says there are certain foods just for kids to enjoy We’ve taken five childhood staples – grilled cheese sandwiches, sloppy Joes, dipping sauces for chicken tenders, mac ‘n cheese and ice cream sandwiches – and put a sophisticated spin on them. Don’t be surprised if the kids ask for these instead of the old standbys. We’ve also added spirits to lemonade and limeade to make adult-only beverages.
By GINNA PARSONS Photos By THOMAS WELLS MAC ‘N CHEESE WITH SMOKED GOUDA AND CHEDDAR
1 pound dried cavatappi or elbow pasta 4 cups shredded medium sharp Cheddar cheese, divided 2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese, divided 1 stick unsalted butter 1/2 cup all-purpose our 1 1/2 cups whole milk 2 1/2 cups half and half 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep from sticking. While water is coming up to a boil, shred cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into three piles. Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in our and whisk to combine. Mixture will look like very wet sand. Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often. Slowly pour in about 2 cups or so of the milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth. Slowly pour in the remaining milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until combined
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and smooth. Continue to heat over medium heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency. Remove from the heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine. Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir until completely melted and smooth. In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully. Pour half of the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and lightly golden brown. Turn oven to broil, and broil for 3 to 4 minutes until top is dark in places.
Stir the ground beef and brown until a deep crust appears on about half of the beef, and it is cooked through, then remove the beef and drain in a colander. To the skillet, add the butter, onions and bell pepper. Let brown for 1 to 2 minutes before stirring, then let brown for another 1 to 2 minutes before stirring again; add the beef back into the pan. Add the garlic, mustard, ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, salt and black pepper to the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve on toasted hamburger buns. If desired, place a gherkin pickle on a toothpick and stick through the top of each bun, for garnish.
GROWN-UP SLOPPY JOES
1 cup whole milk, well chilled 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 1/2 tablespoons instant co ee granules 2 cups heavy cream, well chilled 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pound lean ground beef 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1/2 yellow onion, nely chopped 1/2 green or red bell pepper, nely chopped 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons yellow mustard 3/4 cup ketchup 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper Toasted hamburger buns Gherkin pickles (optional) Add the ground beef to a large skillet and brown until a deep brown crust appears before breaking the beef apart.
COFFEE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES COFFEE ICE CREAM
CHOCOLATE SUGAR COOKIES
1 1/4 cups all-purpose our 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature 1 large egg Chocolate sprinkles (optional) For the ice cream, in a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine milk, gran
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For the ice cream, in a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine milk, granulated sugar and instant co ee until sugar and co ee are dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes on low speed. Stir in heavy cream and vanilla. Process mixture in an ice cream freezer according to appliance directions. When ice cream is done, but still soft, scoop it into 1-quart cylindrical containers and freeze until hardened (you should have about 2 quarts). For the cookies, place all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat for a couple of minutes to mix well. Add butter and egg. Beat until you have a uniform dough. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out cookie dough and place 2 inches apart on the sheet. Wet your hands and gently atten the cookies. Bake cookies at 375 degrees and bake for about 9 minutes, turning the baking sheet around halfway through the cooking process. Remove cookies from oven. They will be pu ed up and soft, and will atten when the air hits them. This is how it’s supposed to be. Allow cookies to cool on sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. To assemble the ice cream sandwiches, run the 1-quart ice cream containers under warm water for a few seconds to soften. Squeeze to release ice cream from container. Cut ice cream in 3/4-inch-thick slabs and sandwich between two cookies. If desired, press chocolate sprinkles into the ice-cream sides of cookies.
DIPPING SAUCES FOR CHICKEN TENDERS PESTO DIPPING SAUCE
2 cups basil leaves 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 garlic cloves 1/2 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Combine the basil, Parmesan and garlic in a food processor. Pulse until everything is combined. Add olive oil and blend well until the sauce comes together, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
CANE’S DIPPING SAUCE
1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup ketchup 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper and mix well.
HONEY MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE
1/3 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or white vinegar In a bowl, combine mustard, honey, mayonnaise and lemon juice and mix well.
CHIPOTLE BBQ DIPPING SAUCE
1/2 cup ketchup 1/4 cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce 1 tablespoon yellow mustard In a bowl, combine ketchup, chipotles in adobo sauce and yellow mustard. Mix well.
RANCH DIPPING SAUCE
3/4 cup mayonnaise 3/4 cup sour cream 3/4 teaspoon fresh chopped dill (can use less) 1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley 1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped chives 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar (can use less)
ADULT LIMEADE
1 1/2 ounces bourbon Juice of 1/4 lime Lemon-lime soda Lime slice, for garnish Fill an old-fashioned cocktail glass with ice. Add bourbon, then squeeze in the lime juice. Fill glass with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a lime slice.
ADULT PINK LEMONADE
2 Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger tea bags 1 (2-liter) bottle lemon-lime soda 1 1/2 ounces vodka Lemon slice, for garnish Open soda, and place tea bags in the bottle. Put cap back on tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Fill an old-fashioned cocktail glass with ice. Add vodka, then ll with raspberry zinger mixture. Garnish with a lemon slice. M
Whisk together the mayonnaise and sour cream until smooth. Add the herbs and spices and whisk until combined. Add the lemon and whisk again.
GRILLED CHEESE PIZZA PANINI
2 to 3 teaspoons mayonnaise 2 slices Italian bread Marinara or pizza sauce 2 slice Provolone cheese 6 to 8 slices Boar’s Head pepperoni 2 slices Mozzarella cheese
Lightly spread one side of the bread with mayonnaise. Place on a work surface, mayonnaise side down. Spread the other side of the bread (facing up) with marinara sauce. Layer with Provolone slices, then pepperoni slices, then Mozzarella slices. Place remaining piece of bread on top and lightly spread with mayonnaise. Heat a panini press over medium-high heat. Put sandwich in, cover, and cook about 4 to 5 minutes, or until crust is golden with darker grill marks and cheese is melted. Boar’s Head pepperoni slices are about 3 inches in diameter. If you use regular pepperoni, you’ll need more slices.
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Learning Skills C E N T E R
Why Buy Local? REASON #1
Building Community!
The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and local cohesiveness. They’re the ultimate social networking sites!
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It just takes ONE person to OPEN THE DOOR and put a child on the path to a BRIGHT FUTURE.
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Back-to-School
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Itawamba Community College is an equal opportunity institution. For more information, contact the Vice President of Student Services, 602 West Hill Street, Fulton, MS 38843, 662.862.8271, or email TitleIXCoordinator@iccms.edu.
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MILLWORK
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We design & build custom cabinets, countertops & special millwork.
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WHETHER YOU NEED URGENT CARE TO FEEL BETTER FAST... or you want to feel better for a lifetime...
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It’s truly a fresh, local experience. M &M
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Open House We chatted with teachers and administrators from across the region to ask about what lead them to careers in education, their teaching philosophies and what they're excited for as they head into the upcoming school year.
Stories by BLAKE ASLUP and ADAM ARMOUR Photos by ADAM ROBISON and THOMAS WELLS
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Open House
Bo Boatner 30
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Bo Boatner is Thomas Street Elementary’s physical education teacher What was your favorite subject growing up? “I’d say probably science, particularly in high school. I had a really good science teacher. Myrtle High School had one science teacher. He was brilliant. It was just about everything around you, the world and how things work. I’ve always been interested in how things work.”
Did you have any favorite teachers? What made them special? “I had a lot of great teachers, but there were some that I remember more from. I don’t know if I’d call them favorite, but a couple that I probably think back to most often would be that science teacher, Davie Kennedy. And when I was getting my drafting degree, Ray Gaillard from Ripley taught construction classes. He had a lot of real world experience. He talked about his subject, but it would kind of fil er into politics, life and philosophy.”
Tell me about your philosophy as a teacher. How do you approach the job each day? “The most important thing kids can learn in school is how to respect and relate to people. Not just in their personal lives or professional lives, in everything they do. It applies to the most important things in their lives. I think P.E. is the perfect place to teach that. It’s actually one of our standards. I also want kids to be interested. Being interested in learning is more important than information. You can get information from the internet, but it’s the interest that makes you look for it.”
What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you? “I want them to know that I care about people in general. I have a respect for people I don’t know, and I have a love of people that I do know. I want them to know that I care about them, and that’s why, sometimes, I’m tough on them. Kids won’t get that unless you have some kind of relationship with them. They’re never going to accept that your discipline is for their own good if they never feel any love from you.”
What’s your favorite part of the job? “Being around young kids. You know, my stepson was 10 when I got married, and that’s the only child I have. So I never had any kids of my own the age I teach. They’re generally good people. Some of them may grow up to be bad, but kids that age are basically all good. I can’t say that about grownups. Kids at this age, they basically all respect adults. Some of them lose that later, but kids the age I teach, they basically all respect adults. That makes my job easy.”
Do you have a classroom motto? “I have three rules, and I tell them at the beginning of the year. They’re rules that are really everywhere. Be respectful, be productive and be safe. Every single rule I can think of has to do with at least one of those, and all of them are there to take care of people and make their lives better.”
Meet Bo Bo Boatner, known by students as Coach Bo, is the physical education teacher for children in kindergarten through second grade at Thomas Street Elementary School in Tupelo. After being laid off from his job as a drafte , he began substitute teaching for the New Albany School District in 2004. It kicked off a now 18-year career in education. By the end of 2005, Boatner was an assistant teacher and worked in that role for three years. When his school said they needed an assistant teacher certified in physical educ tion, he got certified That’s how he landed on teaching physical education. The Tupelo Public School District gave him his first job as a full-time teache . He started out at Lawndale Elementary School and now teaches at Thomas Street. Despite having several family members in the profession, including his mother, Boatner vowed he would never be a teacher. He didn’t begin teaching until he was 32, and it’s a difficult and scary feeling now knowin what you want to do with your life, Boatner said. “I feel like God basically dropped my profession out of the sky and hit me in the head,” Boatner said. “Because I was just absolutely not looking for what I do. I always said I wouldn’t be a teacher, and even when I was desperately trying to think of what I could get certified in, I did ’t think about PE until somebody asked me to do it. And then it just all clicked. It just fell in my lap.” Boatner said he hopes no one will give up on finding what they want to d , no matter their age.
What are you looking forward to this school year? “I always go into every year thinking about some ways that I can do things a little better than I did the year before. I love being home and those last few days, it’s kind of melancholy, and I’m thinking about all of the stuff I meant o get done this summer that I didn’t get done. But once I get to school, it makes me feel better when I see the kids. I get excited about my little experiments, ideas of things I’m going to try to see if this works better. When I start the year, what gets me over being homesick is seeing the kids and thinking, ‘I’ve got some ideas to make things better. I’m looking forward to see if they work.’ There’s lots of experimenting. I don’t think you ever stop trying to do things a little different y.”
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Open House
Dr. John Barnett 32
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Dr. John Barnett is Corinth High School’s principal What was your favorite subject in school? “I was always a big fan of history and social studies. I really just enjoyed learning about our past and learning our history. That was always my favorite. I also enjoyed English as well, with the writing and stories we covered in our literature classes.”
Did you have a favorite teacher? What made them special? “I’ve had a lot of really impactful teachers, but I would narrow it down to two that have probably had the greatest impact. One was from high school: Ms. Rene Fowler. She was an 11th grade English teacher and helped me know who I was and to grow as an individual. Then, when I was doing my master’s at Ole Miss, Dr. Tom Burnham, who is the interim director of the Principal Corps program there. He has become such a mentor to me, but really helped me realize and appreciate the opportunities that come with being an educational leader and the impact you can have.”
Tell me about your philosophy as an administrator. How do you approach the job each day? “I’m a believe in servant leadership and collaborative leadership. I think the greatest ideas come when you have multiple people at the table discussing and talking it through. I think, when it comes to leadership, you’ve got to have empathy and care for whomever you’re responsible for leading – the students, the teachers. You have to have a lot of empathy and care, working toward a common goal of achieving the best for everyone – and ultimately, in these positions, trying to always do what’s best for children every time.”
What is one thing you wish your students knew about you? “How much I care about them and how much I want them to achieve their greatest levels of individual and collective success. Obviously, you share that with them all the time. But really making sure that they understand and appreciate that they are cared for, that they are loved and that (by) not just me, but a collective of our faculty and our district staff tha all really want to see them achieve the highest levels of success that they’re capable of.”
What is your favorite part of the job? “The relationships and the interactions with the students, staff and ommunity at large. Really working continually to try to help our students achieve at the highest level of success that they can and just building those relationships where the kids know that they’ve got people who are here who genuinely care about them every day. I think that’s the most integral part of what we do – building those relationships with kids and making sure they know that the adults genuinely care for them.”
Do you have a school motto? “We’ve got our mission and our vision, which really focus on creating a world class, 21st century educational experience to help our kids be career and college ready.”
What are you looking forward to this school year? “I’m just looking forward to getting back in the building and getting back working with the students and teachers, working to make sure we’re doing everything within our power to help our students be as successful as possible in everything they’re doing and achieving whatever goals they have for themselves and to help the push to set those goals out there, to really strive for excellence in everything that they’re capable of, and have that long view of ‘Yes, we want to do our best in high school.’ “But we want to also make sure that we’re taking into account that high school is just the beginning. When you walk across the stage, you’re really just stepping out into the real world, so to speak. (We want to) make sure that we’re working to help our kids be motivated and goal-oriented and set those goals that help them not only be successful during their time here at Corinth High School, but to be successful in life.”
Meet John Dr. John Barnett will return to Corinth High School as principal this school year. He previously served as principal of Corinth High during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years and spent last year as central offic administrator for Corinth School District. Before joining the district, Barnett was principal at Anniston Avenue Elementary School in Gulfport from 2016 to 2019 and assistant principal at Long Beach Middle School in Long Beach from 2014 to 2016. While participating in the Principal Corps program at the University of Mississippi, Barnett was an administrative intern at Corinth High in 2013 and at Iuka Elementary School in 2014. He recently earned a doctorate of education from Vanderbilt University. He’s previously earned an associate’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2005, a bachelor’s degree in social studies education from the University of Mississippi in 2008 and a master’s from the University of Mississippi as part of the Principal Corps program in 2014. Barnett is proud to serve as an administrator for such an innovative district. Corinth School District is entering its seventh year operating with a modified calenda , often referred to as a “year-round calendar.” Classes begin during the last week of July and there is a three-week break at the end of September/ beginning of October, along with traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks and a two-week break in mid-March. The district is one-to-one with technology, meaning each child has their own MacBook, and students flourish in the classroom and in extracurricular activities ranging from band to baseball. “Our community really supports our educational system here in Corinth,” Barnett said. “They expect a lot from us, but they are very supportive and we appreciate that so much with everything that our community does to support us and value education here in Corinth.”
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Open House
Ruby Bennett 34
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Ruby Bennett is South Tippah School District’s pre-K director, assistant superintendent and testing coordinator What was your favorite subject in school? “I don’t know that I had a favorite subject. There were parts of classes that I liked, just like everybody has, and there are parts of classes you don’t like. I really loved going to P.E. because I loved playing basketball. But if I had to pick a favorite subject, I would say it would be reading. I always loved to read. In elementary, you had teachers that would read books to you. My favorites were ‘The Boxcar Children.’ We had this one period where you’d take everything off of your desk and just lis en to them read, and it seemed like they made the books come alive. I enjoyed that part of the day.”
Did you have a favorite teacher? What made them special? “My elementary teachers were the ones that stick in my mind. I think that’s because you would spend all day with that teacher, whereas in high school or middle school you may have anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour with each teacher. In elementary, you got to know those teachers better and they got to know you because you were with them each day. Some of the teachers that come to my mind are Ms. Ruby Sue Warrington, Ms. Dorothy Simelton and Ms. Lou Ann Miskelly.”
Tell me about your philosophy as an administrator? How do you approach the job each day? “All students want to learn and need to learn. I think, as educators, our primary role is to fi l that need for those students by creating engaging and relevant learning experiences every day. The greatest gift that we can give to these students is motivating them and giving them repeated learning success. I’m constantly reminded, and I use this quote all the time, of Rita Pierson. She says that ‘every child deserves a champion, one that will never give up on them.’ And that’s my approach. I try not to ever give up on a child, and I try to do what I can to help all students.”
What do you wish your students/their parents knew about you? “After being in education for over 30 years, I’m an open book. I think they know everything there is to know about me. But one thing I would like for my students, their parents and the teachers to know is I love kids, I want to see them all be successful and I am passionate about what I do.”
What is your favorite part of the job?
Meet Ruby Ruby Bennett’s 34-year career in education, the entirety of which has been spent with the South Tippah School District, has prepared her for the variety of roles she juggles on a day-to-day basis. She serves as South Tippah School District’s pre-K director, assistant superintendent and testing coordinator. Bennett never intended to become a teacher. While picking up her nephew from school one day, she was asked by longtime Blue Mountain Schools principal Larry Robbins to fill in as an assistant teacher. “I stayed in that role and decided then that I loved being in the school, I loved the kids, and I was getting my degree,” Bennett said. “I was an assistant during the day and worked on my degree at night.” Bennett earned her bachelor’s degree from Blue Mountain College and went on to earn a master’s from the University of Mississippi and an educational specialist from Nova Southeastern University. She spent eight years as an assistant teacher and went on to teach at the elementary level for 16 years. She served as principal of Ripley Elementary School for eight years. Now entering her second year in the district office ro , Bennett is tasked with assisting superintendent Tony Elliott in any way she can while overseeing the district’s pre-k school and state testing.
“Getting out into the schools, seeing and listening to the teachers teaching their hearts out and their students providing feedback, showing them just how smart they are. When I was a principal, I was just at one school, but now I can get out to all of the schools in the district.”
What are you looking forward to this school year? “Seeing the teachers and sta , watching them do what they do best and helping in any way that I can to see the district reach our goals.”
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Open House
Fred Hadley 40
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Fred Hadley is Shannon High School’s band director What was your favorite subject growing up? “Band and almost anything music related was defini ely my favorite subject growing up. Band was structured and challenging but also gave me the opportunity to be expressive or “color outside the lines” a little. It was the first pla e that I truly felt a sense of belonging and camaraderie. I am still very close to some of the people I met not only during my college band experience, but in my high school band experience as well.”
Did you have any favorite teachers? What made them special? “I usually got along very well with the teachers that were not so popular among the student body. I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, so teachers that forced me outside of my comfort zone had the most impact on many of my school experiences.”
Tell me about your philosophy as a teacher. How do you approach the job each day? “As a band instructor, it is my job to not only give my students a musical education, but to create lifelong learners. I have to look past the student’s experience in my band hall and prepare them for future experiences. Whether they became doctors, lawyers or even mechanics, I want music to enrich their lives and for them to intentionally pursue opportunities to express themselves through music.”
What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you? “I wish my students knew that they are thought of in very high esteem. My joy as a teacher comes from seeing them learn from both their failures and successes. They are deeply cared for and without them, there is no band.”
Meet Fred Fred Hadley is the director of Shannon High School’s band. A graduate of Tupelo High School, Hadley earned an associate’s degree from Itawamba Community College before completing a bachelor’s degree in music education from Mississippi State University. Hadley has worked as a band director for 11 years, 10 of which have been with Shannon High. He spent nine years as assistant band director and took on the role of head band director during the 2021-22 school year. With 45 members, this year’s band is smaller than usual, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you ask Hadley. All of the students are there because they want to be. The group consists of members who are teachable, who learn well and are overall good students.
What is your favorite part of the job? “I have a very unfair advantage compared to most teachers at this school because I actually get to watch my students from the time they start in band until they graduate from high school and leave band. My favorite part of the job is simply to watch them not only learn, but take what they’re learning and apply what they’re learning and watch them grow in that musical experience throughout their time here at Shannon.”
Do you have a band motto? “We really don’t. But I guess if we had a band motto, our motto would be, ‘We are educating students not just in band, but we’re educating students for life.’ I don’t know about you, but I don’t see any marching bands marching up and down the street in the morning when I go get my mail. The skills that we’re teaching them, the experience that we’re giving them, it all has a purpose and we hope they see that, take that with them and apply that to other areas.”
What are you looking forward to this school year? “Last year was a struggle because it was technically our first ‘normal yea ’ that we’ve had. I hear a lot of band directors say, ‘Oh, that was a rebuilding year.’ And I question that because I think almost every year is a rebuilding year to some degree. Last year, of course, more than others. It started off a little rough, but ended rea ly well. “So what I’m looking forward to is seeing the students take what they’ve learned and to continue to watch them apply what they’ve learned this past year and to this upcoming year and just watch them grow not only as musicians but as people in general. That’s what I look forward to.”
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Open House
Miranda Cipkowski 42
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Miranda Cipkowski is an English teacher at Tremont Attendance Center What was your favorite subject growing up? In elementary school, I liked spelling. As a child, I wanted things neat and orderly ( I still do). It made complete sense to me. Later, it was history and English.
Did you have any favorite teachers? What made them special? I had so many. Each helped me in a different wa , for whatever stage of development I was in at the time. Every teacher that stands out to me does so because they took the time to build a relationship. I knew in my heart they cared about me.
How would you defi e your teaching style? Classroom management is all about consistency – procedures, and relationships. Students like to know what to expect … we all do. I think my classroom is organized chaos. It is also a place where everyone can feel safe to just be themselves.
What’s one thing you wished your parents or students knew about you? I have enough coffee mugs o last a lifetime! Ha Ha! No, seriously. I am so fla ed, but I love my students, and I understand it’s a privilege. Parents trust me with their most precious “possessions.”
What’s your favorite part of the job? Teachable moments; when the light bulb moment happens; and when a kid says, “I never thought of it like that!’
Do you have a school/classroom motto? I don’t have to know everything, but we have to know we can figure it out
What are you looking forward to next year? A clean slate. Every year is a clean slate. I am always learning. We all are, hopefully.
Meet Miranda Miranda Cipkowski had a confession to make: She didn’t really want to be a teacher. At least, not at first. “Most people I know knew they wanted to be teachers when they were little,” Cipkowski said. That wasn’t the case with her. Teaching … for lack of a better word … was something she learned to love. “It’s just kind of something that grew on me,” she said. “I wasted a lot of time in college, so I had to make a practical decision … I just picked something.” Twenty-one years later, Cipkowski is still doing the “something” she picked. Now in her sixth year at Tremont Attendance Center, a K-12 school located in Itawamba County, the Fulton native current teaches seventh grade and senior English, theater and handles the school’s social media accounts. So, what turned Cipkowski’s hesitance about becoming an educator into passion? “It’s the kids,” she said. “When you see a kid ‘get it’ … when that light bulb goes off … that s the key to it.” Through the years, Cipkowski feels she has learned how to build relationships with the students she teaches. The trick, she said: Don’t force it. Teaching is as much about guidance as it is instruction. “It’s more about having a conversation with them; telling them where to look, but not what to see,” she said. Over the years, the idea of teaching as a process of opening young minds has become Cipkowski’s her guiding principle. She said she does that by sharing her personal experiences with her students. She tries to encourage the kids she teaches to embrace new experiences. “Don’t be fearful of new things,” she said. After all, that fear could cause them to miss out on something they might love. Teaching, for instance.
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Open House
Raven Guyton 46
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Raven Guyton is a fourth grade math teacher at Rankin Elementary School What was your favorite subject growing up? A: I’ve always loved reading and just the fluidity of langu ge. I had a few teachers along the way who appreciated my written wit, landing me on the school newspaper for a bit. Mostly, I just loved reading for pleasure. My mom would buy me an R.L. Stine “Fear Street Super Chiller” book every Friday – IF I didn’t get in trouble for talking during class that week. I also loved art, but didn’t excel at it until college because I did not excel at following directions.
Did you have any favorite teachers? What made them special? A: Mrs. Ashby was the first eacher I can remember really admiring. She was my firs grade teacher at Verona Elementary. She taught me how to read and to love to read. She was kind and patient, and I could tell she truly cared about In middle school, I had a teacher named Mrs. Robinson. She had the most perfectly styled blonde hair with teased bangs. I feel like she truly saw me and appreciated me at a really difficult time in my life. I mean, it s middle school, so it was difficult for veryone. She reminded me how valuable I was, even when I couldn’t see it.
How would you defi e your teaching style? A: Very laid back – as long as my students are attempting to reach their potential and grow. I don’t get too worked up over things these days, but the expectations are still very high. I don’t ask for perfection in their work; I just ask that they don’t give up on themselves. One of the hardest things to teach is how to be okay with that uncomfortable feeling of being “not good” at something. Learning is a messy process.
What’s one thing you wished your parents or students knew about you? A: I wasn’t always an ideal student. I struggled socially and don’t really think I mastered math until well into college. I talked too much and spent class time drawing instead of asking questions. I’m no stranger to writing lines or after-school detention. These personal challenges are just a part of what makes me such an understanding teacher. Underneath the behavior, there’s a kid begging for help to be successful. Also, I mean it when I say I care for my students. I think of them after contracted hours; I worry when they’re sick; and I always wish I could do more.
What are you looking forward to next year? I have taught math exclusively for the greater part of my teaching career, but this upcoming year, I will be teaching both reading and math. I am looking forward to the challenge of learning a new content area and doing a lot of novel studies. The state has a great list of grade level reading recommendations and I can’t wait to dive into them. I hope I can help some of my students learn to love to read this year, like Mrs. Ashby did for me.
Meet Raven Raven Guyton took a deep breath and sort of smile-grimaced when asked why she became a teacher. “It’s because I taught my nephew how to blow his nose,” she said. She laughed, shook her head. “It was really cute,” she said, feigning mild defensiveness. “And I was intrinsically happy. It was sweet to see him be proud of himself.” Now, 13 years after setting foot inside Rankin Elementary School in Tupelo for the first tim , the fourth grade math teacher still gets that feeling every time she helps a student grasp a unfamiliar concept. At the end of every day, Guyton knows the work she does has meaning. Every student, she said, needs a teacher who cares about them. “I needed a teacher like that,” Guyton said. “Every year, I just need to be the teacher that I needed when I was this age.” That age, typically between 9 and 10 years old, is a big part of what keeps Guyton in the field. They’re still children, but they’re children who are coming into their own as individuals. “This age group is so fun,” she said. “They love a ‘dad joke,’ and they’re starting to find themselves. But they also still want hugs at the end of the day. It’s just the best group.” They keep her motivated. And even after all these years, she still gets that same feeling of intrinsic happiness that she did when she taught her nephew to blow his nose. Guyton knows every moment of discovery, no matter how small, can have great implications. “I still get it,” she said of the joy of teaching. “I really still do.”
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BACK TO SCHOOL FA S H I O N S By BROOKE BULLOCK BURLESON Photos by ADAM ROBISON Back to school fashion has long been one of the most exhilarating aspects of returning to school. Although the styles change each year, the thrill of picking out a fi st-day-of-school outfit emains a time honored tradition. Whether you’re headed to kindergarten or off to college, a fresh back to school look is sure to help you start this new season of learning on the right foot.
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Reed’s – Downtown Tupelo Mary Elizabeth is wearing a dress by Pleat. Prices available upon request. She will be a fifth rader this year at Rankin Elementary School. Mary Elizabeth’s favorites: Subject: History Color: Pink Extra curricular activities: Playing tennis and piano
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Jack and Claire’s – Oxford Maddie is wearing an Ollie Jay dress, Footmates shoes and Wee Ones bow. Prices are available upon request. She will be in the fourth grade this year at Lafayette Upper Elementary School. Maddie’s favorites: Subject: Science Animal: Lion head rabbit Color: Green
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Reed’s – Downtown Tupelo Sam is wearing a Southern Marsh shirt and Sperry’s. Prices available upon request. He will be going into the second grade at Lawhon Elementary School. Sam’s favorite: Subject: Math Color: Blue After school activities: Football, soccer and Boy Scouts
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Reed’s – Downtown Tupelo Philly is wearing an outfit y Lila & Hayes and Birkenstocks shoes. Prices are available upon request. He will be in the 4-year-old class at First United Methodist Church Preschool. Philly’s favorite: School activity: Playing with trucks Color: Blue Food: Popsicles
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The Carousel – Pontotoc Eva is wearing a spring check plaid Ruthie romper from the Beaufort Bonnet Company. Prices are available upon request. She will be in kindergarten this year at Pontotoc Elementary School. Eva’s favorite: Subject: Art Color: Pink Food: Spaghetti
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ELEMENTARY AUTHOR Clay County 10-year-old writes anti-bullying book By BLAKE ALSUP Photos ADAM ROBISON
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William Faulkner was 29 years old.
Richard Wright was 30. John Grisham, Eudora Welty and Greg Iles were all around age 33. But Atiya Henley was just 10 years old when she published her first book Atiya will enter the fifth grade at West Clay
Elementary this school year, but unlike most – if not all – of her classmates, she’s already a published author. Published in February, Atiya’s short book, “The Mean Girls: A Bunch of Bullies,” carries an anti-bullying message. Atiya’s mother, Amy Deanes, founded West Point-based Superior Publishing in 2020. The
small publishing house currently distributes the work of 13 authors; among them, Atiya’s book as been the publisher’s best seller. According to Deanes, Atiya has always been interested in writing stories. In fact, she wrote a book titled “Black Joe” before writing “The Mean Girls.” Above: Atiya Henley
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“
I'm very passionate of others' feelings, and I don't like when someone gets mistreated or left ut.
”
Readers can find Atiya Henley’s book, “Mean Girls: A Bunch of Bullies,” on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at a variety of other book retailers.
- Atiya Henley, author of “The Mean Girls: A Bunch of Bullies”
The idea to write this specific book came about during a onversation with her mom. Atiya was playing a game, and Deanes suggested that she create her own game or write a book that other people can experience. Although the book isn’t based on a situation she’s personally experienced or witnessed at school, she’s seen news reports on the effects of bu lying. Atiya said she wanted to do something to help make people aware of bullying in an effo t to help stop it. “I’m very passionate of others’ feelings, and I don’t like when someone gets mistreated or left out,” Atiya said. The 34-page book took her about a month to write. Her mother both edited and illustrated it. Atiya and her eight classmates made up the entire fourth grade class at West Clay Elementary during the 2021-22 school year. Her whole class was involved in making the book, posing as characters in photo illustrations. “We have a very small class, so basically all of them are best friends,” Atiya said. The school’s principal, teachers and students were overjoyed to have an active part in the book’s creation and have supported it after release as Atiya has traveled to other schools and churches promoting it. With a head start on what could be a productive career, Atiya is already planning future publications. She plans to publish the firs book she penned, “Black Joe,” in the near future, and is currently working on a sequel to “The Mean Girls” subtitled “The Silent Bullies.” The fifth grader h s no intentions of putting down her proverbial pen. Atiya said she plans to continue writing. As an adult, she hopes to be an author and a real estate agent. At just 10 years old, she’s already halfway there. M
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Above: Need a caption
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