A sign in front of North Surry High School touts both the upcoming prom and yearbook sales which surely signals that time does indeed fly and the 2023-2024 school year is reaching its climax.
To that end Surry County Schools took time to honor some of its own before the beginning of end-of-year testing. According to the system officials were able to pull off some surprises recently when they honored Kellie Hunter of Flat Rock Elementary School as Teacher of the Year, Dobson Elementary’s Sydney McKeaver as Beginning Teacher of the Year, and Brandon Whitaker of Gentry Middle School as Principal of the Year.
“It was a great afternoon for surprises as Surry County Board of Education members, Central Office administrators, and family members visited three schools across Surry County to name the district’s honorees,” said Hollie Lyons, communications coordinator for Surry County Schools.
Hunter has served as a teacher in Surry County Schools for 18 years and has taught Kindergarten, first and second grade. She was surrounded by members of her family including husband Kevin and their children, Emerie and Aubrie to receive the honor from Superintendent Dr. Travis Reeves and other administration staff. Her brother Ryan, dad Greg, along with in-laws Kay and Perry Hunter were all there to assist with the surprise which included many Flat Rock students and staff.
Blair Lambert, principal of Flat Rock Elementary School, shared her excitement with the group during the celebration. “Kellie’s recognition as Surry County Schools Teacher of the Year is a testament to her exceptional dedication and skill. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and grateful for the positive impact she has on our students and community every day. To know Kellie Hunter as a student or colleague is to love her. She is a role model for many and so deserving of this honor.”
After surprising Hunter, the group traveled to J. Sam Gentry Middle School, where Brandon Whitaker was honored as the 2023-2024 Surry County School System Principal of the Year. His wife Holly and their two daughters, Anna and Kate, joined the group in the school cafeteria to surprise Whitaker, who was assisting with lunch duty. On hand to add to the shock were his parents Lynn and Kent Whitaker, of the Surry County Board of Education. There was no confirmation as to whether any offered to help Whitaker with lunch duty.
Whitaker has served Surry County Schools for 24 years and has served nearly nine of those years at Gentry Middle School as principal.
Surry County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. DeAnne Danley shared, “Mr. Whitaker is a student-centered leader. He strives every day to ensure all students get the best educational experience.”
The day of surprises concluded with a visit to Dobson Elementary School to recognize Sydney McKeaver as the 2024-2025 Surry County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year. Her fiancé Hogan Coe made the trek over from Central Middle Schools where he teaches to be part of the ceremony along with her mother, Pam McKeaver, who made a much smaller hike. Mother McKeaver is also a teacher at Dobson Elementary School and joined in on the surprise in front of a gymnasium full of enthusiastic second through third grade students.
“Sydney McKeaver is a strong leader, personally and professionally, and I anticipate that she will continue to lead and do what is right for kids even more efficiently in the years to come,” Principal of Dobson Elementary School, Nicole Hazelwood said. “For a beginning teacher, she has a solid foundation of proficiency and is believed to be an effective educator by the administration team at Dobson Elementary.”
“While she seeks feedback from others to grow professionally, she requires little guidance and support in the classroom. Working with various stakeholders in the building, her PLC (professional learning community), and being a reflective practitioner, it is evident that Ms. McKeaver employs her knowledge, expertise, and abilities to best support students on a daily basis. The Dobson Elementary community — students, families, faculty, and staff, are fortunate to have here on our team,” Hazelwood added.
Committees consisting of educators, school board members, retired educators, and business partners selected Hunter, Whitaker, and McKeaver from a pool of their colleagues. All three will compete for regional titles in the fall with the thanks and respect of their Surry County Schools colleagues following along with them.
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