The Columbia school board recognized the district’s top teachers and administrator at its meeting Tuesday night.
Receiving the Teacher of the Year awards were Danielle Whittington of Columbia Elementary, who also received District Teacher of the Year, Angela Hahn of Columbia Primary, Tressa Burns of Jefferson Middle and Mike Novinski of Columbia High. Administrator of the Year went to Jefferson Middle School Principal Levi Robinson.
Whittington received praise from Principal Robbie White.
“Three and a half years ago she was the first person I ever hired, and every day she makes me look like I know what I am doing,” White said.
“There are 18 other individuals from my school that could easily been in my chair,” Whittington said. “There are two things I tell everybody about where I work. One is I know the love that goes on there; the teachers and administrators are absolutely amazing. Secondly, God puts you in places when He wants you there.”
Later in the presentation Superintendent Jason Harris gave the District Teacher of the Year Award to Whittington.
“Our honoree tonight embodies a servant heart. I’m not sure if it was their dream to become a teacher of the year, however I know each student believes in this individual’s class knows how to dream big, work hard and stay determined,” he said.
Robinson, the administrator of the year, took over a D-rated school when he began at the beginning of the last school year, and Jefferson rose to a C this year.
“This individual accepted a challenged, met it head-on and moved their school forward,” Harris said. “If you want to see a rainbow, sometimes you have to deal with the rain. This individual has seen some stormy weather for sure.”
Robinson said, “This is not an award I received on just what I have done because my name may be on it, but this is a group effort. This is a district award from all the support I have received from Dr. Harris, school board, the teachers, staff, students and community. I am very humble and thankful for the opportunity given to me and what we were able to achieve.”
Columbia High Teacher of the Year was awarded to Novinski, who has been teaching since 1990.
“To be chosen by my peers is quite an honor because every one of them is teacher of the year as far as I am concerned,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here doing what I do every day if they weren’t here, the students weren’t here and the administration wasn’t here to make it a great place to work.”
Jefferson Middle Teacher of the Year Tressa Burns has been in the classroom since 1994.
“Last year when I was staying late, when I was leaving late I would see her car in the parking lot,” Robinson said. “Last year she told me that if she had not done a good enough job to move her somewhere else. That speaks volumes for her and her commitment for the best of our children.”
Columbia Primary Principal Heather Singley presented Hahn, a teacher since 1993, with the school’s award.
“She is quiet and works harder than anyone else in our building. She is our interventionist,” Singley said.
In other business, Singley reported there has been a decrease in discipline issues with this year’s kindergarteners who were in the pre-K program last year. Singley said she believed the fact the kindergarteners were there the year before and know the routine better played a part in the decrease.
Subject to removing a 12-month deadline for the work to be completed, the board approved a contract with Wier Boerner Allin Architecture for designing the new Columbia High football stadium. The project will increase seating capacity to 3,000 and install new bleachers and concession stands, among other improvements.
The proposed contract stated if the project was not completed within 12 months, the architecture firm could charge by the hour afterwards. Harris advised that area of the contract is being removed.
The following resignations were approved:
• Robin Anderson, Jefferson Middle secretary/bookkeeper effective Dec. 31;
• John (Jake) Burnham, Columbia High special education teacher’s assistant effective Dec. 9;
• Belinda Vince, child nutrition program worker, effective Dec. 20 for the purpose of retirement.
Joe Roney, who is already employed by the district in another capacity, was approved for math interventionist from January 2020 to May 2020.
