Hickman Mills honors top employees

South KC Perspective

By John Sharp

A packed house filled the Martin Event Space May 2 to recognize outstanding employees and retirees of the Hickman Mills C-1 School District and celebrate the District’s progress toward regaining full state accreditation rather than just provisional accreditation.

The event also recognized the positive impact of implementing much improved salaries for teachers and other district personnel that are now some of the highest for public school districts on the Missouri side of the metropolitan area and making needed physical improvements to school facilities thanks to recent voter approval of a school levy increase and a no tax increase bond issue.

The Leader of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Chad Ryerson, principal of the Hickman Mills Middle School 6th & 7th Grade Center.  Other finalists for the award were Ryan Beatty, principal at Burke Academy, and Dana Tiller, assistant principal at Ingels Elementary School.

The Claudette Scott Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Julie Pierce, librarian and media specialist at Truman Elementary School.  Other finalists for the award were Dr. Yvette Hayes, 5th grade teacher at Ingels Elementary School, and Dana Troumbley, secondary credit recovery specialist at Burke Academy.

The Millie Harness Support Person of the Year Award was presented to Tamika Oliver, family support liaison at Hickman Middle School 8th Grade Center.  Other finalists were Darlene Ford-Conway, paraprofessional at Dobbs Elementary School, and Edith Monday, paraprofessional at Warford Elementary School.