October Board of Education Recognitions

Oct 7 2024

The Kannapolis Board of Education was proud to honor outstanding representatives from around the district at its October meeting.

Fred L. Wilson Elementary School

We are thrilled to recognize an outstanding first-grade student who exemplifies Fred L. Wilson’s core values.

Paul Dominguez Orellana is a shining star at Fred L. Wilson! He is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful first graders you will ever meet. From his very first day of Kindergarten, he has shown teachers his ability to follow directions, work hard, and help his classmates. Whether it’s during group activities, reading or math time, connect classes, or classroom routines, Paul listens attentively and always strives to do his best. He shows compassion to both teachers and students and is inquisitive, asking questions about the world around him.

Fred L. Wilson strives to teach students the qualities of showing respect, accountability and safety in all they do at school. Paul shows these characteristics daily and does so in a humble way. Paul’s positive attitude and eagerness to learn inspire his classmates to do the same. He is not only a diligent student who excels academically but is also a kind friend, always ready to lend a helping hand or share a smile.

Sloan Davis is a student who embodies the values of honesty, respect, accountability, and compassion. Throughout her time at Fred L. Wilson, she has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to these core values, setting a wonderful example for her peers.

Sloan is known for her honesty; she always speaks the truth and encourages others to do the same. Her respectful demeanor creates a warm and welcoming environment in her classroom, where every voice is heard and valued. Her honesty is valued by her peers as they look up to her for guidance and advice.

When it comes to accountability, Sloan takes responsibility for her actions and choices, showing maturity beyond her years. She is always willing to step up, whether it's completing assignments on time or supporting classmates in need. She excels academically and works hard to understand core content.

Furthermore, her compassion shines brightly. Sloan goes out of her way to help others, whether it's lending a listening ear or offering assistance to those who are struggling. Her kindness has made a significant impact on our school community.

Fred L. Wilson is excited to recognize Pastor Eddie and the team at West Point Baptist Church as dedicated volunteers and supporters of our school. Pastor Eddie has been a wonderful partner for our school and community over years

West Point Baptist hosts a community food pantry every Saturday morning as well as provides blessing bags for specific Fred L. Wilson families to meet the needs of the hungry in our community. They also host Jesse’s House one Saturday per month, which supports the unhoused population of Kannapolis by offering a community meal, clothing closet and counseling services. The church has provided backpacks and school supplies to many Fred L. Wilson students and hosts free, fun community events for families. This team also supports our school by providing staff breakfasts and lunches throughout the year as well as gathering and gifting from teacher wish-lists at the holidays.

In addition to all these things, they have graciously allowed the use of their parking lots for overflow parking during family nights and school events while our upper parking lot is under construction. They show enthusiasm for the success of our school, anticipating needs of our students and staff and looking for ways to meet those needs. We are so incredibly lucky to have a group so dedicated to Fred L. Wilson, and we are thankful for their efforts to support our school family and community.

In her vital role as an Instructional Assistant, Jamie Banks is a team player and is solution oriented. She anticipates needs, follows through on responsibilities, and collaborates with colleagues to ensure the success of our students. Her demeanor speaks volume of her character. Ms. Banks is punctual, reliable, and demonstrates professionalism in her interactions with students, teachers, and parents. Ms. Banks is strongly committed to Fred L. Wilson and this was recently demonstrated by her flexibility and initiative, volunteering to serve as our Tier 3 interventionist to serve those students that need intensive academic support. Ms. Banks often says, “I’ll do whatever you need me to do,” which speaks volume for her character and dedication to the Fred L. Wilson community and her dependable nature.

Not only is Ms. Banks an amazing Instructional Assistant, she also serves as a bus driver for Kannapolis City Schools. Her warm smiles greet students each morning and her kind farewells send students home in the afternoon. She is willing to do double runs to support other drivers and ensure all our students arrive home safely. She also transports staff from an alternative parking lot when we have school events where we park offsite to accommodate parking for our families. While the staff bus ride is short, it is always fun!

Ms. Williamson goes above and beyond for Fred L. Wilson every day. While typically a data manager’s role is more behind the scenes, Ms. Williamson was front and center at the start of this school year, serving also as our receptionist for the first month of school. This required her to pull double duty during one of the busiest times of the year. She handled all enrollments, organizing class lists, transportation requests and school fees while also answering the phones, taking parent questions, handling tardies and early check outs, and she did it all with a smile. She never made any excuses or complained about her work load, just simply continued to add more and more onto her plate, often without being asked.

Ms. Williamson is organized and on top of her responsibilities, and helps ensure staff have the things they need to do their jobs as well. Ms. Williamson is also a member of the Fred L. Wilson community outside of school through church and sports, and uses those connections to engage with students. Students know her and love to visit her and get a hug or a smile. She sends them on their way with words of encouragement and a reminder to be their best. In the words of our staff who recently also nominated her for our staff award of Fox of the Month: “Ms. Williamson is an outstanding team player. She juggles so many responsibilities with grace and positivity and we would be truly lost without her.”

We are excited to recognize the Fred L. Wilson school counselor, Lee McClamrock, for her many contributions to our school community. Mrs. McClamrock builds trust with our students by being approachable, empathetic, and non-judgmental. She supports classrooms with whole class lessons, small groups and individual sessions so students have the tools and resources to demonstrate daily success. Mrs. McClamrock creates a positive, inclusive school climate where every student feels valued, respected, and safe. She is also compassionate to our staff and families. She facilitates open communication, provides resources, and offers guidance to help families support their children effectively at home.

Mrs. McClamrock is a leader in our school through the facilitation of PLCs focusing on social emotional learning techniques and core behavior practices. She is deeply committed to her work and professional growth, striving to gain more knowledge and techniques to best serve our students. Mrs. McClamrock also helps with Before School Care and Morning Cafeteria duty, interacting with almost every student at the start of each day and her friendly smile and sincere conversations.

The Board was also pleased to recognize the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month, Joanie Reeder, a teacher at A.L. Brown High School.

Joanie Reeder is a wonderful example of the amazing teachers we have in Kannapolis City Schools and serves as the Journalism Teacher at A. L. Brown High School. The student nominating Ms. Reeder shared that she is an excellent example of what a teacher should be like. The student stated, “She makes sure everyone gets their work done and, if you are falling behind, she will try to help you. She is honestly the best teacher I’ve ever had. She really supports students, shows kindness to students, and cares for her students.”

Joanie Reeder makes all of us in Kannapolis City Schools very proud. We’re delighted that she is part of our KCS family, and we are pleased that she is being honored as the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for October. Congratulations, Joanie!