Denita Dowell-Reavis
With a theme of “Revved Up and Ready to Roll”, Alexander County Schools kicked off the 2025-26 school year Monday morning. Teachers and staff donned NASCAR attire to celebrate this year’s theme as employees poured into the auditorium.
Dr. Bill Griffin shared parts of the district’s new Strategic Plan as he moved about the stage in full racing gear. Griffin says he’s a big fan of NASCAR and wanted the staff to have something fun as they came back to work this week.
Griffin talked about the work that’s happened over the summer. He says it was time for Alexander County Schools to redo the district’s Strategic Plan, but the work also gave him an opportunity to talk with stakeholders about the district’s goals. As part of the plan he debuted Monday morning the district mission “Building a Legacy of Excellence.”
“That was purposeful. I thought it was time to have something near and dear to what we stand for,” Griffin said.
Before Griffin addressed the group, the CEO of EDNC Mebane Rash told the staff members she would encourage them to have a personal mission statement. She talked about a Western North Carolina teacher whose life was changed last year due to Hurricane Helene. Rash says the teacher was able to focus on the work using her mission statement.
“It serves as a way to ground her work and those she works for and what’s important to her on the good days and the bad days. I encourage you to craft your own mission statement as you head back into the classroom,” advised Rash.
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Also part of the ceremony was the naming of the 2025-26 Of the Year winners chosen by a selection committee after nomination from the school staff where the candidates serve. Here are the winners:
· Chelsea Harrington-Teacher of the Year-Stony Point Elementary
· Amy Daigle-Principal of the year-West Alexander Middle School/Hiddenite Elementary School
· Mady Beasley-Beginning Teacher of the Year-Hiddenite Elementary School
· Seth Mull-Certified Support Staff of the Year-Wittenburg Elementary School
· Stephanie Auton-Classified Support Staff of the Year-Taylorsville Elementary School/Ellendale Elementary School
Alexander Early College students reported to class on August 11th. All other ACS students begin August 25th.