Deputy Kevin Suthard, Public Information Officer

INVESTIGATORS SEEK LEADS IN OVERNIGHT SCHOOL VANDALISM

(Wentworth, NC) – On Wednesday May 22, 2013, Rockingham County High School reported that graffiti had been painted in several locations there on the campus; and that their Cougar mascot statue had been damaged.

The graffiti found is pictured below, along with a vehicle captured on surveillance video overnight at Rockingham County Middle School (located behind Rockingham High School) that may have been involved.

Anyone with information about this incident, the vehicle pictured below, or anyone that may have purchased or been in possession of a large amount of orange and white spray paint recently is asked to call the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office at 336-634-3232 or Rockingham County Crimestoppers at 336-349-968

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Reidsville, N.C., May 14, 2013 – Representative Howard Coble’s office today announced that Sybil Landreth, biology teacher at Rockingham County Middle School in Reidsville, N.C., won for her school $1,000 and a microscope through the “Make My LabWoRx” contest. Her winning video and lesson plan focused on ancient cures and modern medicines.

Make My LabWoRx is the latest initiative from Science WoRx, a mentoring and online resource network for science teachers sponsored by Astellas Pharma US, Inc. The 2013 Make My LabWoRx contest kicked off with seven qualifying rounds across the U.S. The winners of the qualifying rounds, including Landreth, have advanced to the final round of the competition on Facebook. In the final round, the teacher whose entry earns the most votes will win his or her school a grand prize of a gift certificate worth $5,000 for additional lab equipment.

“Science is the foundation for almost everything we do and encounter in this world. A solid science education ensures we are preparing our students not only for rewarding careers, but also for successful, fulfilling lives,” said Representative Howard Coble [R-NC 6^th District]. “All of the teachers who participated in Make My LabWoRx made a great showing for our community, and I would like to thank them for their commitment to kindling a natural curiosity for science in our students. Now that we’ve come this far, let’s put all our support behind Sybil Landreth so that she can bring home the grand prize!”

“At Astellas, we all recall that moment when we knew that we wanted to dedicate our lives to scientific pursuits,” said Masao Yoshida, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma, Inc. “It brings us great pleasure to witness these remarkable teachers creating those moments for their students. We congratulate Ms. Landreth and the winners of all of the Make My LabWoRx qualifying rounds, and wish them the best of luck in the final round of the competition.”

To vote for your favorite entry, visit http://www.facebook/scienceworx. Voting will be open from May 14 until May 28, 2013 at midnight EST.

For more information on the Make My LabWoRx contest, visit http://www.scienceworx.org/ContestRules.aspx.

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About Science WoRx

Science WoRx is a mentoring program and online resource network to support science teachers’ needs in and outside the classroom. Created by Astellas Pharma US, Inc., the program seeks to increase understanding of the role that science plays in human health and medicine, and to inspire the next generation of scientists. Science WoRx connects science teachers across the U.S. with real-life Astellas scientists, or Science Pros, in the classroom either in person or virtually through a series of video lessons or via online video conferences.

Science WoRx is supported by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and iBIO Institute, the education arm of Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization (iBIO). For more information, visit www.ScienceWoRx.org or join our community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ScienceWoRx and on Twitter (@ScienceWoRx). To access Virtual Science Pro resources go to: http://www.youtube.com/ AstellasUS.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Northbrook, Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please visit our website at www.astellas.us.

In the US, Astellas is committed to building community, helping others, encouraging integrity and inspiring people to make a difference, today, tomorrow and every day.

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Rockingham County Animal Shelter

What’s RIGHT WITH Our Schools

(Rockingham County, NC) – Jill Barker’s third grade class at Leaksville-Spray Elementary School currently studied economics, entrepreneurship and consumerism. To correlate with this study, third grade students worked together to make “critter” pencil toppers and “critter” note holders. The students sold their goods at school to help raise money for the Rockingham County Animal Shelter. Students and teachers have been very supportive of this worthy cause at Leaksville-Spray Elementary School.

We would like to thank the students,staff and parents for all their support and believing in the shelter.

Jill Barker came by the shelter and handed our Director Kevin Baughn a donation of over $100 that these third graders raised and that they are continuing to work on to raise more funds for the shelter.

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WAY TO GO MS. BARKER’S THIRD GRADE CLASS!!!

Karen Hyler, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Rockingham County, NC) – McMichael High Volleyball Coach, Marty Woods, received the Naismith Coaches Award for Rockingham County at the 2013 Rockingham County Schools Athletic Champions Banquet on May 15, 2013.

This national award is named for the late Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. The Naismith Coaches Award was created, by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), to honor a coach who represents sportsmanship, character, teamwork, service, integrity, honor and excellence.

In 2009, for the first time in the nation, the Naismith Coaches Award was presented by the FCA to a high school coach in Rockingham County, Jimmy Teague, former Reidsville High School football coach. Additional Rockingham County Schools Naismith Award recipients: 2010 – Greg Frey, former Morehead High School wrestling coach, 2011 – Woody Wall, Rockingham County High School girl’s basketball coach, 2012 – Bob Bailey, McMichael High Athletic Director.

The Rockingham County 2013 Naismith Coaches Award is sponsored by the Naismith Foundation, Wilkerson Funeral Home, Tar Heel Machinery and Rockingham County Schools.

Pictured left to right: Dennis Drennen – Executive Director, Naismith Legacy Group, Marty Woods, Dr. Rodney Shotwell – RCS Superintendent

North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Rockingham County, NC) – Principals Barbara Brown, Gary Pyrtle and Rose Rolan recently completed the Distinguished Leadership Program (DLP), a year-long leadership development program for practicing school principals designed and provided by the North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principal’s Association in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and UNC- LearnNC.

The Distinguished Leadership in Practice Program (DLP) uses a non-traditional professional development model that is aligned to the performance evaluation standards adopted by the State Board of Education for North Carolina’s school leaders. This unique cohort-based program is designed to limit principals’ time away from their schools by allowing them to attend face-to-face sessions once every other month while accessing on-line assignments, materials and coaching in between face-to-face sessions. Principals engage in a series of authentic activities throughout the year-long experience that are designed to build the capacity of their schools and their own capacity as “Distinguished” school leaders.

“The leadership of the school principal is by far one of the most important factors in school quality. By completing this very rigorous program, our DLP graduates have demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement by working to improve their leadership skills as they simultaneously improve their schools. We are proud to include them in the ranks of successful DLP completers, “said Dr. Shirley Prince, NCPAPA Executive Director.

This program is offered in three locations-Wilmington, Raleigh and Charlotte-in order to serve principals in all eight regions of the state.

The North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals’ Association (NCPAPA), in existence since 1976, is the preeminent organization and state voice for principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders. NCPAPA represents 4,500 members from across the state and serves as the state’s principal affiliate of the N.C. Association of School Administrators (NCASA), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP.)

More information can be found at www.ncpapa.org.

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Rockingham Community College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Front row – Austin Reis
Second row, l-r: Hannah Yount, Susan Willis, Sarah Cox, Anna Frye, Lana Shivley, Stevie Foust, Sheyanna Withers, Amanda Wilkinson.
Back row, l-r: Cheryl Hash, Emily Jones, Sarah Purdy, Faith Sims, Justin Mize, Erica Clark, Tonya Cassell, Clara Shelton, Heather Cope.

(Wentworth, NC) – The 18 graduating associate degree nursing students at Rockingham Community College held their capping and pinning ceremony May 8 at 6 p.m. in the RCC auditorium. It is a special ceremony for those entering the nursing field.

Each year during the ceremony, individuals are chosen to receive special awards. This year, Austin Reis was selected to receive the Faculty Award, given to the student who most demonstrates positive leadership qualities, initiative, care in the clinical setting, and pronounced improvement in his/her academic performance and grade-point average. Lana Shively was selected by her classmates to receive the Peer award, which is given to the student(s) who is seen as a student role model and who represents the kind of graduate nurse his/her peers would choose should they need nursing care.

Candidates of the 2013 Nursing Class are listed below by city of residence:

Eden – Anna Frye, Justin Mize, Austin Reis, Susan Willis, Sheyanna Withers.

Elon – Sarah Cox.

Greensboro – Stevie Foust.

Madison – Heather Cope, Clara Shelton.

Mayodan – Faith Sims.

Reidsville – Tonya Cassell, Erica Clark, Sarah Purdy, Hannah Yount.

Ruffin – Lana Shivley.

Sandy Ridge – Emily Jones.

Stokesdale – Cheryl Hash.

Summerfield – Amanda Wilkinson.

Visit www.whereopportunityrocks.com for complete information about enrolling and registering for classes.

Please call 336-342-4261, ext. 2333 for more information

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Pictured from left to right- Nell Rose – Rockingham County School Board Chair., Dr. Rodney Shotwell – RCS Superintendent, Jessica Clark – RCS Teacher of the Year – Moss Street Elementary, Ann Mitchell – Moss Street Elementary Principal

(Rockingham County, NC) – Rockingham County Schools is pleased to announce Jessica Clark, 3rd grade Language Arts/Science teacher at Moss Street Elementary School, has been selected as the Rockingham County Schools’ 2013-14 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Clark has taught at Moss Street Elementary for seven years.

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Mrs. Clark is a graduate of Reidsville High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Elementary Education from Salem College.

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In Clark’s teacher of the year portfolio she states, “Teaching is the gift that keeps on giving. I feel successful, of course, when my students master curriculum material and make good grades, but I believe my impact is more noticeable when I see students grow and change. The fact is, my students will probably forget some of the strategies I’ve taught them in reading and they may confuse the different types of soil or the definitions of embryo and seedling. I can only hope that when I see them at their high school graduation or at the doctor’s office with their own children one day that they can look back and see that I made a difference.”

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Mrs. Clark and her husband, James, live in Reidsville and have two children, Bryson, 3, and Rachel, 1.

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Teachers of the Year are chosen by their peers and colleagues because of their high level of commitment to the teaching profession and their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom. Mrs. Clark will now represent our school district as the Rockingham County Schools Teacher of the Year.

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Mrs. Clark is eligible to compete in the Piedmont-Triad/Central Region North Carolina Teacher of the Year competition, which will begin this September. For more information about the North Carolina Teacher of the Year program, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org/recruitment/recognition/toy/.

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Lynn Brisson, Public Information Specialist

Rockingham Community College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Wentworth, NC) – On Saturday, May 4, the Rockingham Community College Eagles played their last home game of the regular season on Gilliland Field. Despite the day’s loss to Catawba Valley Community College, the Eagles ended the season as the seventh seed in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association), Region 10, Division II Carolinas/Virginia Conference. The seeding earned them a slot in regional playoffs for the first time under the new qualifying format implemented in 2009. In the first round, RCC will be pitted against second seed Brunswick Community College. The game begins at 1 p.m., Friday, May 10 in the Morehead City Marlins Big Rock Stadium, 2714 Mayberry Loop Rd., Morehead City, NC, 28557.

RCC Sophomores, l-r: Kaleb Houchins, Zack Wright, Josh Barringer, Tommy King, Houston Ison, Marshall Creed.

Six sophomore players were honored before Saturday’s play began:

· Josh Barringer (Fluvanna County High School, Va.), is a two-year member of the team who started at first and third bases and as catcher and relief pitcher. Named to the academic Dean’s List at RCC, Barringer plans to continue his education at James Madison University;

· Marshall Creed (Surry County High School), a two-year member of the team who played right field, served as team captain, and will be attending UNC-Charlotte in the fall;

· Kaleb Houchins (Morehead High School), played two years for RCC. During his sophomore year, Houchings pitched 67 1/3 innings. He has committed to play baseball at Pheiffer University in the fall;

· Houston Ison (High Point Central High School), a two-year starter in the outfield, has a batting average of .302. With 25 stolen bases during his sophomore year, he holds the single season and career RCC record for stolen bases. He was named to the NJCAA 2nd Team All-Region outfield. Ison has committed to play baseball next year at Erskine College;

· Tommy King (transfer from Newberry College in New York), served for one year as the starting catcher and team captain.

· Zack Wright (, A.L. Brown High School), served as team captain. Wright started as third baseman and as a relief pitcher his freshman year, but moved to full-time pitcher his sophomore year.

Baseball ceremony, Zach Royals, l-r: Terri and John Royals, parents of Zach Royals; Zach Royals; Chris Johnson, RCC interim athletic director; Chris Loye, RCC baseball coach.

Former Eagles left-handed pitcher, Zack Royals of Winston-Salem was also honored. He became the first Eagles baseball player to have his number retired.

Rockingham Community College’s Interim Athletic Director, Chris Johnson, said, “Over the two years Zach was in our program, he embodied the ideal of what it means to be a student athlete.”

Off the field, Royals was named to the Dean’s List and President’s list for his high academic achievements, named to Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges, and nominated for the North Carolina Community College System Recognition for Academic Excellence. He also received the NCJAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement for 2011-12. He graduated from RCC in 2012 with a cumulative 3.68 grade point average.

On the field, Royals racked up equally impressive statistics: 75.1 pitched innings overall and an outstanding Sophomore year with 31 innings pitched, 18 strikeouts, two wins, one loss and a 3.48 earned run average. In 2012 he transferred to Greensboro College where he continues to pitch.

Royals attended Saturday’s ceremony with his parents, Terri and John Royals.

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Lynn Brisson, Public Information Specialist

Rockingham Community College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Wentworth, NC) – When Sandi Gann came to Rockingham Community College in 1991, she was one of the few on campus familiar with Apple and IBM computers and their programs. Desktops computers were the latest in technology and Gann was hired to in the college’s Multimedia Learning Center to teach students how to use them.

“I loved teaching,” she said. I taught students and helped design and teach workshops for faculty and staff. It was great.”

It’s not how she envisioned her life when she enrolled in computer programming at UNCG as a nontraditional student, though. Fascinated by computers, she wanted to tap out commands and tell them what to do. But then she realized that entry level computer programmers typically worked third shift and were on call every day of the week. Not an appealing prospect for a young mother of two.

“My advisor told me I had another option: teach.” So, Gann earned a teaching certificate and landed a job usage at Reidsville High School instructing teachers on computer. And when the computers broke, Gann pulled out a soldering gun and went to work.

“It was great fun,” she said, laughing.

A forward thinker on distance learning, Gann taught RCC’s first telecourse.

Time advanced until Gann had the opportunity to move into an administrative role. Taking that opportunity opened doors that still amaze her. Gann became dean of the business division. In 2001, she chaired the SACS committee which shepherded the college through the reaccreditation process. From 2003-07, she and former dean of the humanities division, Dr. Penne Prigge, gave workshops across the state on effective leadership through the Department Chairs Institute, an appendage of North Carolina State University. In 2006 she was named Interim Vice President for Instruction at RCC.

All of it, says Gann, has given her the chance to grow and challenge herself in a career she has loved.

As dean, Gann brought new programs to RCC: medical office technology, criminal justice technology – financial crime/computer fraud, networking, and human resources management. By partnering with Davidson County Community College, she brought truck driver training. Partnerships with Forsyth Technical Community College brought Healthcare Management, Global Logistics, and Financial Services.

Now, she says, it’s time to move on. On the agenda and the horizon, are lots of days with her grandson, working in her yard, and many, many adventures traveling with her husband, Ray.

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