BISD Board of Trustees honors students, staff, teachers, principals at October meeting
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
When the Breckenridge Independent School District’s Board of Trustees met on Oct. 9, each campus recognized the Students, Staff Members and Teachers of the Month.
Then, it was time for the principals themselves to be honored for Principal Appreciation Month.
Additionally, Breckenridge High School junior KayLee Langford presented the eight-minute speech she wrote for the Public Speaking contest at the State Fair of Texas. Her initial entry advanced to the semi-final round of competition in Dallas at the State Fair on Oct. 12. Although she didn’t get chosen as one of the final four to compete in the finals, she gained some experience in speech competition.
KayLee’s speech focuses on the anxiety and depression that many farmers and ranchers deal with on a daily basis. She encouraged everyone to reach out to those working in any aspect of the ag business, to check and see how they are doing. KayLee, who is the Breckenridge FFA secretary, mentioned Farm Aid, an organization that provides services for farm families in crisis, and she advocated for the removal of the stigma attached to mental illness.
Following KayLee’s speech, the following awards were presented:
First-grader Rhyken Nickell receives the East Elementary Student of the Month Award from Principal Shannon Deen. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Tiffany Flores, the East Elementary receptionist, was presented with the Staff Member of the Month award by Principal Shannon Deen. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
First-grade teacher Deborah Gonzales was honored at the East Elementary Teacher of the Month by Principal Shannon Deen. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Kaylynn Palacios, a fifth grader, receives the Student of the Month award from South Elementary counselor Shelby Kennedy. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Claudia Alvarado, a special education paraprofessional at South Elementary, was presented with the Support Staff of the Month award by the school’s counselor Shelby Kennedy. Third-grade teacher Emily Smith was named the Teacher of the Month, but she couldn’t be at the meeting. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Seventh-grader Nevaeh Johnson receives the Student of the Month award from Breckenridge Junior High School Principal Laura Gibson. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Seventh-grade ELA teacher April Hughes was presented with the South Elementary Teacher of the Month award by Principal Laura Gibson. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
In addition to presenting her speech at the beginning of the school board meeting, KayLee Langford also was honored as the Breckenridge High School Student of the Month by Principal Paul Armstrong. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
For the October Staff of the Month awards, BHS Principal Paul Armstrong and BJHS Principal Laura Gibson decided to collaborate and honor the paraprofessionals who serve both campuses. Pictured from left are BJHS Principal Laura Gibson; paraprofessionals Teresa Ford, Sarah Rodriguez, Debra Foust and Aurelia Shelton; and BHS Principal Paul Armstrong. BHS English teacher Kimberley Best was honored as the Teacher of the Month, but she couldn’t be at the meeting. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
BISD Superintendent Bryan Allen, from left, honored the school district’s principals, Shannon Deen, Laura Gibson, Paul Armstrong and Patricia Gonzales, who couldn’t be at the meeting, for Principal Appreciation Month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: During the October BISD school board meeting, Breckenridge High School junior and FFA secretary KayLee Langford presents a speech that she wrote for a State Fair of Texas contest. She was also named the BHS October Student of the Month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
