Habersham’s Board of Education recently presented its monthly Extra Mile Award to two classroom teachers who worked long hours on a joint project.

Joe Stover and Laura Ward were nominated by Ms. Brent Tuck, principal of North Habersham Middle School, for the work they did on the sign for the school’s outdoor classroom. Tuck said that Stover and Ward voluntarily did the work of designing the sign, cutting and staining the wood background and lettering, and then rebuilding an outdoor sign that “looks attractive to visitors.”

“They spent long hours after school in May and June,” Tuck said, to create a new sign in time for the Principals’ Picnic, held at the outdoor classroom in June. North Habersham Middle School, she said, “wants to thank them for caring about our grounds and our image.” In addition, the school appreciates their “hard work and extra hours of dedication. “We think they are both Extra Mile employees,” said Tuck.

Habersham County’s Board of Education recently presented the Service Above Self Award to Rosa Gaines, who serves Demorest Elementary and other parts of the school system.

Nominated by the faculty and staff of Demorest Elementary for the award, Gaines was recognized by the Board of Education for giving “exceptional service” to teachers, parents, and students – serving as Translator and Interpreter. She has translated “numerous documents with very little turn-around, without complaint,” the nomination form says. In addition to translating documents, Gaines interpreted for an afterschool tea for parents, teachers and students, and she “made sure the message presented was precise to all of our Hispanic families.” Gaines’ “personal touch” in calling parents made a difference to all involved, the nomination said.

Gaines has interpreted for all types of meetings. One was an Internet Safety meeting held during PTO, with a Deputy involved. She has interpreted for many Student Support Team meetings and Individual Educational Plan meetings.

Gaines was also nominated by Tracy Allison and Hope Mealor at South Habersham Middle School, where there is no single interpreter. Allison and Mealor said that Gaines is able “to take large chunks of information and explain it to the parents in the best possible way to ensure their understanding.” They called Gaines gracious, organized, professional and dependable.

They added that she “has been such a blessing…We are not sure what we would have done without her.”