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JPS Announces Parent, Teacher, Administrator of the Year at Spring Convocation
January 17, 2020
Each year, usually in the spring, Jackson Public Schools unveils the Parent, Teacher, and Administrator of the Year at separate school-level programs. This year, these presentations were made during our Spring Convocation held Monday, January 6. Two categories were added this year for Support Employee of the Year and Education Leader of the Year. The 2019–2020 honorees are:
JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene, left, participated in a presentation recognizing Dawson Principal Vicki Conley as Administrator of the Year, Lanier teacher Tia Carr-Hall as Teacher of the Year, Casey Principal Anthony Moore as Education Leader of the Year, Property Accounting Data Clerk Patricia Ransom as Support Employee of the Year, and Spann parent Mark Anthony Davis Jr. as the JPS Parent of the Year. |
Photo Gallery: 2020 JPS Spring Convocation |
JPS Parent of the Year
Mark Anthony Davis, Spann Elementary
Mark Anthony Davis Jr. has two children at Spann Elementary, Lia in second grade, and Clair in first grade. His oldest son Mark Anthony III graduated from fifth grade at Spann in 2019. As a parent, Davis tries to prepare his children for life, and that includes helping them succeed in school, prepare for college and careers, and navigate family and friend relationships. While he does not expect his children to have the same interests that he did as a child, he expects them to give 100% at whatever they do. He is deeply involved in their activities, which include ballet, kung fu, and reading clubs. He works with their mom to make sure they can take advantage of great opportunities with the hope of passing on what they have learned from life to make their children's lives better.
JPS Teacher of the Year
Tia Carr-Hall, Lanier High
Tia Carr-Hall was born and raised in Jackson and is a product of JPS schools. She attended Boyd and Green elementary schools, Chastain Middle School, and Bailey Magnet High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Jackson State University. As an undergraduate at JSU, she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She has taught mathematics and Algebra I at Lanier High School since joining the District in 2013. Hall believes all students can learn. She includes a variety of techniques and strategies in her lessons so that she can reach each of her students on their level and help each of them experience success.
JPS Administrator of the Year
Vicki Conley, Dawson Elementary
Vicki Conley is the principal of Dawson Elementary School. She started her career in education as a fourth-grade teacher in Greenwood, Mississippi. While she held a full-time teaching position at the Virden Early Childhood Center, she also worked as a substitute teacher at other area public schools. She began working in Jackson Public Schools in 1998 as a second-grade teacher and later became an assistant principal. In her tenure as a building-level administrator, she has led two schools from failing to being rated successful. At John Hopkins Elementary, she helped the school improve from an F to a C. Under her leadership, Dawson Elementary has improved from an F to a B. Conley involves community partners and parents in initiatives that promote achievement, growth, and confidence in the scholars at Dawson.
JPS Education Leader of the Year
Anthony Moore, Casey Elementary
Anthony Moore is currently serving as the Assistant Principal at Casey Elementary. He is the District's first honoree for Education Leader of the Year. Moore started his career in education as a substitute teacher and afterschool tutor. He eventually landed a teaching position at the Career Academic Placement Alternative School at Duling. During his tenure in JPS, he has served in the roles of principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Moore holds a Specialist in Educational Leadership – Administration & Supervision from Mississippi College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Belhaven University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. His favorite quote about education is "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today" by Malcolm X.
JPS Support Employee of the Year
Patricia Ransom, Property Accounting
Patricia Ransom is a lifelong resident of Jackson. She grew up in the Georgetown area and graduated from Lanier High School. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Hinds Community College. Her first position after graduating was in Human Resources at Jackson Public Schools, where she was responsible for assigning substitute teachers. Eight years later, she moved to the Property Accounting Department, where she has served as a data clerk for the last 20 years. Ransom has three children that attended JPS schools. She believes you cannot educate a child's mind without also educating the heart and that everybody in the District plays a role in this, from the cafeteria worker to the custodian, to the bus driver, to the teachers and administrators.
Each honoree was nominated by their schools and selected by a committee based on a rubric to assess their performance. Their selections are representative of the outstanding talent in the schools and administrative offices throughout JPS. Each honoree received a personalized plaque and gift bag. The Parent, Teacher, and Administrator of the Year will represent the District for the state-level recognition program.
"We have so many talented people in Jackson Public Schools," said JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene. "We wanted to acknowledge as many as possible. Thank you to all of our winners and to everyone else who's out there doing big and little things to serve our children and families."
More than 4,000 JPS employees gathered to kick off the start of the second semester at the 2020 Spring Convocation. Themed "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," the District highlighted a number of achievements worth celebrating. The number of schools rated B increased by 17%, and the number of schools rated C, considered successful, increased by 25%. With a five-year strategic plan in place and guiding our path to success, JPS is poised to realize a promising future for our District and our scholars. Convocation gives JPS administrators an opportunity to impart the direction and vision for the District.