Marshall County Service Personnel and Teacher of the Year Announced

Pictured from left: MCS Service Personnel of the Year Nicole McCulley and MCS Teacher of the Year Abby Edman.

Marshall County Board of Education members and county administrators recognized Service Personnel and Teacher of the Year nominees during the regular board meeting on Tuesday evening at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville. The change of venue was to accommodate the number of faculty and staff nominated for the awards.

Nicole McCulley, Media Library aide at Center McMechen Elementary School and Glen Dale Elementary School, was named Service Personnel of the Year for Marshall County Schools. She is known for building strong relationships with her students and co-workers. The motto she follows is “Kindness is Free.”

McCulley greets new employees and welcomes them, tells them how to get their trainings needed and helps with anything they need. She works to make sure her colleagues feel like an equal.

Her curriculum for the library is to pair a book with a craft that correlates to the book, incorporating interactive projects for the students to do. She even collected donations for the book fair to make sure every student was able to get a book. In addition, McCulley creates bus bags for students who need items at home.

Abby Edman, a teacher at Central Elementary School, was awarded Marshall County Schools Teacher of the Year. She currently teaches 4^th grade and taught first grade for nine years in Martinsburg, WV and was a Title 1 Reading Specialist for four years in Fairmont, WV, at both the elementary and middle school levels.

Edman was inspired by the wonderful teachers she had throughout her schooling to follow in their footsteps in becoming a teacher. “Being an educator is one of the most amazing yet difficult jobs in the world,” explained Edman. “I believe every day is a challenge worth taking. There will always be kids who need something.”

Edman encourages students to take on challenges and learn from mistakes. “There will always be kids who are willing to try and there will always be kids who are resistant,” Edman said. “Students need educators who are willing to take on the challenge. They need teachers willing to show up and work hard to help them succeed. Being in the business of children is loving them, providing a safe place for them and trusting that the learning will follow.”

Each year service personnel, teachers and administrators vote a faculty and staff member to represent their building as a county contender. Then a committee, consisting of county office officials and previous award recipients, conducts interviews and chooses the county winners.

Service Personnel Member of the Year Nominees are pictured from left front row: Melissa Pajak, Erika Whipkey, Tamera Smith, Deborah Jochum, and Melissa Francis. Back Row: Janet Hinerman, Erica McDonald, Jason McGilton, James Gorby, William Games, John Elson and Nicole McCulley.

Service Personnel of the Year nominees also included: Erika Whipkey (Cameron Elementary School), Jason McGilton (Cameron High School), Janet Hinerman (Central Elementary School), Jamie Miller (County Office), Erica McDonald (Gateway Achievement Center), Jennifer Patrick (Glen Dale Elementary School), Melissa Francis (Hilltop Elementary School), Keith Wright (John Marshall High School), Tamera Smith (Maintenance), Deborah Jochum (McNinch Primary School), Melissa Pajak (Moundsville Middle School), Meghan McCartney (Sand Hill Elementary School), William Games (Sherrard Middle School), John Elson (Transportation) and James Gorby (Washington Lands Elementary School).

Teacher of the Year nominees are pictured from left front row: Bethani Faulstick, Danielle Ellwood, Dawn Stevey, Abby Edman, Corinne Greene. Back row: Tabetha Morgan, Ashley Elliott, Michael Murphy, Kathy Wallace, Josie Mentzer and Christian Oliver.

Other Teacher of the Year nominees at each school included: Ashley Elliott (Cameron Elementary School), Christian Oliver (Cameron High School), Kathy Wallace (Center McMechen Elementary School), Danielle Ellwood (Glen Dale Elementary School), Bethani Faulstick (Hilltop Elementary School), Rachel Bandy (John Marshall High School), Josie Mentzer (John Marshall High School), Dawn Stevey (McNinch Primary School) Tabetha Morgan (Moundsville Middle School), Mindy McCartney (Sand Hill Elementary School), Michael Murphy (Sherrard Middle School) and Corinne Greene (Washington Lands Elementary School).

All Service Personnel Members of the Year and Teacher of the Year nominees were presented with a certificate for being chosen as designees at their respective district locations.

McCulley and Edman will go on to represent Marshall County Schools at the state level.