Chloé here, and every time I think about how stressful and anxiety-inducing my own year has been, I’m quickly reminded that there are public servants out there, like teachers and other school employees, who are facing COVID-19 close-up.

Because the virus has continued to spread, school leaders moved all classes online this week. And as winter break (and hopefully some rest for school employees) approaches, we thought it was a great time to put the spotlight on Hamilton County School Heroes.

Hamilton County school officials picked these public school employees to recognize, and we narrowed them down, but you can see this year’s full list here.

📚 Beverly Stone + Starla Terry, Middle Valley Elementary

Job positions: Nurses

Time with HCS: 13 years each

Noteworthy: This duo launched the COVID-19 call center to help answer employee questions about illness + exposures. They’ve been helping calm worries, and they even worked weekends to do this.

📚 Jamelie Johns, Nolan Elementary

Job position: Assistant principal

Time with HCS: 18 years

Noteworthy: As a COVID-19 precaution, Johns organized a new dismissal process that uses an app to let the school know when parents have arrived.

📚 Peter Schmurr, Tyner Academy

Job position: Coding teacher

Time with HCS: 1 year

Noteworthy: Schmurr joined to teach coding for the EPB Institute of Information Technology and Networking. He has been teaching from home, but he’s found ways to make the most out of it and engage students more than usual, even remotely.

📚 Tammy Alger, Wolftever Creek Elementary School

Job position: Clerical assistant

Time with HCS: 15 years

Noteworthy: She hand-delivered materials to students who struggled with transportation so they wouldn’t fall behind.

📚 Josh Edens + Dana Turney, Orchard Knob Middle School

Job positions: Comprehensive development teachers

Time with HCS: Edens - 3 years; Turney - 17 years

Noteworthy: In addition to home visits, the duo implemented a new communications tool that translates messages into more than 100 different languages for families who don’t speak English.

📚 Chris Williamson, Tyner Middle Academy

Job position: Visual art and theatre teacher

Time with HCS: 17 years

Noteworthy: He sets expectations high but is always on hand to help in other ways, such as coaching track and field. He also made quarantine art kits for his students.

📚 Question

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