Leader of the band: Lester named Teacher of the Year

A longtime district teacher who returned to inaugurate the consolidated school’s music program was named Teacher of the Year at Monday’s banquet.

And, for the first time, the school’s support staff selected a School-Related Employee of the Year.

Karl Lester, a 23-year teaching veteran, was named Teacher of the Year, and Celia McIntyre, a 22-year staffer, was named School-Related Employee of the Year.

“I’m humbled,” said Lester, the high school band director ever since the consolidated school opened six years ago.

“There are great teachers on staff, there are great teachers sitting up there with me tonight. I’m real surprised and humbled that I was chosen.”

After teaching at Apalachicola High School, Lester left for a two-year stint at Wakulla High School, two years of freelance work, and four years at Leon High School.

But he returned when the consolidated school was open, and has since grown the marching and performing band to 33 members strong.

His first year began with just six members of a percussion band, and now it’s a full-scale performing band for seventh through 12th graders, offering two concerts a year. And the marching band performs regular halftime shows, and appears in parades.

Lester, married to wife Patti, with one stepson, earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Ala., and a master’s in music education from Florida State.

He said students face a challenge when they embark on studying music, but the rewards are tremendous.

“The kids are interested in music but they have no clue what it is,” he said. “They really don’t know what they’re in for. They just know that they’ve heard something and they like it.

“It’s not like a football game,” he added. “You want to play football, you pretty much know what you’re getting into.”

Lester said his challenge as a music educator “is getting them through that initial excitement period and to realize that this is really is a course of study that takes a lot of dedication and determination and discipline and sometimes it takes a lot of hard work. And getting them on that path where they see their progress in daily little amounts.”

McIntyre, accompanied by her husband Freddie, was the picture of joyful exuberance when her name was read. She won a two-night stay on St. George Island for the honor, courtesy of Resort Vacation Properties.

Now the custodian at the Learning Center, McIntyre was praised in her introduction as being a consistent, friendly face to all the students. “There’s a smile on her face all day long,” said Louise Chipman, last year’s School-Related Employee of the Year.

Dolores Croom worked to implement a new plan by Superintendent Nina Marks, who sought to have school-related employees recognized just as teachers are.

“She asked that I draft the forms took it to the school board and they passed it last term,” said Croom. “It has never been officially done until last term, on a very small scale, and now the actual nominating and voting process has been established. Reading coach Harolyn Walker and I consolidated the two events, and the attendance as well as the participation was great.”

Chipman was given a $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate for her selection last year as the county’s School Related~Employee of the Year.

There were five nominees for the School-Related Employee of the Year award.

Chipman began by introducing Mary Brown, who has worked fulltime in food service at the Learning Center for the past seven years. “Every day the students grow a little bit more with her encouragement,” she said.

Principal George Oehlert introduced his secretary, Sharon Browning, who is in many ways the face of the administration to students and parents, well-respected for her knowledge, efficiency and friendly manner. “She’s awesome,” said Oehlert.

Roy Carroll, the director finance, introduced Joy Towns, currently the office manager at the Learning Center after assuming a variety of roles within the system. Carroll praised her dependability, versatility and abilities

David Meyers, the district’s information technology guru, introduced Charles Justice, a young, fairly new employee and spoke warmly of his professionalism and willingness to tackle new challenges in his role with the increasingly complex world of computers and communications. “It’s a hard job and Charles is committed,” Meyers said.

There were three other nominees for the Teacher of the Year honor, Audrey Gay from the elementary school, Andrea Keuchel from the middle school and Sharon Solon from the Learning Center.

Melanie Humble introduced Gay, who teaches fifth grade, and outlined the many contradictions in the beloved teacher’s personality. “a proud Southern lady who busts out on bongos,” and a soft-spoken, religious woman who has been known to burst into dance in a relentless push to fire up her students to excel.

Laura Baney introduced Keuchel, who teaches middle school English, and described her quiet perseverance and integrity in getting the most from her students.

Angeline Stanley introduced Solomon, who teaches reading at the Learning Center, and used the occasion to burst into sweet song in praise of her colleague. High school teacher Paul Marxsen introduced Lester. The band director now moves on to state competition, and will receive an expense-paid trip to Atlanta to attend the Ron Clark Academy.

After a welcome from Barbara Lee, last year’s Teacher of the Year, and from Chipman, the gathering were led in prayer by pastor David Walker, husband of Harolyn Walker, the 2009 Teacher of the Year/

Oehlert then introduced the three staffers who plan to retire this year, each with at least 30 years of professional service. These include high school attendance officer Karen Smith, elementary school teacher Lois Shirley, and Cheryl Creek, director of the school’s, culinary arts program. As a support staffer, Smith will receive a $50 gift certificate from the Grady Market.

After a dinner created and served by Creek’s students, the audience watched a video presentation created by Justice. Missy Cumbie presented each of the teachers with a $50 gift certificate, courtesy of Delta Kappa, the fraternal organization of retired teachers.

Each of the nominees also received gift baskets provided courtesy of donations from staffers and area businesses. The high schools SWAT anti-tobacco organization also gave each of the nominees a gift bag of presents.