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Richmond Community Schools honors teachers, staff and students at May 14 meeting
Summary
At the May 14 Richmond Community Schools board meeting, the district recognized teacher- and administrator-of-the-year honorees, a community partner, and student award winners including a national Sims League champion and a "mayor for a day."
Richmond Community Schools recognized multiple staff members and students at its May 14 board meeting, honoring teachers and administrators and highlighting student civic and career successes.
Rachel Phillips, who said she was "honored to receive the elementary educator of the year and then the teacher of the year this year," told the board she was surprised by the awards and thanked her Fairview colleagues and family for their support. Phillips said she will prepare a state-level portfolio to represent Richmond Community Schools in the next stage of the competition.
Laura Franzel, whom the board identified as the administrator of the year and the principal of Test Intermediate, reflected on mentoring and professional development. Franzel said she is participating in the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute and told the board, "The state legislature just voted to cut all of the funding for that program." She said the institute has committed to finishing the current cohort but that the program’s future is uncertain.
Larry Wilson, who teaches precision machine at Richmond High School, was named secondary teacher of the year. Wilson said he enjoys "to watch and grow" students into productive citizens whether they go to college or the workforce.
The board also recognized community partners and students. Corey George, chief probation officer for Wayne County and recipient of a friend-of-education award, described collaboration with the district: "Through a grant that we receive in our office, we support a lot of efforts of RCS with trust based relational intervention, handle with care, emotional regulation supports and a variety of other things with the end goal of supporting all students so they graduate." George said his office works with the schools to reduce juvenile justice involvement by supporting student engagement.
The board honored Kaden Romero, an eighth grader who won first place in the national Sims League competition and served as Richmond’s mayor-for-a-day. Romero said the program expanded his interest in civics and demonstrated "how we all are incorporated into being able to make our community better." The board noted Romero will move on to the state competition July 30.
Board members and administrators used the recognitions to highlight career and civic programs — including career-education awards and work-based learning partnerships — and to thank retirees and volunteers.
The board’s acknowledgments wrapped up with photos and applause for the honorees and a reminder of upcoming district events and ceremonies.
