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Pitt County Schools honors student and staff; spotlights music therapy serving 400+ students
Summary
At its March meeting the Pitt County Schools board recognized a three-time district spelling bee winner, presented community and educator awards, and highlighted the district's music therapy program, which officials say serves more than 50 classrooms and about 400 students with disabilities.
The Pitt County Schools Board of Education used its meeting to recognize student and staff achievements and to highlight the district's music therapy program.
The board recognized Caden Greer as the district spelling bee winner for the third consecutive year. According to remarks at the meeting, Greer advanced through classroom and school competitions and will compete March 9 at Panther Stadium in Charlotte.
The board also accepted a community-award presentation from the Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, which presented a community leadership award to Nikki Silver, a counselor at Welcome Middle School. Separately, Dr. Seth Brown was honored with a Distinguished Educator Award by the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; meeting remarks described the award as recognizing significant contributions to curriculum and instruction, including program initiation, improved student performance and efficient use of resources.
Officials devoted a substantial portion of the meeting to the district's music therapy program and its work with students with disabilities. Pitt County Schools officials said Amanda Ellis, the district's music therapist, serves over 50 extended-content-standards classrooms and more than 400 students. Meeting remarks said Ellis recently renewed her board certification as a music therapist and routinely collaborates with teachers and paraprofessionals across the district.
District presenters offered two classroom examples of music therapy outcomes. In one, staff described changes in a student's communication and confidence after three weeks of music-therapy intervention; in another they described an A.G. Cox winter drumming and art performance in February that involved peer helpers and targeted bilateral coordination and patterned rhythm activities.
The board also accepted a recognition plaque from AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) honoring the board's support for college- and career-readiness programs. Superintendent Dr. Lassiter and other senior staff thanked community partners and school staff for their roles in the programs presented.
Meeting presenters urged continued community partnerships to support programs for students with disabilities and highlighted upcoming opportunities for public engagement on district priorities.
