The Cannon County Board of Education used its Nov. 13 meeting to spotlight students and staff across the district and to recognize school participation in the Red Ribbon Campaign.

Students named 'Citizens of the Month' included Savannah Curran (Cannon County Elementary), Laura Weaver (Cannon North), Colson Crawford (Cannon South), Braxton Phillips (Cannon County Middle School) and Hayden Byford (Cannon County High School). Administrators were invited forward for a group photograph in recognition of the honorees.

The district also presented employees of the month and employee-spotlight recognitions: the Cannon County Elementary fourth-grade team of Beth Todd and Brandon Mansfield; Cannon North’s K–2 teacher of the year Hannah Kennedy; interventionist Angie Fan at Cannon South; Chelsea Grissom at Cannon County Middle School; and Casey McGee at Cannon County High School.

Stephanie Alexander of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, joined by the health department educator Caitlin Parker, described the district’s first annual Red Ribbon door-decorating contest as part of October’s Red Ribbon Campaign, "aiming to encourage youth to participate in a drug-free lifestyle." Thirty-one elementary-classroom entries competed. First-place classrooms will receive a pizza party sponsored by the Coalition; second-place classrooms will receive popcorn and drinks provided by district staff.

The board invited winners and their teachers to the dais for recognition and applause.

What happens next: Recognized students and staff will receive certificates and the Coalition will coordinate prizes with district schools.