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Students praised at Jackson County board meeting as robotics team and vision‑support staff recognized
Summary
Board meeting opened with the Smoky Mountain High School choral performance and a special presentation from the Team Smart robotics group; the board also recognized three employees for completing certified functional vision rehabilitation specialist training.
The Jackson County Public Schools board began its October meeting with student performances and recognitions, highlighting a hands‑on robotics program and district staff training to support students with vision challenges.
Smoky Mountain High School’s choral department performed the national anthem, introduced by Katie Morton, and board members thanked students and invited the public to upcoming events. The board then heard from Team Smart students and mentors about their robotics work.
Calvin Huffman, a four‑year team member, described the program’s competitive cycle and hands‑on learning: "I started in third grade... you get 7 weeks to build a 120 pound robot from scratch," he said, noting the program teaches programming, design and practical engineering skills. Heidi Denkelmeyer, a senior and team member, said Team Smart’s alumni include students now studying engineering at NC State and Georgia Tech, and that team members help run summer camps and community demonstrations.
The board also recognized Kayla Austin, Claire Nordman and Abigail Plemmons of the district’s exceptional children’s team for completing nearly 33 hours of training to become certified functional vision rehabilitation specialists (CFVRS), a certification that helps staff identify and support students with vision‑related learning challenges.
Why it matters: the presentations underscore district emphasis on STEM pipelines and student mentorship, and the CFVRS certifications expand in‑district capacity to support students with vision needs.
The board closed the segment by congratulating the students and staff and arranging group photos with administrators and mentors.
