The Morgan County High School (MCHS) held its annual Future Educator Signing Day on May 3. Kaleigh Sidwell started the event last year for her students in the Teaching Pathways program at MCHS. This year, Sidwell recognized 26 seniors signing to be a future educator.
“It is my honor today to begin our ceremony by introducing to you the future of education,” Sidwell said. “We’re excited to announce that this our largest event ever, and despite what you may see in the media, we have many young people that plan to change the world one classroom at a time.” Many of the students
Many of the students in this year’s group started with Sidwell when they were sophomores in January of 2020. They were in her class throughout the initial shutdown as they navigated a virtual classroom and distanced learning.
“They were there when schools reopened, and we worked through the anxiety of everything that came with that in August 2020,” Sidwell said. “They were in my classroom their first full year in this building which was after a year of quarantines and masks, and they were here for their senior year in what has been the most normal experience since they were freshman. We walked through a global pandemic together during the last few years of their childhood. … This group of students have risen above every challenge placed in their way. They have watched the world fall apart and come back together all while maintaining grace, poise and maturity. When I think of this senior class, I think of how resilient they are – how they look at each day and find something good. They find something to smile about. I am proud to bring these students on stage to give them the recognition they deserve.”
• Ja’nayiah Brown
• Shaniya Brown
• Jada Cooper
• Margaret Draeger
• Miracle Ferrell
• Silas Fiorenza
• Emma Garner
• Emily Gresham
• Ethan Hardy
• Hannah Hartwig
• Chloe Howard
• Courtney Mayo
• Kayla McDuffie
• Bethany McGinness
• Hannah Morris
• Johnathon Nash
• Arianah Patrick
• Jesica Pye
• Chrisshonda Reid
• Valencia Shelton
• Victoria Sims
• Makhyle Taylor
• Teeonna Wade
• Bailey Waldroup
• Kori Williams
• Tanaja Wilson
During last year’s event, MCHS began the Teaching as a Profession Signing Day Scholarship in memory of a teacher that passed away.
“Lisa Breda was known as walking sunshine, and she helped so many children in her career,” Sidwell said. “This year, we would like to award this scholarship in memory of Lisa Breda, as well as other educators that have passed including Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Molly Bonner and others.”
MCHS awarded the second annual Teaching as a Profession Signing Day Scholarship to Courtney Mayo. “She is a student that has worked through more than any other,” Sidwell said. “On May 19, 2020, this student was in a near-fatal car crash. Struck on her side of the vehicle, she was hit by a tractor-trailer semitruck. She recounts that after the crash, she lay in a ditch and while praying everyone was okay, she realized she couldn’t feel her legs. She has endured two major leg surgeries in order to walk again. She was diagnosed with a brain injury, which has impacted her eyesight. She went through a year of physical therapy to heal from this experience, all while maintaining her classwork and working at a local daycare center. It is hard to imagine the what-ifs of that experience and we are so thankful she lived to walk another day. She is using her second chance at life to become a teacher and influence the next generation. As she enters this next stage of her journey, we would like to offer a small token of support.”