Madison City Schools kicked off the school year with Institute Day, an all-hands assembly honoring achievements and building excitement for the upcoming school year.

 

The District Staff Member Of The Year (SMOTY) and elementary and secondary Teacher Of The Year (TOTY) were also named.

District TOTY awards went to Megan Hockey (Rainbow Elementary) and Emily Parker (Discovery Middle). The SMOTY award went to Thania Chacon from Heritage Elementary.

 

Thania Chacon, district SMOTY

Service recognitions were also awarded to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of education employment.

The event this year was moved from a high school auditorium to Church of the Highlands to accommodate district, elementary and secondary employees in one venue. MCS now has more than 1,300 employees due to growing enrollment.

Assistant Superintendent Mr. Eric Terrell started off the assembly with a roll call of schools. That drew some of the most excitement as school faculties, dressed in schoolwide themes, arose when called and danced to their pre-selected music.

Board of Education members took part in announcing the service awards and celebrating school achievements displayed on the screen behind them.

Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols closed the ceremony with remarks focusing on school safety plans, district expectations, promises of support, and well-wishes for a great 2024-2025 school year.

MCS thanks various vendors and support organizations for partnering to help teachers, students, administrators and support personnel to make Madison City Schools so successful.