Prior to the regular Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees meeting this past Tuesday night, the Roanoke Rapids Schools Foundation awarded two grants, totaling $4000, from the Newsom Family Endowment for the Arts. Mac Newsom, who is a 1961 RRHS graduate, established the endowment as a way of giving back to the community and furthering art programs within the district. Shelley Rideout, art teacher at Chaloner Middle School, and Christian Boletchek, band teacher at Chaloner Middle School, each received a portion of the grant to purchase needed items for their programs. To date, the endowment has awarded more than $22,000 to teachers in the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District.
RRGSD Trustees also approved personnel changes at its Tuesday night meeting. Longtime Chaloner Middle School Assistant Principal Kirk Wynne will take on the role of Principal at Manning Elementary School. Wynne has been a part of the district for the past 23 years, having previously served as CMS Athletic Director, PE teacher, football coach, and basketball coach. Wynne stated, “I have loved my time at Chaloner but I am excited to be a part of the Manning family and I look forward to being able to serve RRGSD in this new role.”
Krissy Martin was named Director of MTSS and Exceptional Children. Mrs. Martin has been in public education for 21 years, having been with RRGSD for the past two years as the district’s Coordinator of Covid-19 Interventionists and MTSS. “I look forward to working with families, community partners, and colleagues to build on our achievements. We have a wonderful team of dedicated educators and support staff who play a crucial role in the success of our students, and I am eager to collaborate closely with them,” Martin said.
Superintendent Dr. Julie Thompson added, “I am incredibly proud of our staff and the dedication they demonstrate every day. We believe these changes will have a positive impact on our district, continuing to foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.”
Additionally, Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools Board of Trustees interviewed three candidates on Tuesday night to fill the board seat left vacant following Tammy Colston’s resignation last month. Carlton Ansley, Jim Whitmire, and Mary Duncan each answered the set of questions given to them prior to the meeting within a 15 minute time limit. The board then voted, but did not come to a majority decision, so they voted to postpone any additional votes until the next board meeting.