The event was held at Kirkwood Adams.
“We wanted a night set aside to honor the excellent work that goes on in our classrooms throughout the school year,” said Superintendent Dain Butler.
Tad Merritt of Belmont Elementary was named Assistant Principal of the Year in afield of nominees which included Lauren Hinnant of Manning and Angela Mallory of Chaloner.
Finalist were interviewed by a selection committee where they were given the opportunity to present an innovative or creative program or project implemented this year in their schools.

Support Person of the Year

That honor went to Roanoke Rapids High School nurse Emily Harris.
Other nominees were Mamie Burns of Belmont; Phyllis Pair of Manning; Maye Pearson of Chaloner; Wendy Byrum of Clara Hearne and Blair Wells of Central Services.

Principal of the Year

Jeff White of Chaloner was named 2017-2018 Principal of the Year.
White will go on to represent RRGSD at the regional level.
White thanked the district for honoring him and also thanked fellow nominee Mike Ferguson for his many years of service to the district.
Ferguson announced his retirement earlier this month.
“There are no runners-up. I’m honored to be in the company of such great educators who work tirelessly for the children of this community,” said White.

Teacher Ambassador

Last year’s Teacher Ambassador, Jeanne Johnson, introduced the 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year nominees saying, “These five finalist are outstanding teachers and are only a small selection of the dedicated and hard-working teachers we have here in our district. The children of our community are truly blessed to have such an amazing group of teaching professionals waiting to serve them daily in our classrooms across the district.”
Mary Durham, third grade teacher at Belmont Elementary, received this year’s honor.
She will go on to represent the district at the regional level.
Durham who comes from a family of educators said, “I’m so honored to represent this school district. I struggled as a young reader and that has been my mission as a teacher to give my students the same support I had as a child.”
Durham received hundreds of dollars in prizes and gift cards from local businesses and a golden apple trophy to display in her classroom. “My students keep asking if we won,if we won. I can’t wait to tell them.”
The nominees included Cindy Draper, of Manning Elementary School; Beth Hartson of Chaloner Middle School; Laura Manning of Roanoke Rapids High School and Angie Gowen of Clara Hearne Pre-K.