Rutherford County Schools picked 5 Difference Award winners from 417 nominations, 2 at Murfreesboro schools, and named a Smyrna school nurse its Nurse of the Year.
An educational assistant at Walter Hill Elementary School and an administrator at Holloway High School are among five Rutherford County Schools employees honored this week with the district’s RCS Difference Employee Awards.
The winners were chosen from 417 nominations, the district said in its announcement of the awards on Thursday. SONIC of Rutherford County supports the awards.
The district also named a nurse at a Smyrna elementary school its Nurse of the Year.
The Difference Award winners
This quarter’s five winners, by category, are:
- School support staff: Tana Jenkins, Walter Hill Elementary School, Murfreesboro. A structured-setting educational assistant, praised for adapting lessons to students’ needs and helping children feel safe and excited to learn.
- Administration: Dr. Jessica Supakhan, Holloway High School and Rutherford County Virtual School, Murfreesboro. Nominators pointed to her approachable leadership, her support for teachers and her work helping students overcome obstacles to graduation.
- Teacher: Ashley Harvey, Christiana Middle School in Christiana, about eight miles south of Murfreesboro. Recognized for her science teaching, mentoring other teachers and expanding STEAM, Beta Club and National Junior Honor Society opportunities.
- Transportation: Jason Smith, a crossing guard at Smyrna Middle School and Thurman Francis Arts Academy in Smyrna, about 10 miles northwest. Celebrated for his dependability, kindness and welcoming smile.
- Central office: Kristina Danko, ESL Department. Honored for coaching teachers to make lessons more accessible to students learning English.
The descriptions are the district’s.
Nurse of the Year
Kitty McClellan, the nurse at David Youree Elementary School in Smyrna, is the district’s Nurse of the Year, Rutherford County Schools said on Wednesday.
McClellan joined the district in 2016 as a substitute nurse. Since then she has earned a master’s degree in nursing and become a nationally certified school nurse, the district said.
“She brightens every room with her positivity, demonstrates a true servant’s heart, and consistently goes above and beyond her assigned duties to help wherever she is needed,” David Youree principal Brian Waggoner said.
“Kitty is the light her students need,” said Dr. Shanna Groom, the district’s coordinator of school nursing services.
School nurses across the district choose the winner. To be nominated, a nurse must be nationally certified, have at least five years with Rutherford County Schools and not have won the award in the previous five years.
What it means for you
Anyone can nominate a district employee for a Difference Award. Nominations are open all school year through the district’s RCS Difference nomination form.
The district runs both Walter Hill Elementary and Holloway High. Our school pages carry each school’s zone, state report card and calendar:
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