McMullen A County TOY Finalist
Kanapaha Middle School teacher Jane McMullen recently was named a finalist and the lone middle school representative in the 2008 Alachua County Teacher Recognition Program as the District’s Teacher of the Year. Williams Elementary teacher Petrina Leggon and Gainesville High teacher Janine Plavac also were named finalists in the county-wide program.

McMullen teaches the exceptional student education (ESE) program at Kanapaha. While she has taught exceptional students for more than 30 years, McMullen also has been at Kanapaha Middle School since it has opened. “I like the kids at Kanapaha and I think they’re great,”?she says. “The staff has been wonderful to work with.” She says she gets a great deal of help from her teacher’s aide Terry Meyers.

McMullen says she particularly enjoys being able to work with her students for the majority of the school day, because they do not change classes as frequently as the other students. “I really am able to get to know what their needs are, as far as education goes, and how they learn best,” she explains. McMullen also likes the variety of subjects that she is able to teach in her classrooms. “This year, I’m teaching geography,” she says. “Last year, I was able to teach history. The variety keeps things interesting and I enjoy that.”

McMullen, Leggon and Plavac, along with 38 other Teachers of the Year from Alachua County schools, were to be honored at the sixteenth annual Robert W. Hughes Teacher Recognition Program reception in early February. Hughes is the former Alachua County school superintendent who established the recognition program in 1992.

The teacher who is selected as Alachua County’s Teacher of the Year will represent Alachua County in the Florida Department of Education-Macy’s Teacher of the Year Program. The statewide Teacher of the Year will be announced in July.

Prince Performs For Coyotes
Gainesville area resident and singer Trevis Prince recently performed for the students at Kanapaha on the first day of the school’s second semester.

Prince spoke to the students about setting goals and starting fresh in the new year. He also asked several students to come to the stage to speak about what their goals were for the second half of the school year. Among the goals set by the students were getting straight “A” grades and listening to their teachers.

The day also was celebrated as “Mismatch” day at the school. Students’ outfits clashed as they mixed and matched clothing and accessories. Several of the students colored their hair pink or green or sported wacky hairstyles.

Prince performed two of his original tunes, including “Tight Work” and “Tryin’ 2 Shine.” He even helped lead a chorus of “Happy Birthday” for one of Kanapaha’s sixth graders.

For more information about Trevis Prince, visit www.trevisprince.com.