Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District honored the work of Yellow Jacket teacher assistants and interventionists on Thursday in a luncheon hosted by Superintendent Tony McGee and the SOCSD administrative team.
More than 150 staff members from all nine SOCSD school campuses gathered at the Hill and Moor, the former historic Moor High School, for a special lunch and program to celebrate the impact these important team members have on student learning each day. The event was sponsored by BankPlus of Starkville, and BankPlus staff members Brad Love and Stokes Templeton were in attendance.
“You all are really the backbone of what happens in our classrooms,” McGee shared with the group. “Our teacher assistants and interventionists provide invaluable personalized learning for our boys and girls in the classroom every day, and your work does not go unnoticed. You are always willing to step in to do whatever is needed, and we see the difference it makes.”
Across the district, particularly in early learning and elementary grades, teacher assistants create opportunities for more personalized learning by working with small groups or individual students who need extra help. Some offer a full-time presence in classrooms and some rotate between multiple classes where needed. In their time with students, they reinforce lessons, clarify areas where students don’t understand content, and provide the extra time and patience some need to thrive.
Interventionists play a crucial role in the district’s multi-tiered system of supports, designed to identify struggling students and intervene quickly with targeted support based on a student’s specific learning needs. The personalized attention interventionists provide helps students gain confidence and quell frustration through instruction, guidance and tools based on their specific needs.
Teacher assistants and interventionists also provide valuable ongoing help for students with special needs, playing an important role in giving them a positive learning environment and expanded opportunities for learning regardless of their physical or developmental needs.
During Thursday’s luncheon, administrators from each school shared their gratitude and words of encouragement with the group as part of the program.
“There is a wealth of knowledge right here in this room with the experience all of you have in helping students successfully learn in the classroom,” said Julie Kennedy, principal at Overstreet Elementary. “We have seen the student growth that occurs when you are working with small groups and individual students.”
SOCSD also welcomed District 38 Rep. Cheikh Taylor as guest speaker for the event.
Taylor spoke about the work of the legislature on behalf of public schools and the Starkville community and also shared his own personal appreciation for the work of teacher assistants and interventionists.
He described them as “unsung heroes” in the classroom for the relationships they build with students that can extend well beyond the classroom and well after graduation. Taylor shared the impact an interventionist made on his own son in identifying a learning need, helping to find a solution, and enabling him to excel.
“As a father, I’ve been able to see the work of that interventionist bear fruit,” he said. “Not only did he graduate from Starkville High School, but in May, my son will graduate from Delta State University with a degree in aviation.”
During the program, Debra Prince, president for the SOCSD Board of Trustees also shared gratitude for the role teacher assistants play in learning and encouraged them to consider making the commitment to further their education to obtain a full teacher’s license.
“Many of you already do the same work teachers are doing in your classrooms,” she said. “And I hope you’ll consider taking that next step and continuing to serve right here in our district.”
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