Young man called ‘hero’ and
credited with saving a life
By Marcia Barnes
Staff Writer
The hallway leading to the Clay County Board of Education meeting room on Yellow Jacket Drive was lined with athletes ready and waiting for the Monday, May 22 regular meeting to begin. Hayesville Middle School Athletic Director Tammy Dills had a clip board in hand checking in arriving students who were to be recognized for breaking records, podium performances and championships during the school year.
Girls track finished in first place at the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship for the second year in a row. Khylei Alberta, Madison Parker, Savannah Burch and Alexia Fields broke the 4x400-meter relay. Alexia Fields, Annie Godfrey, Savannah Burch and Sydney Greenstone broke the 4x800-meter relay. Greenstone competed at the North Carolina Runners Invitational in Monroe, N.C. at the state level and placed 19th in the 800m run, and placed 28th in the 1,600 meter run against more than 70 runners in each event.
The boys track finished third in the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship where they broke four HMS records. Micah Moss, Parker Hughes, Eli Cheeks and Jackson Dye with a time of 10.10.81 secs in the 4x800-meter relay and Johan Webb broke three HMS school records, long jump with 19’7” hurdles with a time of 17.24 seconds and the 400-meter with a time of 55.08 seconds. Webb will compete in Greensboro in June at the National level.
Boys cross-country finished the season as the SMC champion runner-up. Jackson Dye earned SMC All-Conference honors. Parker Hughes was named SMC Conference Honorable Mention.
Girls cross-country finished fourth at the conference championship. Marlo Joyce and Greenstone finished in the top 10 to earn SMC All-Conference honors.
Wrestling finished fourth at the SMC Conference Tournament. Podium finishes for second place in their weight classes were Silas Lovingood, Landon Gibson, Lawson Bailey, Edwin Nava, Kota Patterson and Hunter Hill. Also on the podium for a third place finish was Jeremiah Register.
Volleyball finished 10-4 with a 10-2 in SMC Conference Record. They ended the season named the SMC Runner-Up.
HMS Baseball finished 10-4. HMS Softball finished 7-6. HMS Girls Basketball finished 8-6 and 6-6 in conference. HMS Boys Basketball finished with a 5-9 record. HMS JV Football finished 4-3.
“I would like to give that credit to our coaches, parents and players for their dedicated time and commitment to the athletic program,” Dills said.
Superintendent Dale Cole said, “I’d like to take a moment to commend Tammy Dills on the work she does as athletic director and coach. She runs a tight ship, a top notch program. She puts everything into her job, she impresses me everyday.”
Both the Clay County School Board and Hayesville Middle School administration recognized Hayden Lewis as Hayesville Middle School hero. Sean Morris was also recognized. Lewis and Morris are good friends and a few weeks back an incident in the school cafeteria led to a heroic and happy ending.
Lewis and Morris were eating lunch together when Lewis noticed his friend was distressed and moved into action trying to get Morris to respond and cough and then hitting him on the back. Neither of those things worked to help. Lewis immediately moved behind his friend and began the Heimlich maneuver. The quick action saved Morris by dislodging a meatball that was blocking his airway and the incident had been captured on camera. A video was played during the Monday night meeting showing the no-hesitation help given by Lewis to his friend.
Lewis has never had any training on how to do the Heimlich maneuver. Morris was checked out by the school nurses and both students were fine and healthy following this ordeal.
Principal Missy Rich gave each young man a plaque recognizing Hayden Lewis as the hero he was to Sean Morris and to the school that day. Rich encouraged them to use the experience to help them continue to live lives with good intentions and help others.
Following the recognition segment of the meeting, Ben Owens of Open Way Learning gave a grant status report to the board and public present. Owens gave a big picture look at everything Open Way Learning has done since the beginning of this project and said that they were able to help the district secure the grant.
The key pieces as presented by Owens were design thinking, listening to students and engaging the community. “We listened to the student voice and to the community voice,” Owens said.
Since January, when the project to identify problems and find instructional strategies for teachers and students began, Open Way Learning has held a series of community meetings and requested another focus group to listen.
“We wanted to know what students say, do, think and feel in their current school experience,” Owens said.
According to Owens, the problem has been defined and there is a prototype going forward in a 34 to 38 page document. He said, “This is what we’re hearing from students, ‘boring, good, fun, supportive.’
“How can we create our future,” was Owens question and a part of the presentation. Owens said that engagement through experience is an idea to be tested and with that in mind there will be summer workshops with teachers at the Hayesville schools. Twenty to 30 teachers have already elected to participate during the summer months.
Cole said, “No one has been made to do this. You can be good if your students just comply.” Cole said that students have a voice and a choice and for grades through six to 12, they have to have a purpose.
Other reports presented at the regular meeting were by Mellissa Cheek, District Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Coordinator. Hayesville Schools Coordinators, Michelle Calascione, HPS; Cayce Ledford, HES; Shannon Hogsed, HMS and Karissa Teague, HHS, gave individual reports from their schools.
Hayesville Elementary School Principal Melissa Godfrey presented feedback on the Staff Wellness Day which was held at Clay County Schools in April. Godfrey said that teachers and staff benefited from the day in which both the community and school gave time, support and some fun back to those who are continually giving to others.
Shelley Hollingworth, Chief Financial Officer presented budget amendments to the board and they were approved. The TVA has awarded a $40,000 grant for electrical reduction and efficiency to all the schools.
The recommendation to approve and renew the auditing contract with Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams and Co., P.A. for $18,850 in the upcoming annual contract was approved.
The Board of Education will have a special called meeting at 5:30 p.m.Monday, June 26 and will immediately enter a closed session.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 29.