Hickman Co. Elementary Teacher, Employee of the Month announced

(Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Richard Todd, Hickman County Elementary School Principal)

The Hickman County Elementary School Teacher of the Month for October is Nicole Terry.

One of the duties of fifth and sixth grade teachers at Hickman County Elementary is to prepare students for middle school. No one does that better than Nicole Terry.

While middle school teacher Allison Kelly has proven to be one of the top writing teachers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, her job is made easier by the preparation and high expectations of Terry. For years, Terry has been the language arts teacher for both fifth and sixth grades. Her students’ state K-PREP scores have been among the best in the region and the state as well, as students are held to high standards, given terrific and specific instruction on the writing process, and quizzed daily on grammar and language mechanics.

Moreover, Terry demands her students to excel not just academically, but socially as well as they grow from elementary students to young men and women headed to the middle school. She regularly discusses choices, consequences, and expectations regarding respect, responsibility, and other character traits with her students as part of her lessons.

Not to be confused with her mother-in-law, former HCES teacher Denise Terry, Nicole Terry is among the best and most dedicated teachers at HCES, displaying Falcon Pride regularly at sporting events and other extracurricular activities. Of course, part of that is because she’s there as a mom as well, supporting her children, Carter and Ella, both middle school students.

If you see Terry at a ballgame or other event, tell her congratulations.

The Hickman County Elementary School Employee of the Month for October is Ronnie Wilson.

Sometimes individuals do a great job, but don’t really get the recognition they deserve. Wilson, nighttime custodian at Hickman County Elementary, is a perfect example.

For more than 15 years, Wilson has worked the evening custodial shift at HCES. During that time, he has worked with a litany of other folks to assist him in cleaning the school each day. The stabilizing force over the last decade and a half, though, has always been Wilson. We’ve regularly gotten compliments on the cleanliness of the school; Ronnie is the main reason for that.

A favorite of the HCES staff, Ronnie, quiet by nature, is always willing to help others too.

“Ronnie’s always willing to help you. If you ask him to do anything, he will stop what he’s doing and help you and do whatever you need,” said Emily Smith, first grade teacher. “He has a quiet dignity, and he always goes above and beyond what is asked.”

Wilson is so beloved by the HCES staff that he regularly receives treats such as cookies and candy bars from teachers and others. That’s okay, because everyone knows Ronnie loves sweets.