Johnston County Public Schools

Robin Stauffer is the JCPS Certified Employee of the Month for December 2024! An educator for 27 years, she has taught art at Glendale-Kenly Elementary since 2015. Before moving from Ohio to North Carolina, she spent 14 years teaching early childhood education. Ms. Stauffer answered a few questions about her passion for education and art. Read Ms. Stauffer's full JCPS Spotlight Q&A: https://bit.ly/3ZU6CoW

JCPS is proud to recognize Mrs. Carolyn Ennis for being appointed as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Town of Smithfield Christmas parade!!!🌟 Mrs. Ennis is a champion for education and has influenced the lives of many during her tenure with JCPS! Congratulations Mrs. Ennis!👏

This is a reminder of Christmas school closure dates for students who adhere to the traditional calendar: 🎁 Early Release - Friday, December 20, 2024 🎄Students Return - Monday, January 6, 2024

It's time to celebrate our Character Education Award recipients for December 2024! 🥳 First up is Dimitri Carpenter a 5th-grade student at Pine Level Elementary School. Carpenter came to school on the first day with a bright smile and an eagerness to learn. Despite facing new challenges daily, he never gives up and is not afraid of learning new things or meeting new people. Carpenter is a great friend, student, and role model. He puts on a brave face and faces each day with a great attitude. His positive energy is contagious and lights up the room. He genuinely loves his classes and interacting with his peers, especially at recess. According to Dimitri, lunch and recess are the best part of his day. Congratulations to Dimitri Carpenter! 🌟 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

“Mathletes” from 13 JCPS middle schools, which included 121 students, participated in the JCPS MathCounts competition. ➗✖➕ Sam McLeod of Innovation Academy- Johnston County Public Schools was the overall individual academy, followed by Aiden Ernst of North Johnston Middle, and third place went to Edgar Cordon Juarez of McGee's Crossroads Middle School. Sophia Zenobi of North Johnston Middle earned first place in the Most Questions Answered Correctly in the Countdown Round Competition category In the team competition, North Johnston Middle took home 1st place, Innovation Academy came in second, and Princeton Middle/High School rounded out the top three. Congratulations to all of the participants!🤩 Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/4iznx7h #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Sydney Daughtry is our final Character Education Award recipient for December!🌟 An 11th-grade honors student at North Johnston High, Daughtry is an athlete, a scholar, a friend, and a leader. In November, she was awarded WRAL's Extra Effort Award, representing her school and Johnston County in athletic and academic integrity. She always demonstrates perseverance, integrity, teamwork, and sportsmanship. She is a problem-solver like her mom, a math teacher at North Johnston High. Daughtry is friendly and kind to everyone...classmates and adults alike. She demonstrates what it is to have Panther Pride and she is a role model for others. Teachers, administrators, and everyone at North Johnston High are proud of Daughtry and her accomplishments!✨ #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Ana Almaguel Pupo is our next Character Education Award recipient for December!👏 Almaguel Pupo is in the 8th grade at Clayton Middle School. Originally from Cuba, she has been in the US for just a year and a half. She is sweet, caring, optimistic, and a GREAT classmate. Almaguel Pupo is always willing to guide, help, and tutor other newcomers. Not only has she excelled in the classroom, but her standardized test scores have also shown her exceptional growth! Almaguel Pupo is being recognized for perseverance because few students in our building have had to literally start from scratch and continue to exhibit excellence in all that she does. Way to go Ana Almaguel Pupo!✨ #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Up next for our December Character Education Award is Francisco Garcia Ortega!🎇 Garcia Ortega is a fifth-grader at Glendale-Kenly Elementary School. He takes initiative in his learning, consistently completing assignments on time, often going above and beyond what is required. He manages his time efficiently, balancing schoolwork with extracurricular activities. Garcia Ortega takes ownership of his academic progress and seeks help when needed, showing maturity and a desire to succeed. Furthermore, he is respectful and demonstrates a strong sense of personal responsibility in all interactions. He treats his classmates, teachers, and school staff with kindness and integrity, always upholding the values of our school community. Congratulations to Francisco Garcia Ortega! 🥳 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Let's celebrate Gray Foster, a Character Education Award recipient for December!🥳 In the 8th grade at North Johnston Middle, Foster truly exemplifies all character traits, but he is being recognized for displaying responsibility. He is committed to excellence, and is involved in many extracurricular activities while maintaining Principal’s List. He serves as the National Junior Honor Society President and is captain of the MathCounts team. Not only does Foster excel in the classroom, but he is a tri-athlete who has been a member of the football, basketball, and baseball teams. Foster is described as a motivated, dependable, and hardworking student who is kind and respectful. Way to go Gray Foster! #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Let's hear it for JCPS 2024-2025 Living Legend Award recipients! 👏 During the December 10, 2024, regular session meeting, the Board of Education recognized the 2024-2025 Living Legends, Mrs. Pearl Blackmon, Mrs. Darla Peedin, Mrs. Darlene Williford, and Mr. James E. Barbour. The Living Legend Award is presented to former Johnston County Public Schools educators who were dedicated to the children they taught and left a legacy of influential teaching styles. Congratulations and thank you for serving the students of JCPS!✨ Read more about each exceptional educator here: https://bit.ly/3ZqyYWi

North Johnston High junior Sydney Daughtry was recently announced as a WRAL Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award recipient! Sydney is a dynamic student-athlete who performs well academically and athletically. She plays tennis and soccer, giving her all in both sports. Always smiling, she encourages others on and off the field. Additionally, Sydney is a gymnastics/tumbling coach at her mother’s gym. With her smile, positive attitude, and determination, we know that Sydney will conquer whatever lies ahead! Congratulations!!! Tune in to WRAL TV during the 6 PM sportscast to watch Sydney in action! If you just so happen to miss the airing, you can view her segment when posted here, https://bit.ly/3OqJojs.

Today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 🇺🇸 The United States Congress designated December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on August 23, 1994. This day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who defended our nation during World War II.

- "I like working with my peers and learning the general issues different groups of children across the state face." - Stephanie Cruz Aburto Johnston County Early College Academy student Stephanie Cruz Aburto was selected to join the NC Division of Child and Family Wellbeing Youth Health Advisor (YHA) Team. She is currently serving on the 2024-2025 Youth Health Advisor Team. The YHA Team consists of North Carolina high schoolers interested in the health and well-being of the state's young people. In partnership with the Division of Child and Family Well-being and NCDHHS, Stephanie and her teammates will collaborate to provide unique perspectives and voices in shaping how the state responds to youth health issues. Congratulations Stephanie! 🎊🎊 #GreathThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

This is such a beautiful site...and sight! The Swift Creek Elementary project is moving along really well. We're almost finished with the brick on the front, the roofing is progressing well, the paving of the parking lot is looking really nice, and all of the inside walls are framed! It won't be long now...

🚀🚀Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year is going on now!!!🚀🚀 📚 Ready to start an exciting journey of learning, laughter, and growth? Don't wait...enroll today! Find more information about the enrollment process here: https://bit.ly/3HKkacO 🍎🚍

“My guiding light is service." - Shannon Pawlak We are excited to highlight Riverwood Elementary School's Mrs. Shannon Pawlak, who was recognized as the 2024-2025 JCPS Assistant Principal of the Year! 🥳🥳 A 27-year educator, Pawlak was a teacher for 20 of those years. For the past three years as the assistant principal, the teachers and students have made great strides in the student’s academic success. For the 2023-2024 school year, Riverwood Elementary exceeded growth and was in the top 10% in North Carolina for academic growth. Mrs. Pawlak has a servant's heart, and is an invaluable asset to the administrative team and the school. Congratulations again Mrs. Pawlak! 👏👏 You can learn more about our 2024-2025 Assistant Principal of the Year Mrs. Shannon Pawlak in this video and here: https://bit.ly/4fWLIef

It's the Holiday Season and a lot is going on! Keep your calendar up to date. 📅

Please make note of these dates if you have a student who will be a 2024-2025 mid-year graduate. 🎓 Congratulations to our graduates, and good luck in your future endeavors! 🥳

Today is National Special Education Day! ✨ National Special Education Day is celebrated on December 2 every year to recognize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is the first federal law to guarantee equal access to public education for children with disabilities. ❤ #NationalSpecialEducationDay

JCPS would like to wish our students, staff, and families Happy Thanksgiving! 🥧