October 2015 Growing to Greatness Recognitions
Hope Strayer, Aberdeen Elementary School – Certified Staff
Hope Strayer is the Growing to Greatness Certified Staff recipient for the month of
October. Ms. Strayer is an Aberdeen Elementary School Reading Interventionist. Her
position helps provide strategies for teaching and supporting students in the literacy
skills needed to learn to read, read to learn and comprehend. She works so closely with
her students that she gets to know them and their parents on a personal level.
This past year, Ms. Strayer worked with Lead DIF Steve Johnson to implement a Google
Classroom with her Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) students. These students
worked collaboratively with Ms. Strayer to make themselves even better writers.
Between her LLI instructional sessions, Ms. Strayer works with third grade classrooms
to assist students and teachers.
Ms. Strayer also has taken on the additional responsibility of serving as co-chair of
Aberdeen Elementary School’s Student Support Team. A dedicated and much
appreciated staff member, Ms. Strayer is constantly looking for ways to help make
Aberdeen Elementary School and Moore County Schools an even better place to learn
and work.
Eliza Diggs, Vass-Lakeview Elementary – Support Staff
Eliza Diggs is this month’s Growing to Greatness Support Staff honoree. Ms. Diggs has
served in the Vass-Lakeview Childcare for more than 13 years. She now manages the
baby side of the special Vass daycare. Ms. Diggs has a quiet, calm personality that
soothes even the crankiest babies. Although she is reserved when necessary to provide a
relaxed atmosphere for her charges, she has been seen dancing and singing silly nursery
rhymes with the toddlers in her care.
During her tenure at Vass-Lakeview Childcare, Ms. Diggs has formed special bonds with
many of the children and their families. The school-aged students often want to visit the
daycare to see and speak to her.
Ms. Diggs is a special and caring person who has touched the lives of the youngest eagles
in the Vass community. On a daily basis, she models the character and core values VassLakeview Elementary wants every student to exhibit. Ms. Diggs is a positive influence on
the children she serves and a wonderful asset to Moore County Schools and VassLakeview Elementary.
Bernard Garrettson, West Pine Middle – Volunteer
Bernard Garrettson is October’s Growing to Greatness Volunteer recipient. He
exemplifies volunteer service in the highest sense at West Pine Middle School.
Affectionately known as “Mr. G,” he has volunteered at the school longer than most of
the current teachers on staff, and is known as a father figure to many at the school. Mr.
G often serves as a substitute teacher and can be counted on to make sure that learning
remains the focus of his classrooms.
Mr. G is a longtime assistant coach for the girls’ West Pine Softball team, emphasizing
character and responsibility over athletic performance. During the fall season, he also
preps the field for practices and games by raking, mowing and laying down the lines for
the softball and football fields. He began the West Pine tradition of a Powder Puff
Football Game as both a fundraiser for the school and an opportunity to teach
teamwork, perseverance and goal setting to participating students.
Mr. G is a true member of the Wildcat Family. He is always dependable, dedicated and
willing to do all he can to enhance the lives of students. West Pine Middle and Moore
County Schools appreciates and celebrates Mr. G’s selfless service.
Leanta’e Henegan, The Community Learning Center at Pinckney – Student
Leanta’e Henegan is this month’s Growing to Greatness Student award winner. An
eighth grader at The Community Learning Center at Pinckney, Leanta’e is a hard worker
who knows his schoolwork will lead him to be a successful high school student.
Leanta’e is a leader in his classroom, demonstrating appropriate behavior and helping
his peers to be successful and use their time wisely. His teachers rely on the respect he
gives to others, his sense of humor and his positive attitude to make them smile.
Leanta’e plans to attend Pinecrest High School and play football and basketball.
Following graduation, he plans to be an entrepreneur and study culinary arts. Moore
County Schools and The Community Learning Center at Pinckney are proud of
Leanta’e’s success and appreciates the difference he makes in the lives of his peers.
Hannah Bankos – National Merit Semi-Finalist, Pinecrest High School
Hannah Bankos, a senior at Pinecrest High School, is one of approximately 16,000
semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. She is the only
Moore County Schools student selected for the honor.
To earn this recognition, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record
throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write
an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying
test. As a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Hannah will continue in the
competition for 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that
will be offered next spring.
Barbara Foxx – 700th Women’s Varsity Volleyball Career Win, Pinecrest
High School
Barbara Foxx serves as Pinecrest High School’s Physical Education Department Chair
and women’s varsity Volleyball Head Coach. She recently celebrated her 700th career
win with members of the women’s Pinecrest Patriots varsity volleyball team. A straightset victory over the Scotland High Fighting Scots while on the road in Laurinburg gave
her the milestone victory. Ms. Foxx is in her 38th year as the volleyball coach at
Pinecrest. She also is a North Carolina High School Sports Hall of Fame inductee.