Dudley Academy Director Named Employee of the Month

She thought she was going to be a scientist, finding cures for diseases and teaching patients how to live fuller lives. But instead, she uses her science background to counsel and train students at Dudley High School’s Early College Academy of Engineering, Education and Health Sciences.

Johnette McCain, director of the Early College Academy of Engineering, Education and Health Sciences program at Dudley High School was named Guilford County Schools Employee of the Month for December 2005. The director who, in motherly fashion, calls her students, “My babies,” was in tears as her students cheered during the Employee of the Month presentation, held at Dudley High School this afternoon.

McCain was nominated because of her outstanding commitment to her students.
”Mrs. McCain makes herself available to students during school hours and after hours even though she has a newborn baby to care for,” wrote Desiree Best, a teacher at Dudley High who nominated McCain for the recognition. “Even while she was on maternity leave, Mrs. McCain took the time to counsel her students and confer with their parents.”

In addition to students registered in Dudley’s Early College Academy program, McCain also counsels students who are not in the program simply because they trust her and feel comfortable seeking her advice.

While McCain’s family as well as her colleagues and students looked on, Sam’s Club Representative Steve Drewry presented McCain with a $50 gift card and a gift from Sam’s Club, who has partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program.

In addition to the Sam’s Club gift card, McCain’s photo will hang during the month of December at the district’s three central offices, at Dudley High School and at the Wendover Avenue Sam’s Club.  McCain will also be recognized by the Board of Education at its December 15 meeting. 

Guilford County Schools is the third largest school district in North Carolina serving more than 70,000 students at 116 schools. With approximately 10,000 employees, the district’s mission is to graduate responsible citizens who are college/work ready.

Guilford County Schools is a national leader in providing specialized schools and instructional programs designed to meet the educational needs of a culturally diverse citizenship.  For more information, visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com.