Employee of the Month (February 2006)

Cynthia Latham is congratulated by Sam’s Club Representative Steve Drewry. Latham, a school counselor at Bluford Elementary, was selected as the district’s Employee of the Month for February 2006.

Ask any of the 400 students at Bluford Elementary and they’ll tell you that Cynthia Latham is their friend. Their parents think so, too. Latham, the school’s counselor, knows every child by name, and is considered “relentless” when it comes to finding solutions for the problems experienced by students and their families at this Title I school.  Because of her staunch support and extraordinary commitment to children, she is considered a shining star in the eyes of those in the “Bluford family.”

District officials agree. That’s why they named Latham as Guilford County Schools’ Employee of the Month for February 2006.

Co-workers describe Latham as an “advocate” who acts “in the spirit of children at all times.” It’s certainly an appropriate title for a school counselor who:

• Arranged for Christmas gifts to be given to students who would normally have gone without
• Drove a student with vision problems and the student’s mother to the optometrist because the family had no means of transportation
• Opened her home to two students and cared for them while their mother was in the hospital

Parents describe Latham as an “unsung hero,” a “nurturing” and “hands-on” person who encourages the success of children and families at Bluford Elementary.

“Mrs. Latham was there to guide me through the challenging behaviors that my son was exhibiting,” wrote Callie Degraffinreaidt, whose child is a fifth-grader at Bluford. “With her guidance, my family was able to plan and become actively involved in assisting our son to be successful. He is now on the A/B honor roll.”

As the district’s Employee of the Month, Latham received a $50 gift card and a gift bag from Sam’s Club, which has partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program. Latham’s photo will hang in the month of February at the district’s three central offices, at Sam’s Club on Wendover Avenue and at Bluford Elementary. In addition, the Employee of the Month will be recognized at the February 9 Board of Education 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.