For making a difference in students’ lives, Dr. LaToy Kennedy, the principal at Wiley Elementary and Rodney Morgan, Jr., a sixth-grade teacher at Aycock Middle, both received the district’s highest honors at the Wachovia “Best in Class” awards.

Kennedy, the 2008-09 Guilford County Schools (GCS) Principal of the Year and Morgan, the 2008-09 GCS Teacher of the Year, both won a total of $1,500: $1,000 for winning the overall award and $500 for winning at their grade level. Kennedy was also named elementary Principal of the Year and Morgan was named the middle school Teacher of the Year.

With 14 years of experience in education, Kennedy focuses on relationships. “I realize that the most important role for me is to form relationships with the students and make them believe that they are valuable, smart and can be anything they want to be,” Kennedy said.

Other principals receiving awards included Ken Wheat from Pruette SCALE School. He received $500 for being the secondary schools winner. The remaining finalists, Dr. Brian Clarida from Sumner Elementary, Dr. Benita Lawrence from Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary and Rodney Wilds from Jackson Middle received $300 each.

With six years of experience, Morgan is proud of the work he does. “It brings me great pride to say that I am a teacher and that I am among those that help shape young lives,” Morgan said. In the classroom, Morgan finds creative ways to reach his students. “Every year, it is my desire to make learning interesting, fun and applicable,” Morgan explained.

Other winners in the Teacher of the Year category included Sophia Roberts from Jones Elementary, who was the elementary school winner and Melinda Galloway from Greensboro College Middle College, who took home the high school award. Both teachers received $500. Sabrina Peacock from Pilot Elementary and Patty Schram from The Academy at Lincoln were the remaining finalists and received $300 each.