Employee of the Month

Greensboro, N.C. – Cone Elementary is housed in a building with a rich history dating back to 1935. As an older school building, it has its share of maintenance challenges. But if you took a walk through the halls, the first thing you would notice is the shine of the floors, clear glass windows and faint smell of cleaner.  

This is thanks to the efforts of facility specialist Larry Joe. He takes pride in providing a clean environment to the staff and students of Cone, describing how it brings him joy and satisfaction tackling projects as they come along. This hard work is not unnoticed by his colleagues and students at the school.  

“Mr. Joe works tirelessly—including weekends—to keep the building in excellent condition,” wrote Victoria Witherspoon, kindergarten transition coordinator, in one of many nominations. “He serves as a role model for students and a supportive colleague who brings encouragement, motivation and a positive, uplifting presence in the Cougar community.” 

Joe’s dedication to Cone Elementary’s building and community earned him the title of Employee of the Month for November. The school gathered to celebrate him with a parade in the halls, where students held signs with messages of gratitude.  

Joe received a $50 gift card courtesy of the Greensboro Jaycees. During the month of November, his photo will be displayed at the district’s central offices, at Cone Elementary and in the Greensboro Jaycees office.   

Nominations for Employee of the Month can be made using this form.  

Greensboro, N.C. – With school back in session, there are a lot of moving parts to ensure that students are prepared and ready for instruction when the bell rings. One key piece of this puzzle is transportation. While some kids may get dropped off in the car rider line and others wait at the bus stop, the GCS transportation department offers a unique service for students of a specific population.  

For students that are in-between homes or are without secure housing, we provide van transportation. This restores dignity back to these students and allows for quicker rerouting in the event housing shifts. One of these compassionate van drivers is none other than Valerie Graves, an employee of the transportation department for six years.  

“Transportation is very fortunate to have Valerie Graves on their team of excellence,” wrote Faye Crowder-Phillips, executive director of transportation. “She is flexible, willing to go over and beyond and a true team player. During the school year, she drives our students served by the McKinney-Vento act in a van and cleans our transportation building in between runs.  During the summer, she continued cleaning our transportation garage and helped supervise our paint project in the garage. Valerie approaches every task with a positive attitude, a jovial spirit and brings sunshine to every cloudy day. Valerie has been such a wonderful influence on our students that she transports. She has sponsored them on field trips, purchased them clothes when they needed clean clothes, purchased coats when they did not have one, provided for their Christmas, surprised them with Easter baskets and even bought them summer clothes for the summer months. Valerie is our all-star on every level!” 

Graves’ care, compassion and dedication to providing our students with safe transport and emotional support earned her the nomination for Employee of the Month for September. She was surprised with the news at a cookout celebrating the work completed by the transportation team over the summer.  

Graves received a $50 gift card courtesy of the Greensboro Jaycees. During the month of September, her photo will be displayed at the district’s central offices and in the Greensboro Jaycees office.   

Nominations for Employee of the Month can be made using this form.  

Greensboro, N.C. – Guilford County Schools is proud to offer robust support for our entire student population. In order to make this happen, there are certain roles in the district designed to ensure that everyone is receiving the resources they need to succeed. One of these roles is that of Exceptional Children’s Support Lead Teachers.  

Angie Shumate is an EC Support Lead Teacher and steadfast advocate for her school communities and students. While she works at multiple high schools in the district, Shumate is 100% dedicated to the Exceptional Children department. From assisting in the correct implementation of IEPs to problem solving with colleagues, she is integral to the success of Guilford County Schools.  

Her colleague Celestine Bennett wrote, “Angie has made a significant impact on the Guilford County Schools community. Whether it's through her direct support to students with disabilities, or her mentorship of new staff members, she continuously goes above and beyond to ensure that all individuals receive the resources and assistance they need to succeed. Her proactive approach to problem-solving and her efforts to create inclusive educational environments have touched the lives of many, and she has been an integral part of positive changes within the school district. Angie passionately supports the mission of Guilford County Schools by continuously striving to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and staff. She is always looking for innovative ways to align her work with the district’s goals, ensuring that her contributions support the overall mission of academic excellence and student success.” 

While off for the summer, Shumate returned to the Guilford County Schools Community Education Center under the guise of supporting her colleagues. Instead, she was surprised with the news of her nomination as Employee of the Month for July, to the cheers of many of the principals at the schools she serves. 

Shumate received a $50 gift card courtesy of the Greensboro Jaycees. During the month of July, her photo will be displayed at the district’s central offices and in the Greensboro Jaycees office.   

Nominations for Employee of the Month can be made using this form.