Tara Copeland Recognized as KCS Teacher of the Month for September 2019

Congratulations to the September Teacher of the Month for Kannapolis City Schools, Tara Copeland!

Tara Copeland is an amazing Pre-K teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. She is also one of the rare teachers who has received multiple nominations from parents and students to be the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month.

Ms. Copeland makes a lasting impact not only on her students but also on their parents. One parent that nominated Ms. Copeland has had two children come through her classroom. She said, “Mrs. Copeland is an amazing person and a wonderful teacher. She loves her job and treats each one of her students as if they were her own. She puts her all into making sure her students are successful, and both of my children love her.” Another parent sent in a nomination on behalf of her son who is now five years old but still remembers Mrs. Copeland fondly. The parent wrote in her son’s words: “Mrs. Copeland was super fun when I was in pre-K and helped me learn things to make me smart. She always made me laugh, but she still won’t eat sushi!”

That pretty much sums up the life of an A-1, super-fantastic pre-school teacher, and we’re extremely proud that Tara Copeland is part of our KCS family. We are delighted that Tim Vaughn of Hilbish Ford has honored her excellence with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. Congratulations!

Click here to view the original article by Kannapolis City Schools.

Nominate an outstanding KCS teacher by clicking here.

Hilbish Ford Presents the First KCS Teacher of the Month Award for the 2018-19 School Year

Congratulations to Milton Matheny for receiving the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for Kannapolis City Schools!

KCS shared, "Milton Matheny is an outstanding teacher and coach at Kannapolis Middle School. He is also an A.L. Brown graduate and a wonderful part of KCS. Mr. Matheny’s amazing influence can be felt not only at KMS but also in the community. The parent that nominated Mr. Matheny called him a great role model and an inspiration to his students. The parent said Mr. Matheny always has a positive attitude and encourages his students to persevere—even when the material is challenging. She also said Mr. Matheny inspires his students outside of the classroom. Her son is on the KMS Cross Country Team, which Mr. Matheny coaches. She said Mr. Matheny has motivated her son to become a better student and a better runner. Even more importantly, she said, he has given her son the motivation to become a better person.

This is the kind of extraordinary influence that makes public education special. We’re proud that Milton Matheny is part of our KCS family, and we’re delighted that Tim Vaughn of Hilbish Ford has honored his excellence with the Hilbish Award for September. Congratulations!"

Click here to nominate an outstanding KCS teacher for this award.

Kelly Woodard Wins Hilbish Teacher of the Month Award

Congratulations to the Hilbish Teacher of the Month for Kannapolis City Schools, Kelly Woodard! 

Kannapolis City Schools shared this message:

Kelly Woodard is a phenomenal second grade teacher at Jackson Park Elementary School. She’s the kind of teacher that children remember for a lifetime. The parent that nominated Ms. Woodard gave her glowing praise.

“Mrs. Woodard is one of those people who was absolutely born to teach. She has surpassed any and all expectations I had this year for my child's teacher. She makes the conscious effort to keep learning fun and to allow the students in her class to use their imagination and be creative as much as possible. She takes the time to find out what works for each student and to facilitate an environment that makes this possible. I'm sure she spends countless hours outside of school planning for her kids and coming up with the best ways to get each child to reach their potential. She is always there to answer any questions I might have and makes herself available for anything needed. Her warm smile and positive personality make her so approachable and enjoyable to be around. Her love for teaching shows in the way that she talks to her students and in the way that they know they can reach out to her if they need anything. She truly knows her students and nurtures them as well as teaches them. Thanks to Mrs. Woodard I know that my child is being cared for in every way possible when she is at school, and as a parent this means the world to me. Teachers like Mrs. Woodard deserve to be recognized for the countless efforts they put in every day to give their students the very best, and the very best is what she gives!”

This is the kind of extraordinary influence that makes public education special. We’re proud that Kelly Woodard is part of our KCS family, and we’re delighted that Tim Vaughn of Hilbish Ford honored his excellence with the Hilbish Award for June. Congratulations!

Click here to nominate an outstanding KCS teacher for the Hilbish Teacher of the Month Award.

Tiffany Fulton named Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for Kannapolis City Schools, Tiffany Fulton!

"Tiffany Fulton is a very special and highly talented English teacher at A.L. Brown High School. Six different students nominated her for this award. They talked about her outstanding teaching, but they also talked about what a wonderful person she is. One student said, “She's a ray of sunshine even when I'm not feeling my best. She is so kind and energetic that she makes me WANT to learn—because I want to make her proud.” Another student praised Mrs. Fulton for always having a smile on her face and being optimistic. That student said Mrs. Fulton helped her come out of her comfort zone which made her a better person and less anxious when she had to share in front of a group. All the students said Mrs. Fulton made learning fun and made them want to come to school each day. One seemed to sum it up for all of them when she said, “I love her energy and cheerfulness, which never gets old. She's awesome, and I love her.”

Tiffany Fulton makes all of us in Kannapolis City Schools very proud. We’re delighted that she is part of our KCS family, and we are pleased that Hilbish Ford is honoring her excellence with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. Congratulations!"

Click here to view original article by Kannapolis City Schools.

KCS Teacher Courtney Jenkins Receives Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award

Courtney Jenkins is an encouraging and passionate science teacher at Kannapolis Middle School and the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for November.

Courtney makes her class interesting and exciting so students enjoy learning. One of her current seventh grade students gave her high praise: “The best part of Mrs. Jenkins teaching is that she really likes science! We learn a lot. She answers my questions, and she really makes it interesting.” This has made the student’s transition to middle school much easier. The student's mom commended Courtney for the way she greeted her son in such a welcoming way from their first meeting at open house. The student was immediately comfortable and felt confident coming to middle school on the first day.

Courtney is always there to make sure her students have a safe and caring learning environment, and she takes time to address any concerns they have. She also communicates well with parents, which creates a support team that helps her students learn and grow.

Congratulations Courtney and thank you for going above and beyond for our children. Hilbish Ford proudly sponsors Kannapolis City Schools' teacher recognition program. Each month, a nominated teacher receives $300 from Hilbish Ford as well as recognition at that month's Board of Education meeting.

Click here to nominate a KCS teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award.