School system honors employees

A Sinking Fork teacher and a bus driver who also works as an instructional assistant were named Certified and Classified Employees of the Year, respectively.

Christian County Public Schools awarded the district’s annual Certified and Classified Employee of the Year honors Tuesday night.

Sinking Fork Elementary School teacher Nancy Sims was recognized as Certified Employee of the Year.

The Classified Employee of the Year is Ramona Hester, a bus driver and instructional assistant.

District employees (from left) Transportation Director Mike Brumley, bus driver Ramona Hester, teacher Nancy Sims and Sinking Fork Elementary School Principal Leslie Lancaster at a ceremony Tuesday night honoring teachers and support staff. (photo provided)

Superintendent Chris Bentzel presented the awards in a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center at Christian County Middle School, a district spokesman said in a news release.

Certified employees nominated by their schools:

  • Tracy Mohon, Crofton Elementary
    Cilisha Dawson, Freedom Elementary
  • Sarah Akin, Indian Hills Elementary
  • Jessica Tinsley, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
  • Lisa Pinson, Millbrooke Elementary
  • Emily Chandler, Pembroke Elementary
  • Nancy Sims, Sinking Fork Elementary
  • Liz Van Otten, South Christian Elementary
  • Marie Davenport, Christian County Middle
  • Linda Leake, Hopkinsville Middle
  • Jennifer McCain, Christian County High
  • Brant Weiss, Hopkinsville High
  • Sean Conley, Gateway
  • Carla Criswell, Alternative School

Classified employees nominated by their schools:

  • April Robertson, Crofton Elementary
  • Brent Lamb, Freedom Elementary
  • Denise Boyce, Indian Hills Elementary
  • LaTisha Pulley, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
  • Mollie Grace Whitaker, Millbrooke Elementary
  • Kerri Vanderkolk, Pembroke Elementary
  • Sue Miller, Sinking Fork Elementary
  • Cary Sharber, South Christian Elementary
  • C.J. Brewer, Christian County Middle
  • Alandria Banks, Hopkinsville Middle
  • Shawna Johnson, Christian County High
  • Keith Leslie, Hopkinsville High
  • Jana Cook, Gateway
  • Marie Hughes, Alternative School
  • Will Bivins, Maintenance Department
  • Ramona Hester, Transportation Department

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.