NEW CUMBERLAND – With the end of the school year about a month away, the Hancock County Board of Education has announced its top teacher and service personnel member.

The school board took time Monday to recognize two staff members for their excellence and dedication within the district this 2017-18 school year – Weir Middle School special education teacher Kayla Violet named “Teacher of the Year” and Weir High School secretary Sunny McCoy named “Service Personnel of the Year.”

Violet will represent Hancock County in the West Virginia Teacher of the Year award ceremony held Sept. 12 in Charleston by the West Virginia Department of Education. The state Service Personnel of the Year will be announced through the WVDE in July.

County winners were selected by a panel appointed by Superintendent Tim Woodward, who determined the winners based on both state and county criteria. All nominees were selected by their respective schools following county guidelines.

Joined alongside board president Toni Hinerman, Woodward shared stories about both honorees, statements prepared through their respective schools.

Shortly after graduating from Bethany College in 2008, Violet joined the Hancock County School district and worked as a special education teacher for grades 5-8 at Weir Middle. According to Woodward, Violet started teaching math and social studies in a self-contained classroom, and has remained in that classroom to this date, now teaching all subjects.

Reading from a prepared speech about Violet from her principal, Woodward also said after another teacher took her under their wing, Violet realized she wanted to remain a special education teacher.

“Most teachers go into special education to get their first job, but for Kayla, it was a dream job that she landed right out of college,” Woodward said. “She cannot imagine working in any other classroom. She goes to work everyday and teaches her students. In return, her students continue to teach her all of life’s important lessons. They teach her that against all odds, you can prevail. Love can be felt from anyone. All children can learn. Every student has something to offer, and every student is worth all the time and effort it is to be successful.”

Woodward also attested to the prepared speech, noting he had done walk-throughs at schools and stated what was written “was true.”

Violet was among eight teachers who were up for the award. The other seven candidates were Carrie Graff of Allison Elementary, Errin Basil of New Manchester Elementary, Ashley Pietrangelo of Weirton Elementary, Tammi Brown of Oak Glen Middle School, Amanda McKinney of Oak Glen High, Anthony Pompa of Weir High and Emily Glodowski of the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center.

Woodward, meanwhile, read a speech on McCoy prepared by Weir High principal Kristin Bissett, to which McCoy was described as “the glue that holds Weir High School together,” noting her willingness to work with and find ways to help with staff members at the school, along with volunteering at various functions, whether school or sports.

“Not only is she excellent at her job as a secretary, but she goes above and beyond to make sure that Weir High School runs smoothly,” Woodward said. “There would be quite a few additions to her duties this year due the loss of a secretary, and she has picked up these without any complaint. She works with the office staff as an excellent team member. She’s always looking for ways to make our everyday task more effective and efficient. If there is something that needs to be done or approved upon, she takes care of it.”

McCoy was also recognized for continuing to fulfill her duties as she underwent treatment for cancer and maintained a positive attitude as she recovered.

“As many of you know, Sunny has had a rough year medically as she has fought and kicked her cancer in the butt,” Woodward said. “During her treatment, she continued to do her job without complaint and with a smile on her face.”

McCoy was among 39 candidates for the top prize in the service personnel category. Joining McCoy in the top three were Chris Rosenlieb and Betty Lou Rossi.