Congratulations to the El Dorado School District Honorees of the Month from Washington Middle School and Murmil Education Center.
Washington Middle School Student of the Month: Brandon Maddox.
Washington Middle School’s student of the month is Brandon Maddox. Willow Waggoner, his 6th grade math teacher said “Brandon is always the first student to say hello and offer you a hug in the morning! He is such a hard worker and an amazing cheerleader for not only his classmates, but our whole school as well. He is a bright spot in everyone's day when he gets to class.”
Kelsey Jones, 6th grade counselor- “Brandon has a pure and true goodness about him! He greets everyone each morning with a hug and a smile, and I have never once heard him be unkind or disrespectful. When he sees a peer in need, he immediately jumps to help without any kind of teacher prompting. Brandon is a joy to have at school, and I'll miss him when he goes to Barton!”
Ashley Johnson, 5th grade science teacher- “Brandon is always cheerful! His smile and good attitude are contagious. You can tell he is eager to learn and loves school. He gets along well with his peers and is a delight to his teachers. I had the pleasure to have Brandon as a student in 3rd grade, and although he is not my student this year he never hesitates to give me BIG hugs and light up my day. I can't think of a better student to represent the best of WMS.”
Bethanie Hale, principal- “Brandon is the kindest, most caring young man you will ever meet. His sweet spirit brings a smile to everyone he comes in contact with. He is self-motivated and sets goals for himself that not many students would. I don’t think there is anyone who dislikes Brandon. He is such a great young man. I will truly miss him next year when he goes to Barton next year. I know he will do great things in his life and I can’t wait to see how his story plays out. He has a lot to offer the world and we all could learn a lot from him!”
Washington Middle School Classified Employee of the Month: Thelma Rodriguez.
Washington Middle School’s Classified Employee of the Month is Thelma Rodriguez. She has been a paraprofessional in the El Dorado School District for eight years. Ms. Odom, 5th grade Social Studies Teacher shared, “Mrs. Rodriguez is such a great asset to our school. Her positive attitude and fun spirit make her a joy to be around. She works hard to keep our students on track.”
Assistant Principal Cori Martinez said, Mrs. Rodriguez is hardworking every single day. She will do whatever is needed and always does it with a smile on her face. She even helps out translating and communicating with kiddos and parents from time to time. Love her enthusiasm!
Principal, Bethanie Hale: I have had the honor to work with Thelma Rodriguez for over 7 years at Retta Brown and now Washington. As soon as I knew I was moving to WMS, I called and asked to have her move with me. I couldn’t imagine not having her on my team. She is an amazing woman and an extremely hard worker. She is always willing to help out wherever she is needed and never complains. She runs our ARC (assignment recovery class) and that keeps her extremely busy. Her work really takes a load off of teachers and we couldn’t do what we do without her. When I told her she was nominated for Classified Employee of the Month she said, “ I absolutely love my job. I love working around kids and helping them. This is my 8th year and I'm still enjoying it to the fullest!” I am so thankful to have Mrs. Rodriguez in our WMS family! It would not be the same without her!
Washington Middle School Teacher of the Month: Melissa Upchurch.
Washington Middle School’s Teacher of the Month is Melissa Upchurch. She has her BS in Music Education from the University of Mobile, a BS degree in Elementary Education from William Carey University, and a Masters of Church Music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She has been teaching for twenty-four years, with two of those in the El Dorado School District.
Haley Moore, 5th grade English teacher shared, “Mrs. Upchurch has been such a blessing in my life as a mentor, co-worker, and friend. This is my first year at WMS, and she has been such a big part of why I love it so much here. She doesn't let a single day go by without stopping by to check in on those around her. When she and I get to spend time together, she not only takes the time to ensure that things are going well for me as a teacher, but she takes the time to check in on me, personally, and motivates me to keep pushing on my hard days. She is a wonderful educator and co-worker, and it is undeniably evident that she is here to make a difference in the lives of others around her. Everyone deserves to have a Melissa Upchurch in their life. She is such a great listener, collaborator, and leader. I admire her kindness, hard work, and her ability to make us all feel supported. I love her so much, and I cannot wait to witness all of the AMAZING things she will do in our school/district.”
Ms. Odom, 5th grade Social Studies Teacher shared, “Mrs. Upchurch's love for her students is easy to see. She is patient and kind and constantly works to give our students the best education possible. As a colleague, she always has an encouraging word or piece of advice for coworkers in need. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside her.”
Cori Martinez, Assistant Principal: Mrs. Upchurch is a strong literacy teacher that is committed to helping these kids grow in and out of the classroom. She is top-notch for sure. Her energy and positive vibes really make anyone's day brighter!
Principal’s comments: There is not enough time or words to describe Melissa Upchurch. She is not only an outstanding teacher but an incredible human being. She is one of the most passionate, dedicated, enthusiastic, and loving people I know. We won the lottery when we hired Melissa to teach at Washington Middle School. She sets high expectations for all of her students and she encourages them to meet their goals. As an individual, I strive to be like her. Her positive outlook and attitude are contagious. Even the most challenging student excels in her classroom. She truly is a treasure and I am so thankful to have her in our WMS family! It would not be the same without her!
Murmil Education Center Student of the Month: Camron Washington.
Murmil Education Center’s Student of the month is Camron Washington. He is a senior with the El Dorado School District. Camron was placed at Murmil in September 2021. Camron was eligible to return to EHS to begin his second semester in January 2022. However, he chose to remain at Murmil where he worked diligently to complete his coursework ahead of schedule. Camron finished his requirements for graduation in March 2022 and will be ready to graduate with his cohort class in May.
Camron not only excels as a student, he also holds down a steady job and is interested in Welding. Camron is certainly a role model and is focused on obtaining his goals and dreams, states Mrs. Porchia
Camron's teachers report that he is an outstanding, hardworking, humble, and respectful young man with a solid foundation who will be successful in his endeavors.
It has been a pleasure for the staff at Murmil to have had Camron as a student and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
Murmil Education Center Classified Employee of the Month: Robin Ford
Murmil Education Center’s Classified Employee of the Month is Robin Ford. Mrs. Robin Ford is the ISS Instructor for K-4 at Murmil Education Center. She has a total of (10) years of experience in education and a total of (3) years with El Dorado School District. Mrs. Ford states, "I love working with children and seeing their brains absorb all of the knowledge."
Mrs. Ford is dependable and works hard to ensure that any ISS student that comes to Murmil gets their work done in a timely fashion, yet still feels the care and compassion that children need. She is an excellent liaison between Murmil and the students' homeschool and is a huge asset, states Ms. Porchia.
