Congratulations to the El Dorado School District Honorees for the month of May from Yocum Primary!
Student of the Month: Whitney Walthall
Yocum Primary’s student of the month is Whitney Walthall. She is a first-grader in Mrs. Ibert’s classroom. Her teachers said Whitney is a shining example of the Yocum Bears' Way! She is respectful, kind, and responsible. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to her classmates and shows kindness as well as empathy towards those who may be struggling. Whitney always takes her responsibilities seriously and is always excited to participate in class lessons. She puts in great effort into her assignments and consistently exceeds expectations. I am so grateful to have Whitney in my class and for the positive impact she has on our learning community at Yocum Primary.
Her principal, Kristen Thomas, said "When it comes to Whitney, so many wonderful thoughts come to mind. She is smart, caring, and enthusiastic about learning. She is always willing to help a friend and has a positive attitude. Her sweet smile is contagious and she lights up any room she walks in. Whitney shows the Bears' way every day and is such a great example to other students in our building. I am very proud of Whitney and so glad she is a Yocum bear.
Classified Employee of the Month: Megan Thurmon
Yocum Primary’s Classified Employee of the month is Megan Thurmon. She is the school secretary and has been in the district for two years. Nominating co-workers stated that Mrs. Thurmon is the glue that holds us together at Yocum Primary. Our school would not run without her and she does a great job of juggling everything thrown her way. I appreciate everything she does and how she handles it all with grace! She always has a smile on her face and I love working with her.
Principal Kristen Thomas stated that Megan is an outstanding secretary. She goes above and beyond to handle everything that makes our school run smoothly day to day. Parents always brag about how helpful she is and she is always willing to do whatever is needed. She sets the tone for our building with her welcoming smile when you walk in the door. She wears many hats each day making sure our students are taken care of and others' needs are met. I am thankful to have Mrs. Thurmon at Yocum Primary and very appreciative of everything she does.
Teacher of the Month: Gayle Norman
Yocum Primary’s Teacher of the Month is Gayle Norman. She is currently teaching 1st grade. She has her Master's in Education with a Reading Specialist Certificate from Southern Arkansas University. She has been teaching for 22 years and 17 of those were here in El Dorado School District. Nominating co-workers stated that Mrs. Norman is always the first one at school in the morning and the last to leave in the afternoon. She checks in on everyone and makes a point to speak every day! She is positive, encouraging, and has a contagious personality. She is a true joy to work with!
Principal Kirsten Thomas said I am so glad to have Mrs. Norman at Yocum Primary. She retired from education a few years ago and realized she missed it, so she applied to be a paraprofessional last summer. I quickly realized during that interview that I needed her to be in the classroom and fill my last spot as a first-grade teacher. She was not looking to jump back in fully, but she accepted the position and has been a huge asset to our school. Her knowledge of reading intervention has been extremely beneficial during PLC meetings and she is a wonderful team player. Mrs. Norman’s classroom is calm, inviting, and engaging and she truly brings out the best in everyone. I am very thankful to work alongside her and I am so excited that she has agreed to remain part of our Yocum Primary family next year.
