The new Kappa Delta Pi student inductees from Lee University
The Lee University chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for educators, recognized four local teachers for their demonstration of excellence in the classroom. The ceremony was held in the Helen DeVos College of Education on Lee’s campus.
The ceremony highlighted the impact these educators have had in their classrooms. Each was presented with a pin and certificate honoring his or her achievement. The honorees include Roxanne Gassaway, Ronda Phillips, Dr. W. Ashley Smith, Jr., and Crystal Wessells.
Ms. Gassaway has served the teaching profession for a total of 25 years. She has been an instructional coach, reading coach, Reading Recovery teacher, and fifth grade teacher. She has served the National Education Association, Bradley Cleveland Education Association, and the Red Clay Reading Association. She has twice been honored with the Building Level Teacher of the Year award, two time Disney Teacher of the Year nominee, three time Bradley Cleveland Public Education Foundation grant recipient, and a recipient of the 4-H educational award. She currently works as instructional support staff at Hopewell Elementary.
Ms. Phillips has taught fourth grade at Charleston Elementary and Mayfield Elementary. She is involved with the Association for Gifted Children and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. She was named Mitchell County Teacher of the Year in 2013. Ms. Phillips has volunteered with the Atlanta Refuge Community and Math Olympiad. She currently works at Yates Primary School teaching second grade.
Dr. Smith has served the teaching profession for 48 years. He has been a high school chemistry and mathematics teacher, a principal at Blythe Avenue Elementary and Cleveland Middle School, and a supervisor of grants and middle grades for Cleveland schools. Dr. Smith has served as the South Regional Trustee and is the president of the Association for Middle Level Education. He is currently a professor of education and director of teacher education and field experiences at Lee University.
Ms. Wessells has served the teaching profession for 11 years. She was previously a second and third grade teacher for Gwinnett Public Schools. She has served on curriculum map committees, hosted after-school tutoring, and served as grade chairperson. Additionally, she has helped coordinate the Kay McDaniel Tennis Clinics for the last 14 summers at Lee University. In 2006 she was named the Walmart Teacher of the Year. She currently teaches third grade at Michigan Avenue Elementary.
During the ceremony, new education students were inducted into the honor society. These students include Caitlin Almazan, Emily Blackwell, Amber Boyd, Jessi Callahan, Morgan Colander, Lillian Cuzzort, Ashlie Dashler, Kaitlen Taylor Giles, Brittany Hartley, Christine Hazelwood, Ryan Hilber, Rachel Erin Hill, Christina Jarman, Courtney Kiger, Ariana Kim, Amelia Krout, Rebekah Lusk, Marcella Maddalena, Alexandria Mattsson, Anna McBride, Kayla Newman, Candace Grace Parker, Mary Peters, Caroline Sadler, Courtney Steinhauser, McKenzie Anne Stephens, Shelby Willis, and Cammie Wilson.
Kappa Delta Pi seeks to encourage high professional, intellectual, and personal standards to recognize outstanding contributions in education. Founded in 1911, the society became an International Honor Society in Education in 1981.
For more information on the honorees or Kappa Delta Pi, call the Helen DeVos College of Education at 614-8175.