Nathan Jeffers

njeffers@heartlandpublications.com

POINT PLEASANT — Two individual and a group of students were recognized during the recent regular business meeting of the Mason County School Board on May 17.

The first individual recognized was Rhonda Tennant, who was recently named the 2012 Carol S. Miller Reading Teacher of the Year. Tennant, who is a fourth grade teacher at New Haven Elementary School, spoke at the board meeting about what she does in her classroom and what she does with her students.

“I don’t really feel like a reading teacher of the year,” Tennant said. “I just feel like a teacher who worked hard and did my job.”

Tennant talked on her students and their reading ability, stating there were a lot of other teachers in grades below her who are very good teachers, as well. By the time the students get to her class, they’re already really great readers.

Tennant stated she also has an interest in writing and she encourages her students to write, telling them that you can write about anything. She also read a story she had written, which was published in the Charleston Gazette.

The second individual recognized was Elaine Hussell, who was recently named a West Virginia Reading Association Honor President. Hussell is currently the Mason County Reading Council President, and stated that she is the only Mason County President to serve for six years. She also stated that this award also has been given to Mason County for four consecutive years.

It was reported that the WVRA Honor President award is given to local council presidents who have completed several projects promoting their local councils and reading within their community. For more information on the WVRA and the programs that are taking place across West Virginia, visit www.wvreading.com.

Following Hussell, the group the students recognized belonged to an organization called Hi-Y. The Hi-Y Leadership Center, also known as the Ohio-West Virginia State YMCA is an organization that works to develop young civic leaders with a life-long commitment to responsible citizenship. The students speaking at the meeting stated they recently participated in a Mock United Nations event, where they learned about government policies and the work that goes into making laws.

The students stated that in the Mock UN, if a law is voted on and passed in the legislative branch, it goes on to the mock governor. If the mock governor votes on it and it becomes a “law,” then it is passed on to the real legislative branch.

“Real politics are practiced,” one student said. The students went on to say this event not only gets the students interested in real government, but it helps them understand it better as well. One of the students added that they quickly find out that in government practices, the phrase “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” can be a common situation.

In addition to these individuals speaking, several agenda and personnel items were also approved the meeting, which will appear in Wednesday’s edition.