Parker Griffith Makes Mentoring Possible
for New Teachers in Huntsville City Schools

Pam Hill, Huntsville Education Association President, approached Dr. Parker Griffith about her desire to help new teachers as they embark on their new professional careers. She was supported by Dr. Ann Roy Moore, Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools, who was also concerned about the needs of new classroom teachers. They determined that a pilot program was possible that would provide beneficial results to both the classroom and the school system. Supporting teachers by offering them personal assistance from experienced educators would enhance instruction and in turn, have a positive influence on student achievement. Thus, "Parker’s Partners" developed.

Beginning small with five non-tenured teachers in high priority schools, Ms. Hill and Dr. Moore selected five retired, excellent teachers to mentor the new educators. Committed to meeting and supporting the teachers at least 70 hours during the school year, these mentors bring years of experience and creative ideas to share. They offered suggestions, modeled lessons, and provided helping hands to benefit both the teacher and students.

Parker Griffith has always been an advocate for public education. Having been a classroom teacher before becoming a physician, Dr. Griffith understands the challenge of helping each child succeed. Believing that reading is the key to success, Dr. Griffith whole-heartedly agreed to finance this program to help children. He felt it very important that this program begin in schools that are dedicated to changing lives.  Dr. Moore chose Lakewood and Rolling Hills Elementary Schools for the pilot.  Both principals at the two schools were enthusiastic and appreciative.

To assess the success of the program, each mentee will journal their experiences throughout the year. They will include their struggles and successes. They will include how the mentors helped them overcome challenges and expand their knowledge and perspective. The mentors will also log the hours they spend with their mentee and document the activities and services they provide. Ms. Hill will make regular visits to the classroom to manage the program and offer support.  She will also work with the classes at the mentees request.  She will communicate with the mentors and mentees separately to evaluate the progress of the program.

It was very important to Dr. Griffith that reading was a focus of the pilot program.   He believes that as the teacher's skills improve, so will the student's. He is anxious to view the student’s documented success in reading at the end of the school year.

Ms. Hill believes, and has already begun to see evidence that teachers with access to seasoned mentors will produce students that exceed present expectations. It is the desire of Ms. Hill and all those involved that the scores of the students in the mentees’ rooms will be above other classrooms, thanks to their innovative procedures, and Dr. Griffith’s support!

Huntsville City Schools

AAA

Bonnie Butler

A.S.F.L

Amber Holman

Blossomwood Elementary

Erin Russell

Robin Paul

Michelle Smith

Elizabeth Jones

Chaffee Elementary

Pamela Perkins

Stephanie Moore

Jonda Brooks

Leeann L. Childers

Diane Harness

Challenger Elementary

First Grade Teachers

Belinda Plemmons

Patti B. McCord

Chapman Elementary

Susan Matroni

Karen Talton Melillo

Nicole Hardage

Nikki Schwanke

East Clinton

Laura Chisler

Jennifer Douthit

Chip Gulbro

Sarah Blue

Farley Elementary

Liz Potter

Billie Burns

Molly Johnson

Hampton Cove Elementary

Emily Clark

Dianna Harper

April Clark

Steven Todd Miller

Highlands Elementary

Carolyn Palmer

Quirante Hereford

Lametrica M. Cockrell

Anne Mixon

J. E. Williams

Dona Thompson

Jennifer Lindsey

Carlyn Wyers

Patti McKee

Jones Valley Elementary

Kyra Moseley

Barbara Holbrook

Beth Massey

Lisa Felder

Josie Craig

Deloris Cable

Kristi Swearengin

Patricia Moy

Lakewood Elementary

Carolyn Drake

Donna Hannah

Nita Coon

Amy Glasgow

Lincoln Elementary

Rebecca Campbell

Angela Stahl

Lynn Fanning Elementary

Melissa Elliott

Jane Hillis

Melissa Pogue

Christie Franklin

McDonald Elementary

Rhonda N. Landry

Amena Dixon

TaLeshay Doughty

Dunia Roberts

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary

Flora H. Davis

Vicki H. Whitehead

Sally Foos

Elizabeth McGauley

Monte Sano Elementary

Debora Graham

Sandra Faint

Elizabeth Seifried

Maria Bryant

Montview Elementary

Mary Powers

Diane Hawk

Desma Willis

Beth Nash

Morris Elementary

Jan Coryell-Mahone

David G. Belton

Mt. Gap Elementary

Beckie Roth

Janet Ingleright

Tamra Johnson

Karen Limperis

Providence Elementary

Jaine M. Anderson

Lorraine Roach

JoAnne Patterson

Delicia Moore

Rolling Hills Elementary

Denielia C. Oden

Betty Hodge

Patricia Brady

Lillian Carson

Terry Heights Elementary

Gabrielle Degenaar

Judith Brown

Melinda McNeil

Verlyn Crawford

Shirley Taylor

University Place

Margaret Burgess

Weatherly Heights

Laura Ragland

Amy Fitch

Sarah Moody

Cathy Spearing

West Huntsville Elementary

Charlene Crawford

Paula Pippen

Kathy Sanderson

West Mastin Lake

Linda Ford

Linda Gray

Sharon Driggers

Cynthia Pollard

Whitesburg Elementary

Beth Rabin

Anita Garrett

Annie Padgett

Virginia Pool

Madison County-
Madison City Elementary  Schools

Madison County Elementary

Melissa Mann

Antoine McCoy

Amelia Childers

Walnut Grove Elementary

Davina H. Mann

Endeavor Elementary

Bridget Tinker

Hazel Green Elementary

Amy O’Dell

Marcella Baker

Tere Denman

Deborah A. Ghent

Madison Cross Roads Elementary

Julie Maney

Patti Boles

Debbie Kirkland

Amanda Stafford

Carla Bates

Pam Sirten

Monrovia Elementary

Mary Boyer

Kelly Reasner

Christine Stafford

Mt. Carmel Elementary

Sandee Burney

Ecleave H. Jackson

Nicole Manus

Keith M. White

New Hope Elementary

Kathy West

Lindsay Finley

Laura Progen

Shannon L. Bolton

Owens Cross Roads Elementary

Davina H. Mann

Myra Ange

Riverton Elementary

Elizabeth Orbison

Kellie Evans

Kim Gulledge

Theresa Miller

New Market Elementary

Ashleigh Salvo

Angie Hardiman

Rachel Holloway

Legacy Elementary

Gena Davis

Cathy Watts

Avrita Johnson

Bene’Yant

Huntsville Schools

Academy of Science and Foreign Language
Janet Brewer
Katrina Davis
Betty Duncan
Maria Vinson

Blossomwood Elementary
Jenifer Cooper
Jan Ingram
Elizabeth Jones
Teresa Knott
Lyn McQueen
Tammy Morrell
Robin Paul
Erin Russell

Chafee Elementary
Angela Walker

Challenger Elementary
Diane Hasty
Nancy Manguso
Belinda Plemmons

Chapman Elementary
Karen Conner
Susan Matroni
Anna Smith
Beth Washington

East Clinton Elementary
Jennifer Douthit

Farley Elementary
Kathy Barclift
Billie Burns
Molly Johnson

Hampton Cove Elementary
Kristen Britten
Tracy Inman

Highlands Elementary
Carol Ball
Lyn Kerkhof
Linda Hardee
Deborah Hill
Renee Lyons
Laurie Mills

Jones Valley Elementary
Stephanie Cole
Josie Craig
Jennifer Davis
Dianne Debter
Jeanine Doyle
Kristy Dunn
Lisa Felder
Nicole Martin
Barbara Holbrook
Nicole Martin
Beth Massey
Kyra Moseley
Patricia Moy
Elizabeth Siefried
Deborah Smith
Diana Styles

Martin Luther King Elementary
Vicki Whitehead

Lakewood Elementary
LaShawn Banks
Tamica Coleman
Nita Coon
Carolyn Drake
Donna Hannah

McDonnell Elementary
Rhonda Landry
John Pettie
Kathleen Stone

Monte Sano Elementary
Molly Hollis
Kerry Martin
Elizabeth Siefried
Margaret Stone
Barbara Ealy
Sara Stoddard
Sandra Faint

Montview Elementary
Chandra Branch
Carolyn Jackson
Mary Powers
Cheryl Williams

Morris Elementary
April Draine
Jill Queeney

Mountain Gap Elementary
Janet Ingleright
Linda Reagan
Beckie Roth
Laurene Ring

Providence Elementary
Michelle Barnett
Mike Fama
Elana Holzer
Linda Jackson
Rupal Mack
Kristi Swearengin

Rolling Elementary
Renee Mason
Ann Plenty
Helen Scott

Terry Heights Elementary
Judy Brown
Janice Summerhill
Cindy Wheeler

University Place Elementary
Margaret Burgess
Holly Neal

West Huntsville Elementary
Jacqueline Chandler
Lucille Chavers

West Mastin Lake Elementary
Natalie Cook
Linda Ford
Linda Gray
Yolanda Harris
Alicia Hereford
Edna Fails
Alicisia Adams

Williams Elementary
Gloria Call
Leigh Harrison
Vivian Lockley
Patti McKee
LaToya Pugh
Debbie Shawn
T racey Stoops

Whitesburg Elementary
Beth Babin
Michelle Beaver
Joy Forsythe


Madison County Schools

Central Elementary
Mary Lee
Janice Smith

Endeavor Elementary
Shannon Wagoner

Hazel Green Elementary
Tracy Van Buren
Angela Misterka

Madison Cross Roads
Haley James
Tammy Jones
Julie Maney
Angela Walker

Monrovia Elementary
Carla Smith
Cindy Waite

Mount Carmel Elementary
Mary Boyer
Susan Young

New Hope Elementary
Angie Butler
Lela Carbin
Karen Hill

Owens Cross Roads Elementary
Michelle McLain

Riverton Elementary
Libbie Orbison on behalf of bus drivers
Libbie Orbison

Academy for Academics and Arts
Donna Caldwell
Mary Lyn Peck

Academy for Science and Foreign Language
Susan Bird/Heather White

Blossomwood Elementary
Jenifer Cooper
Lyn McQueen
Elizabeth Woodruff

Chaffee
Melanie Pendergrass

Challenger
Danny Jordan
Ann Feeser

Chapman
Lorraine Roach

East Clinton
Sarah Blue

Ed White Middle School
Marcus Taylor

Farley
Nancy Barnes
Dawn Davison Brown
Rhea A. White

Hampton Cove Elementary
April Clark
Dianna Harper
Pam Hill

Highlands
Deloras Holden
Laurie Mills
Kerri Shaneyfelt

Huntsville Middle School
4 grants to buy equipment

PTA Grant writers:
Karen Kimbrough
Lisa Ordway
Kathy Wiliford
Lacey Sharpe

Jones Valley
Beverly Brown
Lisa Felder
Mary Kolankiewicz
Beth Massey
Diana Styles
Kristi Swearengin
Stewart Thorsen

Lakewood Elementary
Carolyn Drake
Rupal Mack

Lincoln Elementary
Rebecca Wells

Martin Luther King Elementary
Sarah Blue

McDonnell Elementary
John Pettie

Montview Elementary
Mary Powers
Jennifer Tate

Mountain Gap Elementary
Linda Reagan

Mountain Gap Middle
Brenda Rutland

Providence Elementary
Elana Holzer

Ridgecrest Elementary
Debi Nunez

Rolling Hills Elementary
Priscilla Montgomery
Ann Plenty

University Place Elementary
Lee Ann Knotts
Susan Kyle

Terry Heights Elementary
Janice Summerhill

West Huntsville Elementary
Tana Kelly
Doris Lawler
Paula Pippen

West Mastin Lake Elementary
Blanche Spence

Whitesburg Middle
Rita Byrom
Gloria Puliatti

Williams Elementary
Jennifer Lindsey
Patti McKee
Frances Woytowich

Williams Middle School
Leigh Harrison
Lisa Peterson

he Parker Griffith Family Foundation
classroom grant recipients for
the 2005/2006 school year are:

Academy for Academics and Arts
Donna Webb

Academy for Science and Foreign Language
Elisabeth Johnson

Blossomwood Elementary
Ardella Vance, Dottie Creel, Tammy Morrell,
Elizabeth Jones and Michelle Steed

Challenger Elementary
Patti McCord

Chapman Elementary
Paula Hargrove

Chapman Middle
Ann Smith

East Clinton
Jennifer Douthit

Ed White Middle
Dennis Kimery

Farley Elementary
Louvene Anderson

Hampton Cove Elementary
Pamela Hill, Cindy Stewart, Emily Clark

Hampton Cove Middle
Melessia Dawn Lucky

Highlands Elementary
Veronica Curtis

Huntsville Middle
Cindy Maxwell

J E Williams
Leigh Harrison

Jones Valley Elementary
Kristi Dunn, Sylvia Dean, Elena Lee, Deloris Cable

Lakewood
Rupal Mack

Lincoln Elementary
Mike Fama

Martin Luther King Elementary
Martha Gardner

McDonnell Elementary
John Pettie

Monte Sano Elementary
Kerry Martin, Linda Tisdale

Montview Elementary
Jennifer Tate

Mountain Gap Elementary
Rebecca Roth, Janet Ingleright, Nanette Respess, Linda Reagan

Rolling Hills
Ann Plenty

Terry Heights
Melinda McNeil

Westlawn Middle
Tara Dempsey

West Mastin Lake Elementary
Macqueline McGlathery

Whitesburg Elementary
Rebecca Wells

Whitesburg Middle
Laura Picken

University Place
Cassandra Harris