By MICAH HENRY
It was a festive “start your engines” morning on Monday, August 18, 2025, at the Alexander County Schools Opening Session event, held with a NASCAR theme at the Alexander Central Auditorium.
Dr. Bill Griffin, school superintendent, dressed in a race car driver’s suit and was master of ceremonies for the event. He gave the crowd a pep talk to kick off the school year, which for students begins August 25.
“The purpose of today, all we want is a smile on your faces. We don’t want you to dread to come back. We want you to absolutely thrive to be here on a daily basis,” Griffin said. “And we want to say thank you for a job well done.”
School resource officers, as well as Police Chief Mike Millsaps and Sheriff Chad Pennell were in attendance Monday.
Special guest Mebane Rash, of EdNC, spoke to the group of educators and school staff about the importance of educators, which extends far beyond the classroom.
For 10 years, EdNC has covered various topics about public schools, funded, initially funded by rural superintendents in low wealth counties. “We are your newspaper and hope that you feel loved and supported by us,” Rash explained.
EdNC is now fifteen reporters strong. Their EdWeekly newsletter goes out to all educators in the state on Friday afternoons.
She asked educators to invite EdNC to their schools to share their work and perspectives.
Rash urged teachers to craft a mission statement for themselves in their classrooms and reflect on: who they are, if they remain curious, if they believe all students can do the classwork, if they have ways to continue to expand their perspectives and connect to others, if they are proud to be teachers, and have strategies to focus and re-focus on the positive.
“This year, I hope you will be intentional about being gentle with yourself,” Rash said. “Breathe. If it can wait, address the stressful things at one time during the day. Change up the time day to day, so you body does not forget when you’re going to do it. Take a walk. Ask for help. Intentionally limit your exposure to negative news. Realize you cannot internalize everything. Actively practice holding things outside yourself. Support exists.”
She said the Principal of the Year Network has a new website: https://ncpoynetwork.com. The network is dedicated to showcasing the exemplary work occurring within North Carolina’s public schools, fostering a culture of excellence, and advocating for the advancement of school leaders and public education across the state.
“Of the Year” Awards bestowed
Dr. Alisha Cloer, Assistant Superintendent, and last year’s winners introduced the 2025 “Of the Year” Award winners and recognized them on the auditorium stage. Winners are:
• Mady Beasley, Hiddenite Elementary School, Beginning Teacher of the Year.
• Stephanie Auton, Taylorsville Elementary, Classified Support Staff of the Year.
• Seth Mull, Wittenburg Elementary, Certified Support Staff of the Year.
• Chelsea Harrington, Stony Point Elementary, Teacher of the Year.
• Amy Daigle, fomerly of Hiddenite Elementary School, now principal of West Alexander Middle School, Principal of the Year.
Taylorsville Savings Bank President Carrie Lackey and VP Sherri Russell presented the winners with $100 each on behalf of the bank.
Dr. Griffin outlined the new Mission and Vision statements for the school system on August 18, 2025.
New School Mission, Vision, and logo unveiled
Dr. Griffin announced a new School Mission during the assembly, “Building a Legacy of Excellence.”
This was followed by the new School Vision, “The Educational Choice for Every Child.”
He alluded to other school choices parents have and said, “There’s so much buzz around education, what’s out there, and what’s available. That’s good. You’ll never hear me say a negative word about that. I want our parents to be happy about where they send their child. What I want to make clear is that [we] want to be the choice where they send them. If you, in your classroom, don’t find every day that they want to be part of that, then we have to reflect…That reflection begins with me and hopefully that reflection filters down to each and every one of you and the job you do each and every day.”
“We need to be the choice. We must be the choice. I don’t care how much competition’s out there,” Griffin added.
He said staff will recite this mission and vision at all of the Board of Education and leadership meetings.
He also noted the school system logo had been slightly redesigned, still featuring the prominent “A” for Alexander but creating an upward arrow effect inside the A with its horizontal stroke bisected with a cutout.
Griffin noted the existing star at the base of the logo “A” is defined as Gold Star Standards, representing success and achievement, the foundation the school system is built upon.
Harry Gant honored
In keeping with the NASCAR theme, Griffin honored Alexander County native Harry Gant, who sent his regrets that he could not attend Monday. A short video highlighting Gant’s racing career was shown.
Closing remarks
Dr. Griffin explained House Bill 959, a new North Carolina law which says that students are not to use their cell phones during instructional times. The district already had a policy in place that said academics are to be a focus and students should not use their cell phones when it is time for learning. The goal of the new law is to make classrooms distraction free and help students focus on their mental health. Schools will be responsible for sharing with students and parents the steps they will take to comply with the law.
Griffin also explained another new law which requires schools to share videos or parts of videos with students (during the first five days of school in grades 6-12) about child abuse, neglect, and predatory practices that adults may engage in. The purpose of the new law is to educate students on how to advocate for themselves. Ultimately students would learn how to avoid unhealthy relationships with adults who serve as staff members or other influential persons in their lives. Parents may preview the videos and opt-out their children, if they wish