Mr. Key is the official greeter for Church Street School. He was not assigned this duty; he volunteered. Each morning, he stands outside, no matter the weather, to greet students, parents, and staff as they begin their day. He opens doors and helps carry in materials. His positive attitude and demeanor set the tone for a wonderful day. The children look forward to seeing him, and parents feel their children are safe and secure as he watches them enter the building each morning.
Mr. Key received an Association for Excellence in Education grant titled Books on Wheels. His grant helped purchase books, so that he could take books to children to read during the summer months. His search of the educational literature indicated that many children regress in their academic learning over the summer months due to not reading; while children who read make significant progress. Identifying the students who were disadvantaged, Mr. Key visited their homes every two weeks during the summer. He would exchange the books for new ones, so that the children had interesting books to read. He also spent time with the parents showing them ways to support their children and encourage the habit of reading.
Family Literacy is an important issue for Mr. Key. He believes that children’s achievement in school is directly related to the amount of time they spend reading. Four times a year, Mr. Key organizes a Family Literacy Night for the children and their families. He provides activities for the children that encourage reading such as storytelling and book walks. For parents, he arranges workshops to help them understand their roles in the academic performance of their children. He is able to convince teachers and other staff members to give their evenings to this worthy project. Each time, Mr. Key gathers donations of refreshments and door prizes to encourage attendance.
Each day Mr. Key exemplifies the character traits that staff and parents work very hard to instill in our children. He is thoughtful and goes above and beyond in showing his appreciation to the staff for their efforts. He is not required to attend staff meetings but does, so that he can keep informed and to learn ways that he can support the school, staff, and families.
The staff at Church Street appreciates Mr. Key. He supports their efforts with children and their families. He is able to make home visits that bridge the connection between school and home. He is a very important member of the staff. Instrumental in planning staff celebrations, he is known for grilling meals for the staff or giving them pizza parties. Each Wednesday, he brings chocolate candy for the staff to “get them through” staff meetings.
Mr. Key is working on his master’s degree in counseling. His dedication to children and education certainly support his choice of study. We are proud of Mr. Anthony Key for receiving the Tupelo Public School’s Fred Factor Award.