in the field of education. “She’s been teaching 39 years today and is still working ,” said Williams. “When you retire, I’ll come home too. I’ve been teaching 42 years in this school district, but they have been years of joy and years of pleasure. When I started teaching, schools were segregated. I saw them integrate and I saw them segregate again, but I enjoyed every day of my life teaching children. I taught English, high school English for all of those years, and that was such a pleasant experience; I went to curriculum, then came here as president, and wound up as executive director; but, it’s time for me to go home and I know it’s time for me to go home and I’m going home..., but I have a passion for teaching and for learning and for teachers everywhere and I pray Godspeed on this district and this effort that you all have and these programs.” Trennie Williams returned to the mic followed by Ruby Payne who introduced Hickory Ridge Elementary teacher Carol Pleasant who performed a tribute to music for the legacy honorees. Margaret Bland McKissick-Larry, a long-time district employee, acknowledged the superintendents and everyone in attendance and requested the award honoree for the Outstanding Female Educator of the Month Award to come to the podium to be acknowledged. “I would like for Mrs. Tyjauna Vance-Smith and company to please join me at the podium,” said McKissick-Larry. “We want to present an award to her along with her family. She’s from Westhaven Elementary, she’s a first-grade teacher! My hat is off to any first-grade teacher.” “Although she’s only been a first-grade teacher for two years, she has been a teacher for 20 years. She is married and is a member of Brown Baptist Church where Bartholomew Orr is the Senior Pastor. Smith enjoys traveling, shopping, enjoying group activities, and she also published a book.” “I self-published a book years ago and it’s entitled “I Remember Mama,” and its just a memoir I created to remember my grandmother,” said Smith. Tyjauna Vance-Smith’s book, I Remember Mama, was published (09/01/04) and is available on Amazon. She is known for always teaching the whole child. The program continued and after all the honorees were introduced and each person was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Shelby County Board of Commissioners signed by Commissioner Eddie S. Jones Jr. and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community, signed by the Tennessee 9th District Congressman, Steve Cohen, a prayer was given by a member in the audience, the program was adjourned, and dinner was served. Seated (from left) at the March 2019 Businesses United to Recognize Educators awards ceremony are Carolyn Pleasant, Vachenzia McKinney, Pat Moore, Ruby Payne, and Callie Clark; (Standing) Reverend Trennie Williams, John Shoemaker, Joe Dixon, James Bacchus, Dr. Joris Ray, Atty. Dorsey Hopson, Keith O. Williams, and John W. White. 19
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