DeKalb County High School wrapped up its monthly awards last week by recognizing the teacher, student, and parents of the month for not only March, but also April. The March awards were delayed due to spring break and other delays at the school. Each recipient of the award was presented with a certificate from the school, along with a gift card from El Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Smithville.
Freshman Alejandro Avalos Godinez was named the March Student of the Month, voted on by the teachers. The son of Alejandra and Victor Godinez, Alejandro said he is honored by the award.
“Alejandro is another great example of one of our exceptional students here,” said Assistant Principal Thomas Cagle. “He had lots of teacher nominations and was able to secure the vote from the teachers which is how we choose this award. He is a bright spot in our hallways, and we look forward to more years of Alejandro bringing more to our school and what he will do when he leaves our school. We are very excited for him and glad that we were able to share this award with him.”
Alejandro plays saxophone for the Fighting Tiger Band, is a member of the DCHS Science and Skills Clubs, and said English is his favorite subject. He plans on attending trade school and becoming an auto mechanic after graduating.
“It feels great knowing that the teachers and staff like me and that they think I am a great example to other students in the school,” Godinez said.
Kason Wheeler was named as the March Teacher of the Month, which is selected by the school administration.
“Kason is an outstanding guy to have around,” Cagle explained. “He is also an assistant football coach. He fills in whenever we need him to. He is a great teacher and really keeps the kids involved in the classroom whether its wellness or PE. He is always looking for ways to help us out. We couldn’t be happier to have him on board as part of our staff. Kason is really deserving of this award voted on my me, Principal Bruce Curtis, and Assistant Principal Jenny Norris.”
Originally from Red Boiling Springs, Wheeler attended Tennessee Tech where he earned his undergraduate in 2019, and received his Master’s degree just last week. “It’s a huge honor to be recognized,” said Wheeler. “I love being here with the staff and administration. I teach PE and wellness and I am an assistant football coach.”
“I was really blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to move here and work with everyone including Coach Steve Trapp and the football staff and others in the PE department. I couldn’t be happier to be here.”
The Parent or Guardian of the Month award was presented to Lynda Hamilton after an essay was presented by her grandson, 15-year-old Jerett Hamilton.
“Jerett’s was just one of those essays that really shined to me when we were reading through it and we want to thank Mrs. Hamilton for all she does for Jerett and her other son Trace. She does an excellent job, and they are two fine young men at our school, and we can’t thank her enough for all she does for them,” said Cagle.
“I take a lot of pride in the essays for parent or guardian of the month,” Cagle continued. “I think this is really something exceptional for the students to take some time out of their day and do this because it is not for a grade or extra credit. It’s nothing we make them do but they take the time out of their day to write and tell us about the amazing things that their parents or guardians are doing for them at home and outside of school that we are not aware of all the time. For them to be able to do that and to recognize their parents or guardians is something really special and I think it is really amazing that our students do this for their parents and guardians.”
Jerett said he wrote this essay to honor his grandmother and let her know how proud he is of her. “I took the time to write it during my study hall. I just felt like writing it. She is always really nice. She cooks for us, picks us up and takes us places. I am proud of her.”
Jerett’s favorite subject is math and he said enjoys being on the high school football team where he plays at receiver and as a defensive lineman.
Mrs. Hamilton said she was surprised by the honor. “It was a really big surprise, and I am very moved by it. I am very proud of Jerett. He has really matured more this year. Like all teenagers, there are obstacles, but he is growing,” said Mrs. Hamilton.
DCHS also presented its final monthly awards for the month of April, with junior Evelyn Mitchell named as Student of the Month.
“Evelyn’s name is heard quite a bit around the school,” Cagle said. “All the teachers who have Evelyn in school, love her being in their classes. Not only does she actively participate in class, but teachers see her as a future leader. She works incredibly hard and is respectful of the school and others around her. We couldn’t be prouder to present her with the award as Student of the Month.”
Mitchell, daughter of Steve and Sara Mitchell of Smithville, and a member of the DCHS Beta Club. She said she plans on pursuing a career in the healthcare field.
“I am really excited,” Mitchell said. “I wasn’t expecting it. This is my first year here. I just moved here from Louisiana last summer and I really like it. All of my family is from here. I have really enjoyed being in school here and I am happy the teachers chose me for this honor.”
For the Teacher of the Month award, DCHS decided to present co-award winners to Coaches Joey Agee and Cody Randolph.
Agee formerly served as Assistant DeKalb West School Principal and is a former DeKalb Middle School boys’ basketball coach. Randolph came over to DCHS from DeKalb Middle School where he also served as the boys’ basketball coach. Both coaches teach wellness and physical education at DCHS.
“Coaches Agee and Randolph are our boys’ basketball coaching staff as well as our PE and wellness teachers and these guys go through a lot,” Cagle explained. “Unfortunately we don’t always have the amount of subs we probably need all the time, so many times the gym gets full with some extra classes and these guys are always more than willing to help us out anyway they can, whether it’s helping with giving tests during testing time, helping watch additional classes, lending me some strong students to help move things around, whatever it is, these two guys have been exceptional this year and it’s been an honor to have them as part of our staff here and to be able to work with them this year and get to know them better and we could not be happier that they are here and part of our staff and we hope they want to stay for a long time.”
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized as Co-Teacher of the Month,” Agee said. “I know what these guys go through having been in administration for eight years. There are times you need help and when you have staff willing to help you in any way, it makes your job a lot easier. This is my 20th year in the school system, but my first year here at DCHS and I have enjoyed it.”
“I am grateful for this honor,” Randolph added. “Being able to help in any way possible is what we want to do with the kids as well as the staff and administration. Any way we can help, we want to pitch in.”
The April Parent or Guardian of the Month award was presented to Kelley Hollingsworth, based on a winning essay written by her granddaughter, 16-year-old Matty Hollingsworth.
“Much like our other essays this year, Matty’s was just one that reached out to me,” Cagle said. “She really talks about some of the things she has had to overcome as far as with school and life and things outside of school. Reading these essays gives me a chance to know kids like Matty a lot better as well as their families and to learn of the amazing things their families are doing for them and the things they have to go through each and every day. Matty and Kelly are an example of that and them overcoming some of those difficulties. It’s wonderful to see them and so many other supportive families, parents, and guardians out there willing to do what it takes to get these kids through school and through life. Kelley does a great job helping Matty and helping her see the importance of what she can become and what she can be when she leaves school.”
Matty, who has a twin sister Mallory, is a member of the FFA and Spanish Club at DCHS and her future goal is to become a lawyer. “My grandmother is a really kind person,” Matty said. “She is nice to everybody she talks to or comes to our house. She hands out blankets and food to homeless people in the community. She is really sweet, so I just wrote in my essay all the things I thought make her a special person.”
“I was really shocked but I am blessed and honored,” said Kelley. “I had no idea Matty was doing this. Matty is awesome. She wants to be a lawyer and I know she will get to do it.”
Hollingsworth said she and her husband of 43 years have raised two other grandchildren. “We enjoy our grandkids. They keep us young. I just want them to do the best in life. None of my kids ever graduated from high school, but I plan to see two granddaughters graduate and walk the line next year and I am proud of that and them.”
