Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Superintendent Jackson Implementing Innovation #VANCECoProud
New school superintendent Dr. Anthony D. Jackson has hit the ground running with many new and innovative ideas in the works for Vance County Schools. These ideas put into motion will focus on ensuring that all children receive the absolute best education they can receive while attending the Vance County Public School System. Two major ideas involve safety and instructional changes at schools.
As a top priority, the system will focus on improving safety in all of our schools. Beginning next school year, all schools will be equipped with state-of-the art access control equipment at the main entrance. This will require all school visitors to show ID, and to state their business, prior to being allowed in. Additionally, for the first time, state certified School Resource Officers (SRO’s) will be assigned to each of the middle and high schools in the system.
The district is also launching an alternative program for students who have had disciplinary problems or not met success in the regular school program. The focus of the program is to support students as they work to develop the skills needed to return to their regular learning environment. Dr. Jackson believes that students who misbehave should face consequences for their actions but should still be afforded the opportunity to continue their academic progress while working to address the reasons they were suspended from their school in the first place.
Dr. Jackson said, “We don’t want kids to go home and just sit around. This doesn’t correct or even come close to addressing what caused them to be sent home in the first place. We want the issues to be addressed and we want students to learn from the consequence, so that they may return to school a better student and hopefully a better person. We want them to grow as individuals.”
To support parents, the district is also planning to open a Parent Support Center this fall. The Parent Support Center will serve as a central place for parents to support one another with resources and training to help them navigate the school experience. A special feature of the Parent Support Center will be parent training. This training – Parenting Partners – will be delivered by other parents going through the training. It is designed to help parents develop the skills and access the tools to best help their children.
Dr. Jackson is also a big advocate of the arts. Jackson said, “I was surprised to find that we were not offering music and art in all of our elementary schools.” As a passionate believer in the power of the arts, Jackson understands that in order for students to realize the importance of music, art, and theatre they must be exposed to these art forms as early as possible.
He promised parents that “music and art will be offered in all elementary schools next year, and in all middle and high schools the following year.” He also hopes eventually to incorporate drama into that equation. He said, “McGregor Hall in Downtown Henderson is a great asset to the community and our children. We have a responsibility to begin building the next generation of lovers and patrons of the arts to sustain and keep this community treasure alive and viable”.
When asked what the greatest challenges for our school system are, Dr. Jackson said he felt that mindset is the biggest obstacle. Three major mindset obstacles are “getting people to really believe that we can change, celebrating what we’re already doing well, and coming to consensus on what needs to be done to make positive change happen.”
Dr. Jackson comes from a background of 28 years as an educator. He started his career as a teacher in Wake County teaching vocal music at Enloe High School and Sanderson High School. He was an assistant principal at Sanderson High School and Leesville Road High School before becoming the principal at Durham High in Durham, NC, Mt. Vernon Middle School and Glen Lea Elementary School in Richmond, VA followed by serving as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School in Washington, DC.
He served in several senior leadership positions at the district level prior to being selected as the superintendent of the Henry County Public Schools in Martinsville, VA. Dr. Jackson also served as superintendent of the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools in Rocky Mount for four years prior to coming to Vance County this past August. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from N.C. Central University and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Jackson feels that his greatest strengths lie in implementing innovation to support student learning and challenging the status quo to improve systems and outcomes.
Staff Writer for WIZS
Wendy’s of Henderson to Close: Remodel
Not to worry, the Wendy’s in Henderson will be back in the burger business in a few months.
Wendy’s will re-open its completely renovated restaurant at 1516 Dabney Drive in June if all goes well. The Henderson restaurant will be Tar Heel Capital Wendy’s, twentieth location to re-open with this new design in the Carolina’s.
This restaurant features an innovative interior and exterior design that is very different from what Wendy’s customers are familiar with. This restaurant design is part of a comprehensive brand transformation to reinvent the Wendy’s restaurant environment – from food innovations, to building design and even new packaging.
This contemporary building features large windows and an open, bright dining room with available seating at booths, tables, lounge style seating, and even a Wi-Fi bar. When you come into the restaurant you will see there is a new ordering process, Flat Screen TV’s, a fireplace, Coca-Cola Freestyle self-serve soda machine, which is very different from the basic seating and interior of the prior building.
One of Wendy’s core values, created 40 years ago by our founder Dave Thomas, is “Quality is our Recipe,” we feel that this core value is represented by our new restaurant design, and evidenced by the launch of several innovative items, such as the 4 for $4 meal deal and the recent Jalapeno Fresco Spicy Chicken sandwich with Ghost Pepper Fries. These brand enhancements are exciting to us and we look forward to sharing these with our guests from the Henderson area.
About Wendy’s
The Wendy’s Company is the world’s third largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy’s system includes more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and 27 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. The Wendy’s in Henderson is owned and operated by Tar Heel Capital Corporation, a 72 unit Wendy’s Franchise with restaurants throughout the Carolina’s.
(This Press Release was used with Permission by Tar Heel Capital)
Henderson Native Tremendous Asset to UNC
Henderson native Andy Johns has been recognized for distinguished service to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Johns is one of just six members of the UNC faculty and staff to earn the distinction in 2016.
Link to Full UNC Article about Johns
Link to Full UNC Article about each Recipient
(Republished with permission from the NC TraCS Institute. Full credit for the picture and content belongs to UNC.)
Six employees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected by Chancellor Carol L. Folt to receive the 2016 C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, one of the most coveted distinctions earned by faculty and staff.
“The Massey Award is one of the most heartfelt recognitions we have,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “It honors our very best, the people whose hard work, care for others and dedication sets the standard of excellence that we think of when we think of Carolina. We thank them for their incredible contributions.”
The late C. Knox Massey of Durham created the awards in 1980 to recognize “unusual, meritorious or superior contributions” by University employees. In 1984, he joined the families of his son, Knox Massey Jr., and daughter, Kay Massey Weatherspoon, to create the Massey-Weatherspoon fund. Income from the fund supports the Massey Awards and Carolina Seminars.
Chosen from campus-wide nominations, the Massey Award recipients will be honored at a luncheon hosted by Chancellor Folt on April 16. Each will receive a $7,500 stipend and an award citation. This year’s recipients are:
- Randi R. Byrd, Community Engagement Coordinator, American Indian Center
- Angelette Cheek, Housekeeping Day Porter, Kenan Center
- Renita Corbett, Housekeeper, School of Dentistry
- Andy Johns, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
- Michael McFarland, Director of University Relations, Office of Communications and Public Affairs
- Joy J. Renner, Associate Professor and Director for Radiologic Science, Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine
As Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Andy Johns leads Carolina in its mission to become the preeminent public research university in the nation, and he is the heart behind the technology making it happen. Johns joined Carolina 16 years ago as an SPA computer consultant and is now responsible for strategic planning, research policy, infrastructure and regulatory compliance. Praised for University-wide collaboration, he is roundly credited with developing systems that change the way Carolina functions as a research-intensive university. “UNC ranks seventh in the country for NIH funding, much of it due to Andy’s incredible work,” wrote a nominator.
HPD Helps Raise Money for Kids Cancer Research
(Over 100) Local Volunteers Go Bald to Support Childhood Cancer Research
The 3rd Annual FOP/HPD St. Baldrick’s Day Event and The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-powered organization dedicated to raising money for children’s cancer research, will host one of its signature head-shaving events at 200 Breckenridge Street Henderson, NC on April 9, 2016, where more than 50 “shavees” will shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer and raise money for lifesaving research.
Every 3 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer; one in five won’t survive, and those who do often suffer long-term effects from treatments too harsh for their developing bodies. Kids are special, and at St. Baldrick’s we treat them that way. From its beginnings, St. Baldrick’s has believed that kids deserve the chance to be kids – fun-loving, carefree, refreshingly honest, and always a little goofy – and deserve the chance at a future. That’s why donations raised at events like this have made it possible for St. Baldrick’s to fund more than $178 million to support the development of childhood cancer treatments that are as unique as every kid.
The 3rd Annual FOP/HPD St. Baldrick’s Day event will include, head shaving, Ronnie and Amy Shirley from Lizard Lick Towing, raffle prizes, 50/50 raffle, Cornhole tournament, Dunking Booth, Chris Leith monster truck, food, games and prizes.
We have raised over $33,000.00 the past two years. Please join us this year and help us achieve our goal of $10,000.00. Every dollar helps!!!!
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation believes that kids are special and deserve to be treated that way. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to innovative explorers who bring with them the promise of a future free from childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best cancer treatments for kids.
Police Chase Press Release
On Tuesday, April 05, 2016, Henderson Police Officers were dispatched to 101 N. Cooper Drive in response to a robbery that had just occurred. David Lee Bean, 24, 550 Wakefield Avenue, Henderson reported he had been robbed and provided responding officers with a description of a suspect vehicle.
Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle on Dabney Drive. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle at which time the driver sped away. Units with the Henderson Police Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol then pursued the vehicle in an attempt to apprehend the suspects. The pursuit concluded in Granville County after the suspects wrecked their vehicle near the Revlon Plant on Highway 158.
After further investigation, Henderson Police have determined that a robbery in fact had not occurred but another felonious offense had. Henderson Police have charged the driver Jarquise Vontrell Thorpe, 25, 104 W. Westbury Drive, Oxford with Felonious Obtaining Property By False Pretense.
Thorpe was placed in the Vance County Jail after failing to post a 20,000.00 secured bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 10, 2016.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Henderson Police Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol. All offenses in regard to the pursuit were handled by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Additional charges in this matter may be forth coming.
Press Release – Authority: Chief Marcus Barrow