"Notes from your Principal" by Betty Stokes

This is a collection of the Principal's Notes
published in the school's newspaper, the
Trunnell Tiger Times, from 1990-2005.

Stokes' Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Support Staff Award

Anita Atwell receives my Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Support Staff Award. Anita was the president of Trunnell's PTA for two years. She worked on our PTA Board all the years that we had Justin & Megan, her children. When I heard that Anita was ready to go back to work, I scooped her up to assist in our 4th grade classrooms. At my first opportunity, I brought her into the office and made her my secretary. All the parents loved her. Anita knew the neighborhood and families. She always greeted everyone with a cheery smile, even if they forgot to give one back.

Stokes' Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Plant Operator Award

My Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Plant Operator Award goes to Harold Davis. When I was a teacher, I had no idea how important the plant operator was nor all the responsibilities one had. Harold took pride in his work and our school. He managed to keep great relationships with his staff. Most things just got done without my ever asking. If there was something I needed, it was done that day or the next. All records were up to date when we had any kind of safety inspection from the county or state. I could just put all those worries away and concentrate on the children and their parents. Thanks Harold for being there! You're a great guy!

Stokes' Trunnell Elementary Outstanding FRC Coordinator Award

Anthony Adams is the winner of my Trunnell Elementary Outstanding FRC Coordinator Award. He organized sports teams, took care of our at risk families, assisted staff with difficult cases, gave me great back-up, and totally interacted with all the children. Whenever I was weary with a restless child, Anthony would come and give me a break. All these things he did and more with a smile on his face. I never heard him say no and I never saw him frown.

Stokes' Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Counselor Award

Bill Hughes gets my Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Counselor Award. When I taught special education at Knight Middle School, Bill was one of our counselors. Whenever I had a young man that I couldn't manage, Bill came in a flash to assist. When I took the entire Special Education Department camping, Bill came along and helped with activities and discipline. He was 'Captain of the Campfires'. After his retirement, he came to Trunnell Elementary to help me in the office. Bill brought heart and kindness to the job. All the teachers loved him. He could straight talk with parents and staff with no offense taken.

Stokes' Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Teacher Award

Pat Dave gets my Trunnell Elementary Outstanding Teacher Award. She was the teacher with a heart. She was always happy, never complained. She saw good and potential in every child. Every year she spent bunches of her own money on Christmas gifts & treats for her students. After her retirement, she adopted a special education class at Middletown Elementary. Pat invited these children to her home each year and fed them a Christmas dinner complete with Santa plus gifts. She also returned to us at Trunnell to run the Community Scholars program for many years.

I loved being the principal at Trunnell Elementary. It was endlessly hard work, but the wonderful memories are everlasting. Here I am with one of my Safety Patrol groups.

In 2003, all of Trunnell Elementary kicked off a three year study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We read about Lewis & Clark, mapped the trip, followed timelines for each day, put on plays in the classroom, and wrote about the 200 year old adventure. Our reading scores took a huge leap forward at the end of the first year of this project. Teacher Shelley Corder helped me produce a musical presentation that amazed the parents. They were on their feet tossing money at us when we took our final bow. I submitted an article to the Courier Journal's BEST column to recommend a novel, "From Sea to Shining Sea". I was so excited when it was accepted. I was even more thrilled to receive a personal letter from the book's author, James Alexander Thom. Someone from Louisville had mailed him a copy of my article.

I put color everywhere I could in Trunnell's building. This is a puppet stage I had made for the school library. I put colorful banners in the halls, murals, a diorama of the community's history, giant pencils framing each doorway, and framed artifacts hung in the hallways. I made sure each classroom had new furniture that matched. I purchased brand new furniture for the library and remodeled the computer lab. I put eye catching red in the computer lab.

I developed an Academic Patches program for Trunnell's students. The PTA helped with the funding. After each report card, we would invite the children and their family to Recognition Night to be acknowledged for all the positive things that had been accomplished during the grading period. The goal was to have accomplishments for every child.

I created the Community Scholars program to offer difficult curriculum to students that needed a challenge. This group had just successfully completed a Shakespeare production. We also researched the community's history, produced an old time radio show, had a mock trial for Hanzel and Gretel, studied algebra/chemistry, and produced a major musical production to celebrate the anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Great fun!

Every morning we would broadcast a 'Morning Show' from the school library. I delivered the morning announcements and would sometimes use hand puppets to explain something important to the children. In this photo, I'm interviewing Jessica Vautard.

Trunnell Elementary had at least two evening programs a month. We had student performances, PTA presentations, Recognition Nights, a Family Sweetheart Dance, and Boy Scouts. In this photo, I am introducing a student production for the holidays.

Betty

Elizabeth Ann Southard (Stokes)

born: 1950 at Baptist Hospital in Louisville, KY

education: Middletown Elementary School, Eastern High School, B.A in Education from the University of Kentucky, M.A. in Special Education from University of Kentucky, and a Rank I in Administration from the University of Louisville

parents: John Blackburn Southard Sr (born in Muhlenberg County, KY in 1915)

Dorothy Elizabeth Wolfe Southard (born in Christian County, Ky in 1916)

sibling: John Blackburn Southard Jr (born: August 21, 1947/died: August 2008)

married: John Leslie Stokes, July 8, 1972 in Louisville, KY (divorced: March 1985)

daughters: Leslie Ann Stokes (June 24, 1977) and Amy Elizabeth Stokes (April 13, 1980)

career: taught at Second Street School in Frankfort, KY ('72-'75); taught in Jefferson County Public Schools ('75-'86); promoted to Gheens Academy ('86-'90); promoted to Principal of Trunnell Elementary ('90-2005); taught at Louisville Collegiate School ('05-'08); started a small business: The One Room Schoolhouse in 2008

children's author: Postcards from William and Postcards from George

Betty was born in 1950, Elizabeth Ann Southard at the Old Baptist Hospital on Barret Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. Her parents, John B. & Dorothy Wolfe Southard resided in the old Lynn Acres Apartment. They soon relocated in Middletown, KY. Her grandparents were James Alvin & Bess Lander Hopson Wolfe of Christian County and Volva & Belle Luckett Southard of Muhlenburg County (both in Kentucky).

Betty attended Eastern High School where she participated in marching band. She also served on the school yearbook staff as Assistant Editor her junior year & Editor her senior year. Betty was part of a student exchange program to England and Scotland her junior year. This exchange program was sponsored by the English Speaking Union. She was recognized with the PTA Award for diligence, character & dependability at graduation. At the University of Kentucky, Betty was honored as Phi Kappa Tau Dreamgirl; served on the Student Center Board (chairing the Little Kentucky Derby Festival); Vice-President in '70 & President in 1971 of Associated Women Students; President of Alpha Xi Delta sorority '71-72; and was recognized as one of Five Top Senior Women for 1972. She received her B.A. degree in Education ('72) and a M.A. degree in Special Education ('76) from the University of Kentucky. After 15 years in the classroom, Betty earned a Rank I in Administration from University of Louisville in 1989.

After marrying John Leslie Stokes in 1972, Betty lived in Lexington, Kentucky for three years. The couple then took up residence in St. Matthews, Kentucky in 1975. From this union were born Leslie Ann Stokes (hospital chaplain, NYU Research Hospital) and Amy Elizabeth Stokes (high school mathematics teacher).

As a long time educator in the Louisville area, Betty started in the classroom at Second Street School, Frankfort, Kentucky in 1972. In 1975, she returned to Louisville to teach at Knight Middle School for nine years and Byck Elementary for four. She then promoted to Jefferson County Public School Central Office/Gheens Academy where she served until promoting to a principalship at Trunnell Elementary School in 1990. She retired from public school education with 33 years experience in 2005. While working in public education, Betty was awarded over $75,000 in grant dollars through the years. She was recognized by the Jefferson County School District as a candidate for Outstanding Kentucky Special Education Teacher in 1983; awarded Outstanding Social Studies Teacher by the Kentucky Council of Social Studies Teachers in 1985; and recognized as Outstanding Teacher for Environmental Education by the Kentucky Environmental Education Association in 1988, plus served as its president in 1989. The National Education Association (NEA) recognized Mrs. Stokes with their A+ Award and she received a Stand Up Award from the Jefferson County Board of Education. The latter two recognitions were for neighborhood history projects that she initiated and designed. From 1987 to 1990, the Jefferson County Board of Education entrusted Betty with the task of creating two magnet programs (math & performing arts) at six different elementary schools. From 1990-2005, as a principal at Trunnell Elementary, the school's enrollment more than doubled and test scores continually progressed.

After retiring from public education, Betty joined the faculty at Louisville Collegiate School. She published a children's book, Postcards from William (William Clark writes home from the Lewis & Clark Expedition) in 2006. This historical fiction was a collection of charming postcards from William, written to George Rogers Clark at Clark's Point, Falls of the Ohio to chronicle the Lewis and Clark Expedition and create its ties to Louisville, Kentucky. Her book presented a new take on the expedition of 1803-1806 with colorful postcards sent to General George Rogers Clark, creating a timeline of events. The book sells at the Kentucky History Museum, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Historic Locust Grove, The Falls of the Ohio Museum, Amazon, Marcum's Gallery in Anchorage, South Bayly Boutique in Crescent Hill, various bookstores and her own One Room Schoolhouse. Betty took part in the Kentucky Book Fair each year. In 2008, Betty went on to develop a small business, The One Room Schoolhouse, at the Mellwood Art Center. She offers various classes for adults & youth, promotes her books, and has developed a teacher consignment. In 2009, she is publishing Postcards from George (General George Rogers Clark writes to his family).

Activities and memberships outside of work: served as President of the Kentucky Environmental Education Association, contributor and member of the Filson Historical Society, Friend of Locust Grove contributor and member, Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association (JCRTA), Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA), the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, served as President of Fellowship Class, Chairman of Library Committee & Youth Board member at Beargrass Christian Church, and member of the John Marshall Chapter of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Betty presently operates a studio at the Mellwood Art Center on Mellwood Avenue.