First Baptist Church of Waycross welcomed new Ware County teachers, staff and board of education members to the new school year with a celebratory luncheon Tuesday, July 30.
The room was filled energy and excitement as the new teachers mingled, shared stories, broke bread and shared a prayer. Guests were greeted by District 3 BOE member Buster Tyre as they entered and were presented a gift goody bag. They led to a seat by smiling volunteers of First Baptist.
Photos by EJ POND
Summer Powell (left), a new teacher at Center Elementary, is welcomed by District 1 BOE representative Toni Nelson.
Liller Boone (left) and Brandon Foster are first-time teachers working at Ware County Middle School.
New Ruskin teachers Gracey Williams (left) and Sarah Holtlon both graduated from Ware County High School.
Ivey Joyner (left) and Megan Blackburn will be working at Wacona Elementary as kindergarten teachers.
Fifth-grade teacher Dee Dee Salgado (left) and Betsy Kinnon, who has been a parapro for 13 years, will be teaching at Wacona Elementary.
Lucy Barnes (right) granddaughter of District 3 BOE member Buster Tyre, and Isaiah Maggard of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., volunteered as greeters for the event. Maggard will attend Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., while Barnes will attend Johnson University in Knoxville, Tenn., in the fall.
