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Chandler Kearsey Awarded Quincy Mills Scholarship to Pursue Dreams at ECU

Chandler Kearsey is the first recipient of the Quincy Markel Mills Scholarship, an award named after a young man whose life ended tragically.

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Chandler Kearsey Quincy Mills Scholarship Warren County NC Warrenist
Chandler Kearsey (center), the first recipient of the Quincy Mills Scholarship, pictured with Velma Richardson and Walter Mills, father of the late Quincy Mills / Crystal Myrick (Warrenist)

Chandler Kearsey, a recent graduate of Warren Early College High School (WECHS), has been named the recipient of the first Quincy Markel Mills Scholarship, one that will help her pursue higher education at East Carolina University (ECU). Kearsey was awarded $750, which she will use to support her studies as she embarks on her journey toward a degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources.

Following in the footsteps of her father, Kearsey has set her sights on a career in Human Resources and wants to work with a Fortune 500 company. She stated she chose ECU for its diverse campus and the range of opportunities that align with her career aspirations.

The Quincy Mills Scholarship is named in honor of Quincy Mills, a 19-year-old whose life was tragically cut short in 2023. His father, Walter Mills described his son as “a good kid with a big, bright smile and everybody loved him.” Eric Copeland, a friend of the family initiated the idea to start a scholarship in Mills’s name, and received the approval from Walter. With the help of Eric’s wife, Jackie, they were able to implement it. The initial scholarship amount was set to be $500 until local Warren County group, The Brotherhood contributed an additional $250, making it a total of $750.

Copeland stated the scholarship was established to keep his memory alive and support students in their pursuit of higher education. The scholarship committee, composed of Larry Jones, Jr. and Shrounda Douglas-Riddick selected Kearsey based on being thorough in her application, and also her academic achievements, community involvement, and clear vision for her future.

WECHS principal, Shena Judkins described Kearsey as an “amazing student with a heart for people.”

Kearseyโ€™s ambition, coupled with the support of the Quincy Mills Scholarship, places her on a promising path toward achieving her dreams. As she prepares to start her freshman year at ECU, Kearsey is eager to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.

To read more about Quincy Mills, read this RRDailyHerald.com article.

Chandler Kearsey Awarded Quincy Mills Scholarship

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Crystal Myrick has always been curious by nature and enjoys sharing discoveries with her audience. As the creator and editor of The Warrenist, an engaging and emerging hyperlocal digital media outlet centered on her rural community, her content is in celebration of the art, culture, lifestyle, and people of Warren County, North Carolina as well as bring awareness to local and national issues. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Education

ALL SMILES: Dr. Carol Montague-Davis Meet + Greet (Photos)

Check out the photos to see who stopped by Dr. MD’s Meet and Greet!

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Carol Montague Davis Rodney Pierce Meet and Greet Warren County Schools NC Warrenist September 9 2024
Warren County Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Carol Montague Davis and State Representative-Elect Rodney Pierce / Crystal Myrick (Warrenist)

You’re never fully dressed without a smile. – “Annie” and Dr. Carol Montague-Davis

If that is the case, people who attended the meet and greet for Interim Superintendent Dr. Carol Montague-Davis were dressed to the nines! Warren County Schools hosted a well attended event for the community to meet or become reacquainted with “Dr. MD.”

Check out the photos below to see who stopped by!

Dr. Carol Montague-Davis Meet and Greet (September 9, 2024)

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Education

NC Governor’s Office Donates School Supplies to WCMS

North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Communications Director Tammy Martin delivered school supplies to Warren County Middle School as part of the Governor Roy Cooper’s School Supply Drive

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Warren County Middle School Governor Cooper School Supplies Donation September 10 2024 Warrenist
Warren County Schools staff and WCMS students with NCDMV representative Tammy Martin accepting school supplies donation. / Crystal Myrick (Warrenist)

North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Communications Director Tammy Martin delivered school supplies to Warren County Middle School as part of the Governor Roy Cooper’s School Supply Drive (September 10th).

Warren County Middle School Governor Cooper School Supplies Donation September 10 2024 Warrenist

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Warren County Schools State Test Results Show Improvement… But Much More is Needed

Warren County Schools list initiatives to improve proficiency rates.

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warren county schools north carolina nc warrenist
Warren County Schools / Crystal Myrick (Warrenist)

The NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) presented state test results for the 2023-24 school year to the State Board of Education on Sept. 4. While NCDPI continues to classify Warren County Schools as a Low Performing District, there are some areas of improvement to celebrate.

How scores are calculated and categorized
As a reminder, 80 percent of the NCDPI school performance grade comes from the percentage of students performing at or above grade level. Only 20 percent of the grade reflects how much students’ test scores improved from the previous year, also known as their growth rate. Schools can show growth, while still not meeting proficiency targets.

Warren County Schools 2023-24 school performance results at a glance:

DISTRICT RESULTS

* For the third consecutive year, the districtโ€™s overall student performance score has increased to 29.5 percent in 2023-24.
* Our overall English II proficiency score improved to 54 percent in 2023-24 from 50 percent the year before.
* The districtโ€™s overall proficiency score in 5th-grade science jumped to 41.4 percent in 2023-24 from 25.8 percent in 2022-23.
* Our districtโ€™s overall math proficiency score improved from 22.7 to 25.8 percent.

The most significant jump was in high school Math III scores, increasing from 23.5 in 2022-23 to 40 percent in 2023-24.

Other math proficiency score improvements
warren county schools math proficiency scores 2022 2023 2024 nc

SCHOOL RESULTS

Warren Early College High School (WECHS) earned an A grade and exceeded its expected growth in academic performance for the second straight year in the schoolโ€™s history.
Warren County High School (WCHS) met its growth targets, improved its overall student performance score, and maintained a D grade.

Seventy-eight percent of WCHS students graduated within four years, and when given five years, the graduation rate jumps to 82 percent.

Vaughan Elementary (VES) maintained a D grade even though NCDPI reports the school did not meet its growth targets. However, VES 5th graders nearly doubled their science proficiency scores from 38.4 percent in 2022-23 to 73.7 percent in 2023-24. That significant improvement is not calculated in the overall student performance scores because the schoolโ€™s 5th-grade class was smaller than 30 students.

AREAS OF FOCUS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT

* Only 29.5 percent of our students are performing at or above grade level.

* NCDPI identifies five of our six schools as low-performing (all but WECHS).

* Mariam Boyd Elementary (MBES), Northside Elementary (NES), and Warren County Middle (WCMS) schools have an F school performance grade.

* MBES, NES, VES, and WCMS did not meet student improvement (growth) expectations.

* Most reading-level proficiency scores across the district declined.

INITIATIVES IMPROVING OUR PROFICIENCY RATES

* Elementary schools rearranged class schedules in 2023-24 to teach core subjects in the morning when students are typically more alert and engaged. This strategy helped improve elementary science scores.

* Weโ€™re providing tutoring throughout the school year and enhanced summer learning opportunities to help students performing below grade level.

* Weโ€™ve hired Instructional Coaches and Master Teachers to show classroom teachers proven strategies to help students learn difficult concepts and subjects.

* Weโ€™re using data-driven instruction to identify studentsโ€™ individual strengths and areas where we need to improve that studentโ€™s understanding.

* The district is working to foster partnerships with community organizations and volunteers to provide students with additional learning opportunities, experiences, and individualized support (or attention).

* Weโ€™re strengthening relationships between school staff and studentsโ€™ families so we can all work together to meet our childrenโ€™s physical, mental, and emotional needs.

โ€œFor Warren County Schools to truly reflect our studentsโ€™ capabilities, we need parents, teachers, staff, and the community to work together to ignite childrenโ€™s passion for learning so each one can meet their true potential,โ€ said Interim Superintendent Dr. Carol Montague-Davis.

Warren County Schools acknowledges our need to significantly improve the levels of teaching and learning in our schools. We also believe the stateโ€™s grading and classification system does not accurately reflect our districtโ€™s academic performance. Two of our six schools are too small for studentsโ€™ scores to be included in the stateโ€™s formula to calculate student proficiency and academic growth. VES and WECHS have several classes with less than 30 students, so their scores arenโ€™t included in their proficiency or growth scores. Both scores would be higher if VES and WECHS student achievement results were included.

NCDPI notes that the information in the School Report Card, while important, cannot tell you the entire story about a school. Other important factors โ€” the extra hours put in by teachers preparing for class and grading assignments, the school spirit felt by families, the involvement in sports, arts, or other extracurriculars – are crucial aspects of a school community, but are not reflected in these test results and classifications.

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Ed. Note: Warren County Schools students, teachers, and staff are to be commended for their efforts and their success in making noticeable strides in reaching their objectives. We know it is not easy. As a community, we are proud of you all, and we look forward to seeing how the new initiatives impact proficiencies.

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