MCBOE Recognizes Local Volunteers
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The Montgomery County Board of Education meeting was filled with gratitude and joy on October 22, as the Board thanked citizens who had worked as volunteers in relief efforts after Hurricane Helene.
“I think it is safe to say that we all woke up the morning after Hurricane Helene to something that none of us expected,” Superintendent Ronda Hightower told the attendees. “I was naïve enough to think that it was just my little area – I couldn’t get out of my street no matter what way I went. I thought if I could get enough neighbors with chainsaws to help cut my way out, then I could make it here [to the Board Office] for our called board meeting [that was scheduled on September 27]. I quickly recognized that it was devastation everywhere, and even worse here in Mount Vernon and Montgomery County.”
Hightower shared that upon realizing the scope of the destruction, school administrators quickly began reaching out to community partners, who stepped in to provide for those in need. “True to Montgomery County folks, people began to come out of the woodwork and say, ‘How could I help? What can I do?’” she remarked. “Some didn’t even ask – they just saw what needed to be done and jumped in and did it.”
Th e superintendent then directly addressed the audience, before giving them homemade cards, which had been crafted by students within the school system. “I appreciate you all coming here tonight. From the bottom of the Board’s and myhearts, thank you. Thank you for letting your own homes and businesses and things that needed to be done go so you could come here and serve our students, our teachers, and our community. Thank you does not seem enough for what you all and others came and did over that week and a half or so,” Hightower emphasized.
She also spoke of her admiration of the generosity shown by businesses and organizations to the county, as Builders FirstChoice; Dennard’s Drugs; Five Loaves and Two Fish; Crowley Cares; United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties; Dot Foods; Woodmen of the World Life Insurance; Tri-County Family Connection; and more. “I did see a lot of businesses put people over profit,” she told the crowd.
Hightower then turned her attention to members of the Montgomery County Schools custodial and maintenance departments, as she thanked these individuals for their service to the county’s distribution center, which set up its headquarters in the Mont- gomery County Middle/ High School parking lot.
“This team makes our school system work,” Hightower said. “I know [they] had things [they] should have been doing at home, but [they] were here from sun up to when the distribution center closed each day. I cannot thank [them] enough for what [they] do.”
As a token of her gratitude, Hightower gave each member of the department a keychain with a sentimental message to commemorate the event. The keychain read, “May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and the difference you make.”
After the recognitions of the volunteers, Board Chairman Henry Price surprised Hightower with her own recognition, as he presented her with a plaque to thank her for her service to the county and school system during the disaster.
“When we were getting ready to find a new superintendent, I found out about Dr. Hightower early. I asked people about her, and one of the things they always said were [she wore] high heels and [displayed] her Christian values. We walked the baseball field with an architect back during the summer, she had her high heels on. She was out here handing out stuff during the hurricane with high heels on,” Price shared with a laugh.
“Dr. Hightower goes above and beyond. She could have sat up there in Laurens County, but she came down here and helped her Montgomery County family out. Thank you, Dr. Hightower, for your leadership and service to us,” he concluded.
Hightower responded to the honor, emphasizing, “It’s where I wanted to be. It is an honor to get to lead you all.”
THANKING CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE STAFF – Members of the Montgomery County Board of Education thank each member of the district’s custodial and maintenance staff for their work during Hurricane Helene relief efforts.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
LEADING AND SERVING – Montgomery County Board of Education Chairman Henry Price (left) presented Superintendent Ronda Hightower (right) with a plaque to thank her for her leadership and service throughout Hurricane Helene.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
