Local businesses and clubs stood on the steps of Rent Auditorium at Mississippi University for Women Tuesday and cheered as approximately 1,000 local teachers streamed into the hall.
It was the fifth annual Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce “Educators are Essential” event, a day created to honor, motivate and reward local educators.
Teachers from both public and private schools in the area were invited, according to Chamber director of programs and events Paige Corley.
The teachers arrived in droves. Many came in carpools. Columbus Municipal School District brought their teachers on buses.
Representatives from Columbus Air Force Base, BankFirst, Brickyard Properties, MUW, Century 21 Real Estate, Gunter Peel Funeral Home and other business came with signs of support for their local educators.
“It’s very exciting to see all the teachers,” Corley said. “Our goal was to make the teachers feel appreciated, and I think the businesses being here did that.”
Chair of the Chamber Education Committee Sue Jolly-Smith told the auditorium of teachers the Chamber wanted them to leave feeling valued by their community and encourage them going into a new school year.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders thanked the teachers and dedicated August 4 “Appreciation of Educators Day” in Columbus.
The Chamber handed out prizes to the greenest and most seasoned educators in the crowd. The last man standing on stage was Lowndes County School District vocational director Percy Lee, who has been teaching for 50 years.
“I don’t work, I have fun,” Lee told the crowd when Corley handed him the microphone and presented him with gift cards to local restaurants. “If you don’t enjoy it, you need to get out and find a job that’s right for you.”
The teachers were addressed by comedian Michael Edgar Myers, who, though he wasn’t the British film star, was quite funny. Myers talked to the teachers about injecting more humor into their classes to keep students engaged and energized.
“Humor is a higher order thinking skill,” Myers told the teachers.
He explained various techniques to inject appropriate humor into lessons to keep teachers and students happy using research-based methods. Myers said humor is proven to make people healthier, happier and more effective in their personal and professional lives.
The Chamber ended the event by giving away $500 cash to three teachers in a raffle. Petrice Virgil of Sale Elementary, Kettina Robinson of Columbus High School and Simeon Weatherby of West Lowndes High School were the winners.
Afterward, the teachers were able to take advantage of discounted rates at more than 20 local restaurants.
“I’m really excited the Chamber Education Committee has come together to support public and private education in Lowndes County,” said CMSD superintendent Dr. Philip Hickman.
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