La Grange, North Lenoir staffers honored with top annual awards

Lenoir County Public Schools has opened its 2021-2022 awards season by honoring the hard work and impact of two staff members who have carved out careers with the school district and touched the lives of hundreds of students over a combined three decades of service.

Fane S. Greenfield, a teacher assistant in the Exceptional Children’s program at North Lenoir High School, is the 2021-2022 LCPS Teacher Assistant of the Year; and Tysha DuBose, cafeteria manager at La Grange Elementary School, is the 2021-2022 LCPS Non-Instructional Classified Staff of the Year.

Both were chosen for the awards during a process that began with nominations from schools, submission of an information form to a panel of judges comprised of district administrators and a virtual interview of each candidate by the judges. Greenfield and DuBose learned of their awards Tuesday when a prize patrol – Superintendent Brent Williams, Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Harvey II and Human Resources Director Pam Heath – surprised them at their schools.

Greenfield is a three-time Teacher Assistant of the Year selection at North Lenoir and a member of the School Improvement Team. He has worked with the school district for 17 years and has 14 years’ experience in his current position. He assists teacher Gail Jernigan “with the multiple duties that this class demands,” as he wrote in his application.

Those duties include supporting Zoom sessions with students, contacting parents of students to ensure engagement, delivering paper lessons for students who do not have reliable internet connection and driving a bus. “This is a difficult time for all and I must carry a positive attitude to be a team player,” Greenfield wrote.

DuBose has been an LCPS employee for 13 year and has led the cafeteria staff at La Grange Elementary for the past two years. She is a member of the School Nutrition Association and stays current on best practices with training through the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals and the Institute of Child Nutrition.

“I am so happy and proud of Mrs. DuBose! She is so deserving of this award,” LCPS Child Nutrition Director Danelle Smith said. “She is very intentional in providing great customer service to all students and school staff. She ensures that all the food safety regulations and policies are followed by the whole cafeteria team. Her great attitude and sheer happiness are infectious to everyone she meets and set the tone in her kitchen every day for a positive work environment.”

La Grange principal Lorene Bell calls DeBose a “role model for her staff” and considers her “popular with the entire school staff” because of her can-do attitude.

“She comes in early each day and works hard to ensure meals are ready on time for our students. Tysha has a pleasant, good tempered spirit, and keeps calm in stressful situations,” Bell said.

Greenfield is similarly valued at his school.

“Mr. Greenfield has a heart for students and is a positive influence to many,” North Lenoir principal Gil Respess said. “His students and colleagues love and respect him. Even though he prefers to work behind the scenes, he makes a tremendous impact in the classroom and throughout the school. We are blessed to have him as a member of our Hawk family.”

Julie Hill, director of the Exceptional Children’s Department, praised Greenfield’s selection. “I can't think of anyone more suited to work with our EC students than Fane,” Hill said. “He is calm, attentive and willing to do whatever it takes to make the school day better for students and colleagues. He is an excellent representative for hard-working teacher assistants throughout the district.”

The Teacher Assistant and Classified awards are the first of four honors to be presented to LCPS employees each year. The 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year award will be announced at a virtual recognition ceremony the evening of April 22. Principal of the Year will be announced at a later date.