Kent County Public Schools held its annual ceremony Monday evening, April 25 recognizing the Teacher of the Year, Support Employee of the Year and Promising Educator Award winner. The ceremony was held in the Kent County High School auditorium.
Dr. Karen Couch, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, speaks about the important roles teachers and support employees play in education during the annual awards ceremony held Monday, April 25 in the Kent County High School auditorium.
Kent County Public Schools honored staff members Monday, April 25 at its annual awards ceremony, held this year in the Kent County High School Auditorium. This year's honorees are from left, front row, Alix Murphy, Katelyn Boardman and Rebeka VanSant, middle row, Peggy Brown, James Cornelius Jr., Christine Cox, Laura Johnson and Stephanie Krastel; top row, Courtney Spiering, Erin Legg, Karen Carty and LaKesha Hoxter.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch presents Peggy Brown, right, with the Support Employee of the Year award for Kent County Middle School. Also shown at left is Gail Manley, executive assistant to the superintendent. 
James Cornelius Jr. shakes hands with Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch at the April 25 awards ceremony. Cornelius, a custodian, is the Support Employee of the Year for Rock Hall Elementary School.
Christine Cox, cafeteria manager, shows her award for being Support Employee of the Year for H.H. Garnet Elementary School. 
Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion introduces the Central Office Support Employee of the Year LaKesha Hoxter. Hoxter is the secretary for the Office of Student Services.
Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion introduces the Central Office Support Employee of the Year LaKesha Hoxter. Hoxter is the secretary for the Office of Student Services.
Laura Johnson, an instructional assistant, is the Support Employee of the Year for Kent County High School.
Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion introduces Galena Elementary School's Support Employee of the Year Stephanie Krastel. Krastel is the school's secretary.
Galena Elementary School's Support Employee of the Year is Stephanie Krastel. She is the school's secretary.
From left, LaKesha Hoxter, Peggy Brown, James Cornelius Jr., Christine Cox, Laura Johnson and Stephanie Krastel are the Support Employees of the Year for each of the schools and the Central Office.
Nivek Johnson, vice president of the Kent County Board of Education, takes the podium at the April 25 awards ceremony to announce the school system's Support Employee of the Year.
Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion walks Peggy Brown to the stage after she was announced the Kent County Public Schools Support Employee of the Year.
Nivek Johnson, vice president of the Kent County Board of Education, shares a hug with Peggy Brown after announcing her as the Support Employee of the Year.
Kent County Public Schools Support Employee of the Year Peggy Brown speaks about her love of working with children.
Support Employee of the Year Peggy Brown is joined by the superintendent and the Kent County Board of Education at the April 25 awards ceremony. From left are, front row, board member Trish McGee, Brown and Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch; back row, board members Wendy Costa, Francoise Sullivan, Vice President Nivek Johnson and President Joseph Goetz.
Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion introduces Promising Educator Award nominee Rebeka VanSant, a teacher at Galena Elementary School. 
Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch hands Alix Murphy a plaque in recognition of her nomination for this year's Promising Educator Award. Murphy is a teacher at Galena Elementary School.
Promising Educator Award nominee Katelyn Boardman shows off her plaque at the April 25 ceremony. Boardman is a teacher at Rock Hall Elementary School.
Taylor Hudson, the 2020-21 Promising Educator Award recipient, prepares to announce this year's winner. The Promising Educator Award recognizes a teacher in their first five years in the classroom.
Katelyn Boardman thanks her "Rock Hall family" after receiving the 2021-22 Promising Educator Award. Boardman is a special education teacher at Rock Hall Elementary School. At left is Taylor Hudson, the 2020-21 award winner.
Promising Educator Award winner Katelyn Boardman is joined by the superintendent and the Kent County Board of Education at the April 25 awards ceremony. From left are, front row, board member Trish McGee, Boardman and Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch; back row, board members Wendy Costa, Francoise Sullivan, Vice President Nivek Johnson and President Joseph Goetz.
Science teacher Karen Carty is the Teacher of the Year for Kent County Middle School.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch introduces Galena Elementary School Teacher of the Year Erin Legg.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch introduces H.H. Garnet Elementary School Teacher of the Year Courtney Spiering.
Attending the April 25 awards ceremony are, from left, Erin Legg, Karen Carty and Courtney Spieiring, the Teachers of the Year for each school. Carty was named the school system's Teacher of the Year.
Two honorees could not attend the April 25 ceremony: Kent County High School Teacher of the Year Brett King and Rock Hall Elementary School Teacher of the Year Lori Receski.
Kent County Board of Education President Joseph Goetz applauds the educators in the audience at the April 25 ceremony before announcing the school system's Teacher of the Year.
Kent County Board of Education President Joseph Goetz announces Karen Carty as the Teacher of the Year.
Karen Carty celebrates after being named Kent County Public Schools' Teacher of the Year. Carty is a science teacher at Kent County Middle School.
Teacher of the Year Karen Carty is joined onstage by Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch and Supervisor of Human Resources Dan Hushion.
Teacher of the Year Karen Carty is joined by the superintendent and the Kent County Board of Education at the April 25 awards ceremony. From left are, front row, board member Trish McGee, Carty and Superintendent Dr. Karen Couch; back row, board members Wendy Costa, Francoise Sullivan, Vice President Nivek Johnson and President Joseph Goetz.
Kent County High School Principal Kris Hemstetter closes out the April 25 awards ceremony. "Thank you for being here for this wonderful celebration of educators," she told the crowd.
From left, Teacher of the Year Karen Carty, Support Employee of the Year Peggy Brown and Promising Educator Award winner Katelyn Boardman pose for a photo during Kent County Public Schools' annual awards ceremony Monday, April 25 in the Kent County High School auditorium.