April Cummings, a teacher at Glenwood Primary School, was named the Floyd County Schools Distinguished Service Employee of the Year at the school system’s annual end of the school year celebration at State Mutual Stadium before a Rome Braves game.  Cummings was recognized for her quick action on the playground to assist a young child in distress.  One day at recess, Mrs. Cummings noticed the child having trouble breathing and indicating that she had something in her throat.  She had swallowed a quarter that had lodged in her throat and blocked her breathing.  Cummings dislodged the quarter and prevented a tragedy for the young child and Glenwood Primary School.

The Distinguished Service Awards are selected from monthly winners presented in eight categories at Floyd County Board of Education meetings during the year.  The monthly winners are eligible for the end of the year Distinguished Service Employee of the Year Awards in each category.  The awards are presented for acts above and beyond what is usually required of a person’s job in the school system.  The Floyd County Schools Employee of the Year is selected from the end of the year category winners.  Distinguished Service nominations are open to employees, students, parents or anyone in the community throughout the year.

Category winners for the year were:

• Administrative Award: Steve Turrentine, assistant principal at Model Middle
• System Support Award: Craig Ellison, instructional technologist at the central office
• School Support Award: Debbie Farrer, school nutrition manager at Pepperell High
• School Support Certified Award: Bess Bosworth, counselor at Armuchee High
• Maintenance Award: Brenda Morris, custodian at Model High
• Secretary Award: Kathy McBurnett, secretary at Model Elementary
• Teacher Award (primary or elementary): April Cummings, teacher at Glenwood Primary
• Teacher Award (middle or high): Joe Carter, teacher at Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy
• Transportation Award: Jamie Rohler, bus driver in the Pepperell area