Durant Teacher of the Year LeaAnn Wyrick, wrestlers who made it to state finals and students who received state FFA degrees were recognized at last week’s school board meeting.
Wyrick teaches U.S. history and AP U.S. history at the high school.
“I’ve got to say, my two cents, when we presented Mrs. Wyrick in her classroom, it was really, really cool because usually, a bunch of high school kids, they’re in there and you come in and give a teacher award and they’re like, ‘Ah, we’re out of class, whatever,”’ Superintendent Mark Moring said. “You could see the smiles on their face and how happy they were and how much they valued her, so that just spoke volumes to me when we did that, so congratulations.”
DHS Principal Amber Bullard said that if she had one thing to say about Wyrick, it is that she is a joy.
“She genuinely brings out the best in everyone who comes in contact with her,” Bullard said. “Whether that’s a student, whether that’s a new teacher who’s struggling and they need some direction. Whether that’s a new principal. For the first year, I can’t tell you how many times this year that she’s just encouraged me. Just her level of encouragement and enthusiasm for others.”
Bullard said Wyrick was raised in foster care and talking about that helped the school begin a program called Project Blossom.
“Her goal in that is again, just to bring joy to others and to help teach our kids empathy for their fellow classmates who don’t have all of the blessings that they might have and that are struggling and just teaching them how to give back and take care of the community that raised you,” Bullard said. “So, we’re blessed to have you. You’re here forever and all I have to say is, best wishes to whoever has to go up against you at state because you’ve got this.”
Wyrick thanked the board for having her at the meeting.
“Honestly, Ms. Bullard, you have been amazing and I have been under some principals at different schools that have been wonderful and then have been lacking, and I feel completely blessed to have you as a leader and I love how she cares about us as a staff,” Wyrick said. “She cares about these kids and even when we go through things, she’s what you need. I don’t feel like a number. I don’t feel like I’m just an employee. She makes me feel like family and I’m grateful.”
Wrestling state qualifiers Camilla Amaya, Mac Barbush and Aiden Polk were recognized and introduced by wrestling head coach Jim Taylor.
Moring said wrestlers were recognized last year and he wanted to do it again this year.
“It’s a matter of opinion I guess on what might be the toughest sport and I know it’s really, really hard to hit a golf ball but I’ll hit a golf ball all day bad,” Moring said. “I’m not going to wrestle bad all day at all. It’s the most difficult sport and I always want to recognize the efforts it takes to get to that point. To get to state, you don’t just go out for a sport and you’re in the sport. You’re dedicated to the sport.”
Taylor, when introducing Amaya said girls wrestling is the fastest-growing sport in the nation.
“It is just blowing up, and we went from about four or five girls in the room last year to 11 in the room this year to probably going to have more than that in there this next year,” Taylor said.
Durant FFA members Lydia Bullard, Bailee Varner, Ava Converse, Jaci Floyd, Hunter Franklin, Hunter Roberts and Annie Miller were recognized for receiving state FFA degrees. Miller was not present because she was at a state golf tournament.
“What they have obtained is the highest degree that you can get in FFA on the state level, so it takes many hours,” ag instructor Jeremiah Adams said. “I appreciate this opportunity to get to showcase these kiddos because it’s not easy to get this degree.”
Ag instructor Kayla Adams said, “This is just a snippet of our amazing kids.”
