SEES Teacher Will Travel To Washington To Accept Award

Edmonson Voice Staff
It's not uncommon for students at South Edmonson Elementary to be surprised during their morning meetings, held in the gym before classes begin. Students receive awards, recognition, and are allowed to participate in all sorts of fun activities that change regularly. However, it's very uncommon to surprise a teacher, especially when that teacher does all she can to hold back tears of joy.

Principal Jamie Woosley invited Superintendent Patrick Waddell to the morning meeting at SEES today to recognize Mrs. Jeannie Basil, P.E. teacher at South Edmonson Elementary. South Edmonson, led by Basil, has been named a Bronze Award Winner for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Superintendent Patrick Waddell recognizes Mrs. Jeannie Basil in front of the SEES student body.

This program is designed to encourage schools to help students become more aware of nutrition and physical activity. In order to be nominated, schools must meet certain nutritional requirements and must promote physical activity.

Jacy Wooley, Healthy Schools Program Manager, contacted Mrs. Basil about the application and thought South Edmonson Elementary should apply.  "We have been doing great things at SEES," said Mrs. Basil. " We encourage our students to be physically active with our Bulldog Walking Club, we teach our students about taking care their bodies and eating nutritious foods, and our cafeteria staff try to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables that the students will eat."

Principal Woosley said in order to win the award, the teacher must lead a school's cause for promoting certain minutes of PE, recess, brain breaks, walking club, and use of pedometers. All in which Mrs. Basil has excelled.

Mr. Woosley said that only 12 schools in the state of Kentucky received this award, and that the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is flying Ms. Jeanie to Washington DC to meet with Brett Guthrie, Mitch McConnell, and Rand Paul (a presidential candidate) to discuss nutrition and physical activities in schools.

Mrs. Basil tries not to cry as the student body cheer loudly.

As Mr. Waddell called Mrs. Basil to the front, she was obviously shocked and even held back tears. "Mr. Woosley and the staff did a great job of keeping this morning a secret, it was a wonderful surprise!" said Basil. "I am proud to work at South Edmonson Elementary.  We have an amazing dedicated staff who strive for excellence in the academic world and beyond.  I get emotional about it."

Mrs. Basil will travel to Washington D.C. next week to accept her award on behalf of South Edmonson Elementary.