The Union County Board of Education honored two current employees for their many years of service. Sarah Maness, a special education teacher at Horace Maynard Middle School has been teaching and mentoring children with special needs for 47 years. She established the Comprehensive Development Class at Maynardville Elementary. She has impacted the lives of numerous children in Sharps Chapel Elementary, Maynardville Elementary, and presently at HMMS. Sarah's students learn life skills, basic numeracy and literacy as well as social skills. Sarah has volunteered to manage the Heritage Festival Information Booth for over 10 years. She also chairs the Membership Committee for the Union County Education Association. Dr. Lauren Effler stated," She is my hero, but she is also my Mom" as she hugged her, thanked her, and gave her the Special Recognition for Service Award.

Wanda Keck is currently a Secretary at Horace Maynard Middle School and has devoted 42 yeaars to the Union County Public Schools. She has been a teaching assistant and for many years was the bookkeeper at HMMS. She has worked under numerous principals and has managed to keep a sunny disposition. Dr. Effler congratulated Wanda as she handed her the Special Recognition for Service Award. Director Greg Clay noted how much he appreciated her expertise when he was the HMMS Principal. He commented that these two ladies are the best devoted employees a school could have.

Congratulations, Ladies. We are blessed to have your high standards and your caring attitudes mentoring our youth.