The Washington Parish School System recognized some standout educators Tuesday night during its 2012 Teachers of the Year ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies Wayne Kuhn kept the proceedings — held in the Clifton/Warnerton area at Bo’s Steakhouse — moving by sharing humorous, system-related stories.

Kuhn’s wife and his two daughters are in education, so he has seen first-hand how hard principals and teachers work, he said.

“It’s really a special honor that you have succeeded and done so well,” he said to the award recipients.

School-level recognitions were divided into three classifications, elementary, junior high and high school, with a teacher from every school awarded at each.

The last three awards to be handed out were the parish-level recognitions: elementary, junior high and high school Teacher of the Year. Enon Elementary’s Amy Emmons was recognized as Elementary School Teacher of the Year; Cherie Fitzmorris of Franklinton Junior High was named Junior High School Teacher of the Year; and Mark Ross, who teaches at Varnado High School, was honored as High School Teacher of the Year.

During the presentation of the elementary-level awards, Enon Elementary Principal Jackie Boone discussed Emmons’ career as an educator. Emmons has taught for more than 20 years, including seven years at the third-grade level. Her students achieved “tremendous” iLEAP scores, and she was moved up to teaching fourth grade this year, Boone said. Emmons has a positive attitude and is the first teacher to arrive at school in the mornings, Boone said.

“Amy has continued to further her education to learn new and updated teaching practices,” she said. “She loves small group work and doesn’t just rely on the textbook, but enriches the material. She is a loving and caring teacher.”

The other elementary Teachers of the Year, listed along with their school, are Amy Brown-Spikes, Franklinton Primary; Danisha Manning, Franklinton Elementary; Katie Miller, Mt. Hermon; Michelle Sones, Thomas Elementary; and Christina McMillan, Wesley Ray Elementary.

Fitzmorris was presented the junior high Teacher of the Year plaque by her principal, Pauline Bankston. An “awesome teacher” who believes in lifelong learning and continues to improve her skills through professional development and by working with her peer teachers, Fitzmorris has taught in the Washington Parish system for eight years, Bankston said. That includes three years at the elementary level, where she was also named Teacher of the Year.

“She has worked very closely with other teachers in the district to ensure they are all working collaboratively and that students across the district are getting the best education possible,” Bankston said.

Also recognized as junior high Teachers of the Year were Lee Bond, who teaches at Mt. Hermon; Pine Junior High teacher Theresa Campbell; and Varnado Junior High’s Candace Stewart.

In presenting Ross with the High School Teacher of the Year Award, Assistant Principal Polly Thigpen said he began his teaching career in the system during the 2006-07 school year as a social studies teacher and coach at Varnado High. Ross serves as the school’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, or PBIS, chair, as well as head coach for the boys track team and assistant coach for boys and girls basketball.

“Coach Ross leads our pep rallies, many assemblies and programs,” Thigpen said. “If you say, ‘Hey Coach, we need this,’ he’s right there, and he can jump in there and take care of things for us.”

Franklinton High’s Kyra Wilson, Mt. Hermon teacher Linda Fortenberry and Pine High educator Sue Thomas were also recognized as High School Teachers of the Year.

The event concluded with remarks from Superintendent Darrell Fairburn. He discussed what an honor it is to receive the Teacher of the Year award; thanked event’s sponsors, Capital One Bank, Hunt Brothers, Magee Financial Corp., McComb Coca-Cola Bottling Co., and Morgan’s Mechanical Service; and expressed his appreciation to the school board.

“Our board works hard for all our students and all our schools, and I’m very appreciative of that,” he said.