Ross Gallabrese TEACHER OF THE YEAR — Jessica Yarter is congratulated by Superintendent Jeffrey Crook after being recognized as Brooke County Schools Teacher of the Year during Monday's board meeting.

WELLSBURG — Brooke County’s Teacher of the Year and Service Employee of the Year were recognized during Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Jessica Yarter, a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Intermediate School, and Sonia Clark, a secretary at Brooke Middle School, received their awards from Superintendent Jeffrey Crook.

Yarter has been employed by the district since 2009, beginning her career as a kindergarten teacher at Colliers Primary School.

“I have been in her classroom quite a few times, and she is an outstanding teacher,” Crook explained. “She has really built relationships with her kids.”

A Brooke High School graduate, Yarter had a successful high school career in tennis. She was a cheerleader from 2000 to 2004 and was a member of the school’s state championship squad. She also coaches volleyball at Brooke Middle School.

One of her biggest accomplishments, Crook said, was when she took a class that had a 25 percent mastery on testing and was able to get the students to score 72 percent higher in one year.

“She does a phenomenal job, and we couldn’t be more proud to have her represent Brooke County and compete at the state level for Teacher of the Year,” Crook said. “It is a well-deserved honor, and thanks for all that you do for Brooke County Schools.”

Clark has been employed in the district since 2023, Crook said, starting at Franklin Elementary School before moving to the middle school.

She does many things that a lot of people might not see, but do not go unnoticed, he added.

That includes organizing a Thanksgiving food drive for a group of families that had nothing, Crook explained.

“She provided for all of them,” he said. “She took care of all of the details, down to the gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes.”

The superintendent said she keeps a secret stash of snacks in her desk, something that can come in very handy at times.

“You have kids who sometimes need to help balance their sugar, or they might not be getting the nutrition they need at home. They know they can come to her and get something to eat,” Crook said.

“She does that out of the kindness of her heart — she never asks anything for it, which shows she has a true giving personality,” he added.

Crook said she knows all of the 699 students at the school and their parents by name.

“You are an inspiration to the kids and the staff,” he said. “What you do behind the scenes that goes unnoticed does not go unnoticed. So, keep doing everything that you do.”

Board members also approved requests from Ronald Staffileno, the district director of transportation, to purchase two school buses — a 77-passenger Blue Bird bus at a cost of $154,048 and a 53-passenger Blue Bird bus at a cost of $169,069.

They also approved requests from Deputy Superintendent Corey Murphy to renew and purchase IXL at a cost of $12,063.75 and the renewal of Parchment at a cost of $2,652.80. Those purchases will be paid using Step 7 funds.

In addition, the board:

• Approved numerous personnel items;

• Approved a request for second-grade students and staff from Hooverson Heights Primary School to travel to Jefferson Intermediate School on May 22;

• Approved a use of facilities request; and

• Recognized numerous students.

Because of Memorial Day, the next board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. May 26.