NEWS

Hanby takes on administrative role Durst describes new assistant principal as “hard working”

BY AMELIA HAVILL Tammy Hanby has been hired as the new assistant principal for both the middle and high schools, replacing Scott Carpenter, who is now principal at John Glenn High School.

Hanby previously worked in the Westerville City School District as assistant principal for Westerville South High School. She has also worked as a middle school teacher and school counselor.

Hanby, who lives in Granville, said she applied for the job of assistant principal as a way to give back to her community. Hanby describes one of the most exciting aspects of her job as “building rapport and interacting with the teachers, students and the community."

Hanby works in the middle school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and in the high school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Her responsibilities include attendance, disciplining students, safety drills, lunch duty and teacher evaluations. She also handles parking passes at the high school.

“Entering the school year in the middle of a pandemic, I have had to adapt quickly, collaborate daily GHS/GMS, and be resilient,” Hanby said. In her free time, Hanby enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the great outdoors. While the high school has had an assistant principal in previous Photo provided by Hanby. years, this is the first time there has been an assistant principal at the middle school. According to Lisa Ormond, middle school principal, the district lost a total of $1 million dollars in funding from the end of last school year and the beginning of this one. The middle school has had a Dean of Students in previous years, but the major loss of funding caused a need to maximize teaching positions.

“Administrative positions can perform responsibilities such as evaluations and student discipline that a teacher on special assignments or Dean cannot,” Ormond said.

Human Resources and Operations Director Tonya Sherburne was present for each step of the process used to select Hanby as the best person for the job out of 52 applicants. The interview process began with a screening of the candidates based on credentials and application materials, and was followed by three interviews with different groups of people. "Her strong work ethic and attention to detail stood out during the interview process,” Sherburne said.

High school principal Matthew Durst has described Hanby as being friendly and easy going.

“She’s a smiling person,” Durst said.

District partners with OhioGuidestone

Social worker will provide counseling services to students and teachers BY BELLA BLACK & KENNEDY OGDEN Social worker Paul Willams will provide mental health support to district students and staff, through disorder services. His office will be located in middle school, but for now, he will provide online services. that counseling is the practice of advising students about surface struggles but therapy is getting into deeper subjects like childhood trauma and self-harm. the district's partnership with OhioGu- “A lot of what I’m going to be doing is There has been widespread concern idestone. tela-mental health,” Williams said. “I’m about the mental health of teens expe-

Over the past several years, the Board everywhere at all times.” riencing the effects of the pandemic. of Education has had many discussions The search for a social worker started Aside from the struggles of high school and plans to address the health and last year before the COVID-19-19 break- teens are enduring changes in the whole well-being of our students and staff, out. The plan to hire a social worker dynamic of their lives. according to Superintendent Jeff Brown. happened when Governor DeWine “pro- “I believe that everyone should go to School counselors, staff and parents vided every district money to support the therapy, and a social worker would make identified a specific need for bridge mental health and well-being of stu- this easier for everyone,” senior Lulu services from a licensed social worker dents through the Student Success and Yearling. to be a liaison between the schools and Well-being dollars,” Brown said. Williams’ plan while talking with outside providers With the guidance counselors that are students is straightforward and effec-

Williams will provide a variety of already staffed and the new services of tive. He plans to work with the student services for students. These include Williams, students have many resources individually in a specific amount of time, diagnostic evaluation, psychological to seek help. addressing their issues and concerns. testing, counseling/psychotherapy, psy- “To help understand my role, it’s kind cho-education support services, psycho- of understanding the difference between pharmacologic management services, counseling and therapy,” said Williams. other mental health and substance use The difference, explained by Williams, is

Head of the class

National Merit Organization recognizes a record number of Granville students

BY LUKE DIXON The National Merit Scholarship Program recognized 11 Granville juniors, which is the highest number from any class in school history.

The National Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that is used for school students that take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“There are three different designations-- commended scholar, semifinalist and finalist” high school counselor Cody Masters said. “While there are scholarships available for all three designations, the most robust scholarships are awarded to finalists. Many schools in the country offer full ride scholarships to students who have been awarded finalist status.”

Freddie Bell, William Decker, Jonathan Dickerman, Michael Donelan, Adrian Fultner-Maskit, Zoe Moore, Hannah Rockwell and Colin Voohris were recognized as semi-finalists. Lucas Dickson, Abigail Knobeloch, and Adam Spieles were commended students.

The eight semifinalists that are all expected to become finalists in February, according to Masters.

To earn a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to a finalist level in the entire competiton by meeting all standards and requirements explained to each semifinalist.

Once students advance to the finalist level, then high school principals will be notified and provided with a certificate to present to each student.

Winners are selected based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments, without any regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

FREDDIE BELL SEMI-FINALIST

LUCAS DICKSON COMMENDED

ABIGAIL KNOBELOCH COMMENDED WILLIAM DECKER SEMI-FINALIST JONATHAN DICKERMAN SEMI-FINALIST

MICHAEL DONELAN SEMI-FINALIST ADRIAN FULTNER-MASKIT SEMI-FINALIST

ZOE MOORE SEMI-FINALIST HANNAH ROCKWELL SEMI-FINALIST