Teachers Win Bellringer Awards for Dropout Ideas

The Mississippi Department of Education's Office of Dropout Prevention invited Mississippi teachers to submit their best five-minute bell-ringer ideas on dropout prevention. These curriculum ideas are designed to encourage students to begin to think about the statewide impact of students dropping out of school, and find ways to motivate all children to be successful. Gift certificates were awarded statewide to the top submissions from elementary, middle, and high school teachers.

Bellringer awards were sponsored and funded by the Mississippi Center for Education Innovation.

Winners and their bellringer ideas:

Megan Kash, Eastside Elementary, Clinton - "On the Bus Website Visits" and "Persuasive Letter - Are You Convinced?" Click here for more.

S. Kaye Clegg, Thomas Street Elementary, Tupelo - "If You're Happy and You Know It." Click here for more.

Andrea Watson, Church Street Elementary, Tupelo - "Career Builder." Click here for more.

Denise Porter, South Jones Elementary, Jones County - "All Dressed Up!" Click here for more.

Joan Easterling, Mount Olive Elementary School, Covington County - "Reflective Journal." Click here for more.

Rhoda Ballard, Lynne Hester, Martha Jenkins & Kristi Massey, Plantersville Middle School, Lee County - "Who Stayed On the Bus?" Click here for more.

Richard Williams, Plantersville Middle School, Lee County - "Create a Club." Click for more.

Crystal Bigham and Chevette Champ, Plantersville Middle School, Lee County - "Create a Rap." Click for more.

Emilie English, Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo - "Burning Question." Click here for more.

Susan Feather, School of Career & Technical Education, New Albany - "Match the Dropout Facts & Statistics," "Unscramble Reasons Students Drop Out of School," "Crossword Puzzle," "Dropout Prevention Ideas," and “Math Teacher to Teaching Position." Click here for more.

Connie Lambert, Alcorn Central High School, Alcorn County - "Workers Wanted: Earn at Least $600,000 for 180 Days of Work." Click here for more.

Robert Paul Russell, Broad Street High School, North Bolivar County - "How Many Ford Mustangs Equal a High School Diploma?" Click here for more.

Brian Meggs, New Hope High School, Lowndes County - "Dropouts - What's in the Numbers?" Click here for more.

Angela Brooks, Wilkinson County High School, Wilkinson County - "It Pays to Make Good Grades." Click here for more.

Meredith Mitchell, Blue School, Gulfport - "Wishing You Well." Click here for more.