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TC Achievement Award winners announced for May 2023

Donna Williams and other TC principals pose for a photo with her achievement award.
John Moore
Cayla Rucker poses for a photo with her achievement award.

Cayla Rucker, one-on-one assistant at Taylor County Primary Center, is a recipient of the TC Cares Award. Each day, she is the eyes and ears for disabled students, allowing them to participate in class. “Miss Cayla is one of our quiet, unsung heroes at the primary center,” TCPC Principal Melissa Long said. “She has a very difficult job, but she never complains. When I ask for her help, she does it gracefully and she does it well.”

Donna Williams and other TC principals pose for a photo with her achievement award.

Donna Williams, principal at Taylor County Intermediate School, is a recipient of the TC Leadership Award. Mrs. Williams has been a pillar of the school district in her role as principal, and will be retiring at the end of this school year.
“When I became principal at the middle school, Donna was a huge confidant. She was someone I could lean on, and I knew I could always call her and get great advice that would set me off in the right direction. She has impacted many lives during her time with the school district, including my own,” TCHS Principal Sara Tucker said.
“For the last 10 years, Donna has been my mentor. The day she was hired I was in the hospital giving birth, and she asked to come visit me. We’ve been best friends ever since,” TCPC Principal Melissa Long said.
“You can’t replace Donna Williams, you just don’t. We just hope that you’ve rubbed off and created through your work more people like you,” TCMS Principal Neil Sanders said. “I’ve known Mrs. Williams for a long time, going all the way back to elementary school, and I still remember my mom, who worked at the middle school, at 7:30 p.m. working on lesson plans with her. I’ll never forget it, her level of commitment is just unparalleled, and she brought that into her principalship to do a remarkable job for over a decade. It’s something to be proud of, and we’re going to miss you.”
“This district has an amazing group of principals, and these three have been wonderful to work with,” Mrs. Williams said. “I was blessed to teach with kids for 18 years and I’ve been principal for 11, and have an amazing school with amazing staff and amazing kids. I’ve just been blessed, so blessed, and I thank the Lord all the time for putting me in this position. I had long thought I would stay in the classroom until I retired, but He had other plans. Retiring is very bittersweet, but my time here has been wonderful.”