BROWNSTOWN
A senior, a seventh-grader and a third-grader have been recognized as Brownstown Central Community School Corp. Students of the Month.
Megan Kuhlman, Cody Burnside and Isabella Gomez received certificates during Tuesday night’s board of trustees meeting at Brownstown Elementary School.
Kuhlman was chosen for the honor by agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Blake Hackman. Kulhman is in her fourth year of FFA and serves as chapter president.
“Under her leadership, our FFA chapter has been more active this year than most years in the past,” Principal Joe Sheffer said in reading Hackman’s comments. “She is a quiet leader with a great outlook.”
Kuhlman has been employed at Cummins Seymour Engine Plant this past year and has been informed that the engine maker wishes to keep her employed for the following year.
“She is a great role model for young adults and has developed into an outstanding young lady,” Hackman wrote.
Burnside was selected by the seventh-grade teachers for completing his work to the best of his ability and volunteering to assist teachers and provide guidance to other students.
At the middle school, he is a two-year member of the Brave Botics robotics team and the tennis team.
“Cody is an outstanding student whose strong work ethic serves as a valuable model to the other students,” Principal Doug McClure said in sharing the teachers’ comments. “Cody is an exemplary model of the three Rs (respect, responsibility and resourcefulness) we try to instill in the students here at Brownstown Central Middle School.”
Gomez was named Little Brave of the Month for reading. Her teacher, Bethany Brewster, said when nominating a student for reading, it would be simple to find a child with the most Accelerated Reader points or who has excelled without complications.
This time, though, she said she selected a student who shines differently because she learns and thinks differently.
“Isabella Gomez is my Student of the Month for reading, and Isabella has dyslexia,” Principal Chrystal Street said in reading Brewster’s nomination letter.
Dyslexia is a brain-based condition that makes it difficult to learn, spell and write despite having normal or above normal IQ and despite traditional classroom interventions.
“What impresses me the most about Isabella is the toughness and grit,” Brewster wrote. “I have to force her to take breaks. She never complains. Isabella works with me several times each week during book buddy time, and she goes to tutoring twice a week after school with Mrs. Bloch at Immanuel.”
Gomez’s efforts are showing, Brewster said.
“She has improved tremendously, and she is emerging as a reader, and it’s for her effort and attitude that I want to commend Isabella,” Brewster said. “She is a fantastic student, she is smart, she cares about herself and others, she is committed to her education and she is improving with each week that passes. Well done, Isabella.”