West DeFuniak Elementary is pleased to announce Mrs. Mandy Callahan as Teacher of the Year and Mrs. Dorothy Urban as Educational Support Person of the Year.
Mrs. Callahan is a third grade teacher and has been teaching for seventeen years. She taught third, fifth, and sixth grades and worked at Paxton, Maude Suanders, and West DeFuniak. Her grandmother inspired her to become a teacher. Mrs. Callahan says that one of the things she enjoys the most about her job is planning. We all know that planning helps to make her classroom so successful. When asked about a memorable moment with her students, Mrs. Callahan shared that earlier this year she was able to trick her students into believing that she ate a candle. The purpose of the lesson was to make scientific observations, not assumptions. The students assumed it was a candle, but it actually was a cheese stick! Mrs. Callahan is married to Rickey and has two children, 4 stepchildren, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren! Mrs. Callahan and her husband live in Bonifay and are currently fulfilling a lifelong dream of restoring a historical home!
Mrs. Urban is a fabulous custodian at West DeFuniak. This is her third year working at WDE. One of the things she likes the most about her job is being with the kids. Right before Thanksgiving one of the students gave her a picture and told her that she was her favorite custodian. She says that the kids make her enjoy coming to work every day. She is married to Gary. They have five children and eight grand children with one more on the way. One of her grandsons is a fifth grade student at WDE and she enjoys getting to see him. Mrs. Urban loves decorating for holidays – especially Christmas.
Congratulations to both of you! West DeFuniak is thankful to have you as part of our team!
Pictured (L to R) Darlene Paul - Principal, Mandy Callahan - Teacher of the Year, Dorothy Urban - Educational Support Person of the Year, Rodney Free - Assistant Principal
