Larrimore named as THS ‘Teacher of the Year’

By Barry H. Hendrix

Kay Larrimore has been chosen as “Teacher of the Year” at Thomasville High School for the 2019-2020 school year.
This is Larrimore’s second time to receive the honor. She previously was honored by THS in 2016. This is her 14th year teaching at THS.
She was honored March 17 at the meeting of the Thomasville City Board of Education in the Thomasville High School Library.
She currently serves as Work-Based Learning Coordinator as well as Commerce and Information Technology Instructor.
Larrimore said her success comes from showing students you care about them. “If they don’t feel that you care about them, then you are not going to reach them,” she said. “They work harder when they know you care.”
Just as her parents encouraged her, Larrimore inspires the students to work hard. She has always told her students as well as her own children, “you be the hardest worker wherever you go. It does not take any talent to be the hardest worker at any task. …Never let anyone outwork you.”
She has to constantly study to learn the new technology, and she learns a lot from her students. “I’m currently teaching two students who have their own YouTube channel, so they teach me.”
Larrimore appreciates this honor from her peers. Her motto is “stay positive, and always help where you are needed.”
She was born in Meridian, Miss. and moved as her dad’s job had him relocate several times during her school years. She moved to Grove Hill in her junior year of high school. A graduate of Clarke County High School, she attended college later in life, at age 31, as she and husband Mike Larrimore were raising their children. They have six!
She earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Technology from the University of West Alabama (UWA) and a Master’s Degree in Business Education from Auburn University. Larrimore has earned a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from UWA. She also has an Associate Degree in Business and Office Technology from Alabama Southern Community College.
Larrimore has been named the 2019 ACCESS Teacher of the Year, the 2016 Thomasville City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year and was a 2016 nominee for the CLAS Banner School Award for the Work-Based Learning Program.
For the 2020 spring semester, she supervises approximately 73 students in the Work-Based program. The students work at various jobs and internships throughout the Thomasville school campuses and the greater Thomasville community.
The students must keep up with their employment hours and report to Larrimore for credit.
Larrimore loves to hear good feedback from employers on her students, and many THS graduates have continued with the businesses they worked for under the work-based program.
As a career tech teacher at THS, Larrimore teaches Multimedia Design and Career Preparedness. She is working to have students complete their Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in Word, PowerPoint or Excel software. Students must be credentialed in at least two of the Microsoft Programs.
“I want to instill in them skills that they can take from school and use it in work and on through life,” she said. “…Every job requires computer skills.”
She also works to get students credentialed in “Guest Services Gold: Hospitality and Tourism.”
In Career Preparedness, the class uses the Kuder assessment to match a student’s interest to future careers, she said.
In Multimedia Design, her students are also gaining valuable media experience by creating a newsletter and a daily school news broadcast. They learn to use Adobe Premiere and WeVideo Software.
“I want them to learn something every day,” she said.
She is also the sponsor for the THS chapter of the Future Business leaders of America (FBLA) and the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS).
Members of the FBLA are involved in community service projects, she said.
Career tech students, who are members of the NTHS, can earn valuable national college scholarships. Two recent THS graduates earned the Jon H. Poteat Scholarship.
“I try to live my life like the Bible says, ‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,” Larrimore said.

I am the Work-Based Learning Coordinator and the Sponsor of the National Technical Honor Society. My education began at Alabama Southern Community College where I received my Associate Degree in Business and Office Technology. Next, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Technology with Emphasis in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama. Then, I completed my Master's Degree in Business Education at Auburn University. Finally, I completed my Master's Degree in Instructional Leadership. I always wanted to be teacher. I can't imagine being in a different career. This career is my dream!

I am married to Mike Larrimore, who is a retired teacher. We have six children together: Sarah, Emily, Jacob, Jamie, John David, and Josh.  

Welcome!!!

Hello! My name is Mrs. Larrimore and I am excited that you have decided to participate in Work Based Learning! Welcome to my page! We will communicate through Google Classrom and Remind. I will also insert links on this page as well!

While there isn't a classroom that you report to daily, you will be completing assignments and turning them in weekly. 

Your classroom is your training station (the place that you work is your training station) .There are no tricks to being successful in WBL. Follow the policies/regulations listed below, turn in your assignments on time and work a minimum of 140 hours per credit hour that you are scheduled in WBL.

I will send you reminders (with the Remind app) to complete your wage and hour report weekly, If wage and hour reports are not turned in through Google Classroom on or before 10:00 p.m. each Monday, they are late and will be graded accordingly.

The following information will help you get started successfully in WBL.

EVEN IF YOUR SCHEDULE SAYS WORK BASED LEARNING: NO WORK BASED LEARNING STUDENT MAY LEAVE CAMPUS BEFORE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE TAKEN CARE OF:

1. 100% on Safety Test (Located in Google Classroom)

2. Folder is verified "complete" by WBL coordinator (Mrs. Larrimore) :

   1. Training Agreement

   2. Rules Regulations

   3. Application

   4. Emergency Contact

   5. Teacher Recommendations

   6. Interview Evaluation Form

   7. Training Plan

3. All accounts required for WBL have been set up and verified by WBL coordinator

   1. Remind

   2. Google (GMail) Account

COME TO MY CLASSROOM FOR WORK BASED LEARNING WORK SHOP AND TO GET ALL ACCOUNTS SET UP DURING YOUR SCHEDULED WORK BASED LEARNING TIME.

For students who want to get an early start, read the following information and join the Work Based Learning accounts: Remind/Google.

Remind:

Step 1: Google Remind https://www.remind.com

Step 2: Click Join

Step 3: Key in the join code: bd3ab7

Step 4: Enter information

Google: (You have a student Google (Gmail) account that was given to you as a ninth grader. I prefer you use this account.  Do not use your personal email for WBL.

You will need to join Google Classroom with the following code: qls3wa

I take what I do very seriously and my goal for you is that you gain as much work experience (both soft skills and hard skills) as possible. 

If you have any questions, I am located in the Communications Building. You may also contact me via email: rlarrimore@thomasvilleschools.org or classroom: 334-636-4451, ext. 1013 or through Remind. Please share my contact information with your parents. 

This is going to be a great year! Plan to learn a lot and to have a lot of fun learning! See you at your training station!