OSD Names Lona Waller Parent of the Year

Lona Waller, mother of three, was named Oxford School District’s Parent of the Year during a monthly school board meeting on Monday.

“What an honor it is to work with everybody in this school district,” Waller said. “I just want to say how lucky we all are to have Oxford School District, and what an honor to be standing with these amazing ladies.”
Waller, Oxford High School (OHS) Parent of the Year, serves as PTO President for OHS, treasurer for the Charger Booster Club, member of the OHS AdvancEd team, member of the OSD School District Health and Wellness Council and chairman of Good Food for Oxford Schools at Della Davidson Elementary.
“[She] has a servant’s heart and goes above and beyond to help the members of the Charger family,” Superintendent Brian Harvey said.
Waller is married to Dr. Jason Waller and has three children, Sarah Katherine (12th grade, OHS), Mary Marshall (10th grade, OHS) and Andrew (fourth grade, Della Davidson).
A Parent of the Year is nominated from each school in the district, and then members of the OSD Board of Trustees select the OSD Parent of the Year after reviewing those applications submitted by each school. As OSD Parent of the Year, Waller is now a nominee for the Mississippi Department of Education’s Parent of the Year. 

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Parents of the Year

Oxford Middle School: Mary Margaret Case
Case serves as PTO Vice President and assists in meeting the needs of students and teachers wherever she may be needed. She is married to Chad Case and her children are Audrey (seventh grade), Mary Mac (eighth grade) and Catherine (11th grade, OHS). 
Oxford Intermediate School: Betsy Smith
Smith serves as PTO President, is a newly appointed member of the OSD Board of Trustees and has been a model of consistent support and encouragement. She is married to Andrew Smith and her children are Sutherland (sixth grade), Anna Prescott (fourth grade, Della Davidson) and Collier (third grade, Della Davidson). 
Della Davidson: Barbara Jim Turner
Turner serves as PTO Co-President, served on the Della Davidson AdvancEd team, and she was instrumental in developing the 38655 Raffle to raise funds for school-based projects. She is married to Bill Turner and her children are twins Tal and Van (fourth grade) and Brown (ninth grade, OHS). 
Oxford Elementary: Ashley Wilkinson
Wilkinson serves as PTO President, established the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Committee and has an infectious desire to support the teachers and students. Her husband is Pratt Wilkinson and her children are Anne Margaret (second grade) and William (sixth grade, Oxford Intermediate). 
Bramlett Elementary: Maggie Miller
Miller serves as PTO President, teaches Integrity Time and has been instrumental in fundraising to provide additional resources for teachers and students. Her husband is Andy Miller and she has three kindergarteners (triplets) at Bramlett: Posie, Myles and Mark Miller. 

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By Randall Haley, Editor-in-Chief of HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at randall.haley@hottytoddy.com.