[5/10/01]

Last month, Johnston County recognized Patty Furlong with the Johnston County Teacher's Assistant of the Year award.  Patty has been working with Cleveland Elementary School for five years, first as a volunteer for her son's kindergarten class, and then as a full-fledged teacher's assistant.

It all started when she would go in once a week to help her son's kindergarten class with crafts.  She loved working with the children and helping in the classroom when she could, so she decided to offer her assistance on a more regular basis.  She began as an assistant for Carolynn Hobgood's Physical Education class, where she helped run P.E. classes for two years.  She then moved to kindergarten, where she has been assisting for the past three years.  When I walked into the classroom with Patty Furlong and asked her why she has been working as a teacher's assistant for so long she said,  "I love children, they are so much fun!  Sharon Royals is such a wonderful teacher, it has been great working with her.  I know I will be doing this for many more years!"

Patty Furlong also stays busy as a coach for CAA and a local boys' basketball team.  She loves working with children and teaching.  She hopes to be serving Cleveland Elementary School for many more years, and I am sure Johnston County could not ask for a better person to help educate our children.

Lyndsay Mack
Staff writer

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