Note to copy editors: Photos of Ramona Walker and Becky McAnelley are in Merlin under their names.
Ramona Walker has been election to the board of directors for Keep Orange County Beautiful, a non-profit organization organized in Texas in 1997.
A graduate of LCM schools, Walker also attended Lamar State College in Port Arthur and went on to Lamar University in Beaumont. She is best known around Orange County as the owner and chief stylist at Hair & Co. on Strickland Drive at the junction with Martin Street, aka “Snake Road.”
Together with her husband-to-be, along with family and friends, Walker renovated one of the older buildings in Orange and turned it into the salon that it is today. The main building was reportedly built in the mid-1930s.
Walker and her husband, Jess, have been married for 13 years and have two children. “They’re the reason I strive to do my best every day!” she said.
According to Walker, “Our words can be so powerful. We need to encourage one another and lift each other up. Let’s use our words to put things in motion.”
She recently had a mural painted on the west side of her building saying “If you see something Beautiful in someone, Speak it.”
Becky McAnelley has been promoted to Assistant Dean of Student Services and Registrar at Lamar State College Orange. McAnelley has worked at LSCO for over 35 years. She began as a student assistant and has performed roles since such as Recruiter; Assistant Registrar; Director of Admissions, Recruitment, and Registrar; and now, Assistant Dean of Student Services.
“Becky McAnelley is an example of the best of Lamar State College Orange — someone who has invested so much of her time, talent, and energy into making our students successful,” said Dr. Tom Johnson, President of Lamar State College Orange. “We thank Becky for her years of service and are thrilled to see her continue to excel in her new role.”
Dr. Wendy Elmore, Provost and Executive Vice President of Lamar State College Orange, added, “Becky’s dedication over the years in service to our students is unmatched. She provides a very valuable role in overseeing several critical functions of our college. Lamar State College Orange is better because of her leadership and wise counsel. I know as Assistant Dean of Student Services, our college will continue to benefit from her excellence,”
Harmony Public Schools will be giving pay raises to all levels of substitute teachers after giving across-the-board pay raises to full-time teachers and campus staff earlier this school year.
The daily rate increase goes into effect on Monday was approved unanimously by the Harmony Public Schools Board of Directors on Jan. 29. Under the rate increase, substitute teachers will earn an extra $20 to $30 per day on top of their salary now.
For a teacher only working a few days per week, the increase will mean a few hundred dollars each month on top of the pay they already earn. For certified teachers and long-term substitutes, the rate increase could mean up to $600 per month in additional pay.
Earlier this school year, Harmony had announced $4,000 to $7,500 in additional annual compensation for teachers and other school staff. The increase was the third occasion in the past two school years in which Harmony announced a major improvement to employee compensation and benefits.
“Each day, substitute teachers are making a major impact on our schools by keeping our students on-track and learning when their regular teachers are unable to attend school,” said Harmony CEO Fatih Ay. “These professionals are important members of our school community, and we want to show our thanks.”
Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving Pre-K to Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Beaumont. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, character education, project-based learning, and college readiness.
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