Board of education chair Jonathan Jones and school superintendent Natalie Gore with Honey Rollock, Michael Johnson, and Kenneth Goodwin, congratulating them on their Beyond the T Awards.

TIFTON — Members of the Tift County Schools Board of Education offered their congratulations at their most recent meeting to a trio of faculty members for going above and beyond for a student of Sixth Street Academy.

Board members proudly presented Kenneth Goodwin, Honey Rollock, and Michael Johnson, faculty of the academy, with Beyond the T Awards March 13 for their responsiveness and care in providing immediate aid to a student during an altercation.

Dana Spurlin, chief information officer for Tift County Schools, reported that a student who had recently returned from virtual education to in-person learning at Sixth Street had initiated a fight with another student that had resulted in a police officer intervening.

When the altercation escalated to the point that the officer deployed pepper spray, the three faculty members showed exceptional care and concern for the student, gathering their belongings, assisting in washing their eyes out, and working to keep them calm.

Each faculty member was presented with an award as thanks for their care for the student. Dr. Michael Slaven, assistant superintendent for Beyond the Core, additionally praised the staff and faculty of Sixth Street Academy as a whole for maintaining a positive atmosphere at the school despite their challenging circumstances and going above and beyond to help and support their students.