Poplar Springs announces Employees of the Year, Smith takes County Recognition as well

Poplar Springs High School announced its 2023-2024 Teacher and School Related Employee of the Year at the end of 2023. School bookkeeper Crystal Earnest earned the title of School Related Employee of the Year while third grade teacher Elizabeth Smith received the recognition of Teacher of the Year. Smith also earned the top recognition in the county this month being named the 2024 Holmes County Teacher of the Year.

Elizabeth Smith is a third-grade teacher at Poplar Springs as well as the Varsity Cheerleading Coach. She is a graduate of Graceville High School and continued her education at Chipola College and the University of West Florida. She has earned her Associates degree in Music and her Bachelors’ Degree for Elementary Education. Teaching for more than 20 years, Smith has taught second and fourth grade as well. She has also earned the recognition of Teacher of the Year at her previous schools (Cottondale Elementary and Graceville Elementary). She has one daughter, Mary Elizabeth and attends First Baptist Bonifay where she leads the Children’s Choir and is a member of the Praise Team. She commented, “I give God all the praise and glory for receiving this award. I am incredibly thankful and blessed to receive this honor. I feel so very proud to represent Poplar Springs and Holmes County School District as Teacher of the Year.”

Crystal Earnest is the bookkeeper for Poplar Springs High School. She graduated from Mosley High School and attended Gulf Coast State College where she earned her AA in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in the education sector for six years and felt very “loved” when she received the recognition of School Related Employee of the Year. She is a member of Wausau Assembly of God and has been married to her husband, Joe, for 24 years and the two have three children, L.J., Beverly, and Ben.

Congratulations to both of these ladies!

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