Byner Named Teacher Assistant of the Year!

Semeria Byner Named Teacher Assistant of the Year
By Brianna Torres
 
    Semeria Byner was named Greene Central’s Teacher Assistant of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year.
    Each teacher at Greene Central nominates one person for the position in a secret ballot, and then the entire faculty and staff votes on the nominees.
    Byner is not only an assistant teacher, but she coaches track as well. In addition, she is responsible for Sports Medicine for the Greene Central athletes.
    Barbara Bass, Greene Central’s athletic director, said, “She does a good job with our athletes in the training aspect. They really trust her.”
    “She is always on top of making sure we have the right equipment for the athletes,” continued Bass.
    Assistant Principal Gil Respess said, “Not only is Byner athletic, but she is faithful and supportive as well. She attends every sports meet; she is always a tremendous help, and she is very dependable. Byner is very knowledgeable of sports in general, and she works well with the student athletes.”
    “Assistant teachers are critical to students because it gives them an opportunity to receive one on one action with the assistant teacher, and it breaks down the student to teacher ratio,” continued Respess.
    Byner has been teaching and treating injuries for five years and coaching track for three years.
    “Being able to inspire young children to succeed is my motivation,” she said.
    Byner assists in the following courses: OCS English 9, OCS English 10, Occupational Prep II, and Algebra 1.  
    Andrea Quinerly, football coach and teacher, said, “Byner helps with lesson plans, group work, and more importantly keeps me organized with my schedules and dates! I am glad to see her receive this award because she is immensely deserving!”
    Quinerly describes Byner as persistent, inspirational, and competitive. He says that these qualities are essential to be successful in life.
    “She has a natural relationship with the students; she is a great motivator which draws each student’s full potential,” said Quinerly.
    “She is dependable, loyal, and generally cares about each and every student,” Quinerly said.
    Anna Head, Algebra I teacher, said, “She works hard and is good at what she does.”
    Byner has a quite interesting background. Her father, Earnest Byner, was a professional football player for 14 years; first he played for the Cleveland Browns, and later played for the Washington Redskins.
    In Minneapolis, Minnesota, while playing for the Redskins, his team became the 1992 Super Bowl champions against the Buffalo Bills.
    Byner says that her parents have always taught her to work hard. “My parents helped me to adjust to different situations and different kinds of people,” said Byner.
    “They taught me how to not procrastinate and attack things head on,” she said.
    Byner thanks her mother, Tina Byner, for teaching her how to become the strong woman that she is today.
    She attended East Carolina University for four years. She majored in Sports Medicine, while she minored in Exercise and Sports Science.
    Byner enjoys shopping, going out with friends, working out, traveling, and attending East Carolina sporting events.
    Byner has three siblings, Adriana, Kyara, and Brandi Byner.