The top teachers and personnel of the year are, from left, Cynthia Weaver, Billy Eason and Suzanne Blackman. They are shown with Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. | Clif Knight

Morgan County Schools literally rolled out the red carpet to honor its 2014-2015 Staff Member of the Year and Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year Friday morning.

A party of seven central office personnel headed by Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. made stops at the three schools where the honorees work. They arrived in a 14-seat black limousine complete with red carpet and brought bouquets of red roses, gift baskets and helium-filled balloons.

Cynthia Weaver was teaching an early childhood development class at Brewer High School when Hopkins appeared and announced her as Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“I was surprised,” she said. “I feel humbled, too. There are so many more who deserve this as much or more than I do.”

Hopkins found custodian Billy Eason working in a classroom at Eva School. “Do you know who this is?” he asked the students. “He’s our Staff Member of the Year.”

The students followed Eason to the limo where they formed a victory line and cheered as he climbed aboard.

Hopkins interrupted Suzanne Blackman as she was teaching her kindergarten students at Danville-Neel Elementary School.

Her students applauded loudly when she was introduced by Hopkins as Morgan County Elementary Teacher of the Year.

All three honorees were treated to lunch at Oh’ Bryan’s in Hartselle.

Weaver is in her ninth year of teaching at Brewer. She coordinates the career-tech, child development program and is sponsor of FCCLA and FTA. Previously, she taught at Hartselle High School for six years.

She was recently selected as Career Tech Regional II Teacher of the Year.

“When she came to teach at Brewer High School, she immediately stabilized the preschool program and greatly enhanced it,” said Brewer Culinary Arts teacher Deborah Gillon. “From artwork on the walls to a reading loft, her improvements were invaluable.”

Eason said he was shocked when he was announced as Staff Member of the Year.

“I’m honored,” he stated, “but I just think there are many others that deserve it more than I.”

Eason has served as a custodian at Eva for three years. A former truck driver and barber, he does volunteer work at Falkville High School where he has two children in school.

Eva School Principal David Estes said qualities that make Eason a valuable employee are his calmness, competency and a great rapport with the kids.

Blackman is in her 16th year as a kindergarten teacher at Danville-Neel and has 29 years of teaching experience to her credit. She is a nationally certified teacher of early childhood education and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama.

She and her husband, Walter, pastor of East Highland Baptist Church in Hartselle, have four adult children and two grandchildren.

“She is a true testament of what a teacher should be and how the teaching should be done,” said Danville-Neel Principal Tara Murphy. “She exemplifies love, patience, firmness and high expectations all at the same time. She truly has an individual learning plan for each child in her classroom. It’s amazing to see her in action.”