This month’s National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month is Ginger Stovall from Henderson County High School in Henderson, KY. Nominator Shawna Evans describes how Ginger tirelessly leads their Renaissance program (lightly edited):

“Ginger Stovall is an ‘all in’ Renaissance Leader! She has made such a change in our school and community. It hasn’t been an easy task, but she relentlessly makes our students enjoy being at school to learn! She is the backbone of program. Ginger teaches our Renaissance Leadership Class and our Community Involvement Class. She empowers our students daily to reach out and recognize what all is going on in our community. Just recently she spearheaded the spirit week that ended with two pep rallies (one at 5:45 a.m.) and a bonfire on Friday the 13th and a full moon. Everything went great! The 5:45 a.m pep rally was on the news, and we had over 600 students attend. We also had at least 300 students here at 5:00 a.m. so they could look for flags to get points for spirit week. We had 96% attendance during that week. Her leadership class also coordinated with the other schools in our district to bring in 19,000 lbs of canned goods for our tri-state food bank. She has made our school brighter and always brings things back to focus on the students commitment to graduate.“

What’s a favorite Renaissance moment for you?

Our Senior Walk is one of the most emotional events for our seniors as they get to experience this with the entire district. They begin their final day of their high school career visiting their elementary and middle schools for those last hugs and knuckle bumps with staffulty that a hand in shaping them into the young adults they have become – all while being looked up to by the future Colonels following in their footsteps. Then finally they arrive here at HCHS to take their final journey through our halls, where they are greeted with warm hugs, well wishes and high fives. And just when everyone thinks the seniors can’t wait to get out of here, each year more and more tend to straggle behind and stay longer… proof that they are indeed comfortable here. That’s the Renaissance impact.

How has Renaissance impacted your school’s culture?

There is an obvious overall feeling of school pride that has grown both within our building and out in our community. Conversations can be overheard of how our high school has changed for the better over the recent years – parents taking to social media to brag on the fact that they are proud that their child attends our school. We find ourselves saying, “It’s a good time to be a Colonel!”

How has Renaissance affected you personally?

I’m naturally a go-getter and Renaissance has allowed me to merge both of my passions into one focus: being a Colonel and making our school better. As an HCHS graduate myself so many years ago, then teaching here and watching both of my daughters have the Colonel experience through Renaissance, my enthusiasm has been fueled and in some ways has become contagious!

What advice would you give to someone just starting with Renaissance?

Do. Not. Give. Up. The process is on-going and at times challenging. But every little step forward is absolutely the right direction. Start small, celebrate your successes, and know that you are LIVING IN THE LAND OF BETTER! (one of my favorite mantras!)

Ginger will receive a shirt and a lapel pin, and was entered into a drawing for free registration to this year’s Jostens Renaissance National Conference.

To nominate someone in your school for the National Renaissance Staffulty of the Month honor, click here.