4th & 5th Grade Teacher - Ms. Gail Artis

"Claire VanLandingham was the student a teacher could never forget, even after decades in the profession. Her tiny body housed a gigantic spirit, and her deep brown eyes radiated the intensity with which she completed every task. Claire never took anything lightly. She was a quick learner with advanced comprehension skills. Best of all, Claire had a huge heart. I can still see her sitting on the west side of the second row in the classroom at Dixie Bee Elementary School fighting tears as we talked about how disappointing it was that a young man who suffered from chronic health problems hadn’t been picked for the kickball team at recess time. It is no surprise that Claire dedicated the rest of her life to helping others. It is our goal to make the world a better place through her example."