The halls at Troy Elementary School were buzzing Friday afternoon, but it wasn’t from students. Instead, teachers steadily worked – writing, gluing, moving desks, cleaning and getting their classrooms perfect before the first day of school on Aug. 19.

“I am excited about our new staff and new administration and, really, about the whole start of school,” said Principal Teresa Sims. “We’ve missed the students and everybody is preparing for a wonderful year.”

Mallory Rhodes is a first-year teacher and will be welcoming her second-grade students into a classroom decorated with giant candies and class rules reminders adorned with cupcakes that look sweet enough to eat.

“I went to this school,” Rhodes, a Troy native said. “I grew up around educators and I’m excited that it is my turn to teach and get to know the students as a teacher.”

As of Friday, there were 18 children assigned to Rhodes’ classroom.

Rhodes is also looking forward to teaching where her three children are enrolled in school in the fifth grade, first grade and Kindergarten.

Just a few doors down from Rhodes, second-year teacher Heather Bunn was writing out nametags to go on her 18 students’ desks.

“I am so excited” Bunn said. “I felt like it was Christmas morning when they gave out the class lists.”

Bunn is ready for her first-grade students with all sorts of fun literacy ideas for the year, including a possible book club.

“First grade is such a magical year,” Bunn said. “It is wonderful to see that transformation from children knowing sight words and being beginning readers into being more fluid readers.”

As of Friday, about 1,150 students were enrolled at Troy Elementary School, including classes from Pre-K to sixth grade. Sims said she believes each of those students will receive the best education possible at TES this school year.

“We are proud of our facilities and our technology,” Sims said. “But, most importantly, we are proud of the quality of teachers. That’s what makes the difference.”

Be sure to check The Messenger next week for more back-to-school stories from other schools.