Mar 4 2024

As a former classroom teacher, Jennifer Cogdill understands how a school’s media center can support teachers’ daily instruction and enrich student learning.

Woodstock High School Principal Charley Ingham calls this knowledge and her ability to increase teacher collaboration among Ms. Cogdill’s greatest gifts to the school and its students.

“Daily the WHS Media Center is action packed and alive, truly the heart of the school, a place where all are welcomed, where all can grow,” he said.  “She reaches outside of the school library to collaborate with all teachers and find ways to connect curriculum to the technology and resources CCSD has to offer.  She has created programs, developed collaborative projects and shared resources that have elevated the teaching and learning happening at Woodstock High School.”

In recognition of her professional excellence, CCSD leaders today visited the media center to surprise Ms. Cogdill with the news she is the Cherokee County School District’s Library Media Specialist of the Year!  She now advances to represent CCSD in the regional competition, from which she could move on to the state contest. 

As part of the presentation, Ms. Cogdill was awarded a $500 Visa gift card, plaque and banner, with the costs sponsored by Credit Union of Georgia, a CCSD Partner.  Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Business Development Manager Jason Blakey joined in the presentation as well.  Ms. Cogdill will be congratulated by the Cherokee County School Board at its March meeting.

All CCSD school media specialists were eligible for the award, and Ms. Cogdill was selected as the winner from a pool of outstanding nominees by a judging committee of retired educators and community leaders.

“Jennifer is an extraordinary educator, who sees the media center as not only a library, but also as a classroom and a collaboration center,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “She’s long been recognized as a leader in her field and highly deserving of this honor.  We’re so proud of all she has accomplished and all the learning and student lives she continues to positively impact.”  

Ms. Cogdill earned her bachelor of science in education degree from Northern Illinois University, master of education degree from Piedmont College and specialist degree in school library media from University of West Georgia.  Her numerous achievements include certification as a Microsoft Innovative Educator and Apple Teacher and selection as a Harvard University Library Leadership in a Digital Age Institute scholarship winner.  She previously was honored as the 2017-18 Woodstock Zone Media Specialist of the Year.

In addition to her role as media specialist, Ms. Cogdill serves on the school’s instructional leadership team and sponsors student government, the reading club and dance team.

“I consider all teachers instructional leaders and begin working to form instructional partnerships with these teachers by making a personal connection,” she said.  “As we connect, I suggest ideas that would enhance the content and standards of the classes they teach.  I make suggestions as to how we could take some of the weight off their shoulders.”

Ms. Cogdill works alongside fellow Woodstock HS media specialist, Jacqueline Higginbotham, who she praises as an exceptional media specialist also deserving of the award.

Among their many initiatives is the recently held Books and Basketball event.  The zone-wide project invited elementary and middle grade students from feeder schools to visit the Woodstock HS library the evening of a home basketball game.

“The high school student athletes read books with the younger students, made bookmarks and had a chance for photo opportunities before the game.  Younger students then were allowed free entrance to the game after participation in the literacy event,” she said.  “The parents and younger students in attendance were so appreciative and supportive of this collaboration.  I loved seeing the younger students look up to our students not only as athletes, but as readers as well.”

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