Indian Knoll ES Media Specialist Named 2018 CCSD Media Specialist of the Year
Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Superintendent of Schools, surprises Indian Knoll Elementary School’s Jennifer Lewis with the news that she is the CCSD Media Specialist of the Year.
UPDATE 6/11/18...
CCSD Media Specialist of the Year Jennifer Lewis today was named the Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Year! The surprise presentation was made today at the Georgia Library Media Association’s Summer Institute in Peachtree City.
“Congratulations to Jennifer on a much-deserved recognition from her peers,” said Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Superintendent of Schools. “We are so proud for her, for our district, and for Indian Knoll Elementary School to know her talents and skills as a media specialist are recognized as the best in the State.”
UPDATE 4/10/18…
Ms. Lewis has been named the North Central Georgia Regional Library Media Specialist of the Year for 2018! She now is in the running for the Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Year Award. The state winner will be announced at the GLMA Summer Institute, June 11-12 in Peachtree City. All regional winners will also be honored at the conference opening ceremony.
A video about the award presentation can be seen on the CCSD YouTube Channel at http://bit.ly/MSOTY2018
Indian Knoll ES Media Specialist Jennifer Lewis sees her job as one of collaboration, exploration and revelation. Each day the media center is a busy hive of activity, whether she is working with teachers at her school to extend classroom lessons into the media center, setting up Skype sessions to take children on virtual field trips to Alaska, or producing the morning newscast with students. Ms. Lewis leads the Firebird Book Club, assists with the Techno Wizards club, and she constantly looks for new topics and resources to engage students’ interests—whether it’s biographies on professional wrestlers or technology-focused resources like Osmo kits. As a personal goal, she strives to learn all the students by name so that she can recommend the perfect title for their next reading adventure.
Ms. Lewis’ approach to managing the school media center as a hub of learning earned her the title of CCSD’s 2018 Media Specialist of the Year. She was surprised with the announcement at a faculty meeting on Tuesday, March 6, by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Deputy Superintendent Trey Olson and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nicole Holmes.
“We are so, so proud of Jennifer; she is such an impressive educator,” said Dr. Hightower. “People like Jennifer challenge me to the core. Kids deserve your A-game, they deserve the teacher’s A-game, and they deserve my A-game. It fills my heart to know that we’ve got people like Jennifer out there working hard for public education.”
“We have such an amazing group of hard working Media Specialists; I’m honored to represent them,” said Ms. Lewis. “The kids are the best part of my job, and I love helping them find books that they enjoy reading, and I love teaching them things about new technology that they didn’t know. I love the combination of literature and technology.”
Indian Knoll ES Principal Dr. Ann Gazell said Ms. Lewis has been a stellar addition to the school staff and a source of support and inspiration.
“When Jennifer came in to interview, she walked in with a plan and a purpose of what her vision was for our media center,” said Dr. Gazell. “It was a no-brainer to hire her. She has never, ever let me down.”
As the CCSD Media Specialist of the Year, Ms. Lewis received a plaque, a Kindle and a celebratory cake, compliments of sponsor Credit Union of Georgia. Ms. Lewis was also presented flowers by her husband, Mark, and son, Caleb, (their daughter, Katherine, was competing at a high school tennis match and could not attend), and her parents, Theresa and Gary Wallpe.
Ms. Lewis will represent CCSD in the State Media Specialist of the Year competition.
From left to right: Etowah Zone – Jennifer Martin of Boston ES; Sequoyah Zone – Jennifer Lewis of Indian Knoll ES; Cherokee Zone – Leslie Hicks of Knox ES; Creekview Zone – Anne Thiers of Creekview HS; River Ridge Zone – Linda Chapman of Mill Creek MS; Woodstock Zone – Jennifer Cogdill of Woodstock HS.
2018 Innovation Zone Library Media Specialists of the Year
Read more about these winners here!
Cherokee Zone – Leslie Hicks of Knox ES
Creekview Zone – Anne Thiers of Creekview HS
Etowah Zone – Jennifer Martin of Boston ES
River Ridge Zone – Linda Chapman of Mill Creek MS
Sequoyah Zone – Jennifer Lewis of Indian Knoll ES
Woodstock Zone – Jennifer Cogdill of Woodstock HS