CCSD Celebrates 2015 Partners of the Year, Volunteers of the Year at Second Annual Recognition Ceremony
The Cherokee County School District continued a new tradition of recognizing and celebrating its top school partners and volunteers with the second annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony.
The ceremony, held on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Cherokee High School, recognized a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center and then made the surprise announcement of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year selected from that pool of candidates.
Enercon Corporation, the Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy Partner of the Year, was named the CCSD 2015 Partner of the Year, and Amber Pirrello, the Johnston Elementary School Volunteer of the Year, was named the CCSD 2015 Volunteer of the Year.
“These honorees are exceptional and dedicated partners and volunteers, who inspire other partners and volunteers and have earned their respect and admiration,” Deputy Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower told the crowd of 75 honorees and their guests. “For the last 16 years, the School District has seen the level of support of our partners and volunteer grow to extraordinary levels… which has made all the difference as we’ve grappled with State funding cuts while continuing our strong support of innovation in the classroom and District-wide initiatives to enhance academics.”
Tuesday’s recognition ceremony was sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 to raise funds and awareness for CCSD. Following the ceremony, which included tributes and the presentation of plaques to all honorees, a reception was held in the auditorium lobby. The honorees were joined at the event by their families, principals of the schools that they support and other special guests. Refreshments were prepared by CCSD Food Services and the Cherokee Hi
gh School Family and Consumer Sciences Department.
After the surprise announcements were made of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, excerpts were read from the nomination letters submitted by the principals of the schools that they support.
“Enercon went over and above as a partner by inviting teacher representatives of our leadership team and myself to their headquarters to meet with a team of scientists and engineers from their company to design real-life, authentic lessons just for our elementary-aged students. This company shares the Clark Creek and CCSD vision of fostering an innate curiosity and joy of discovery by empowering young students to be STEM-focused problem-solvers at an early age,” Clark Creek ES STEM Academy Principal Dr. Jennifer Scrivner said in her nomination letter for Enercon. “They invited us to come to them and then rolled up their sleeves to come alongside our teachers to help prepare the workers of the future. We are so grateful and awed by this partnership and appreciate the Enercon Corporation’s commitment to public schools.”
Johnston ES Principal Kathleen Chandler in her nomination of Ms. Pirrello, praised her willingness to serve in many capacities and to take on new challenges.
“As a PTA newcomer committee member, Mrs. Pirrello collaborated with other parents to create Johnston’s first Kindergarten Orientation for parents of new kindergarteners and their students. This specialized orientation allowed for the new students and their parents to get acquainted with the building before Open House so they could feel more at ease to start the school year. It was exhilarating to witness such a well-planned event come to fruition… this program would not have been possible without the leadership, organization and commitment from Mrs. Pirrello,” Ms. Chandler said in the nomination. “She raises her hand whenever and wherever a need arises. Most importantly, Mrs. Pirrello is a positive parent supporter of our school. She has a servant’s heart and strives to help teachers and staff at Johnston provide a superior elementary education experience for all students. She exemplifies in every way what a Volunteer of the Year should be.”
2015 School Partners of the Year
Arnold Mill ES: Walmart - Woodstock
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Heritage Plumbing
Bascomb ES: Walmart - Bells Ferry Road
Boston ES: Chick-fil-A of Towne Lake
Canton ES STEM Academy: Rotary Club of Canton
Carmel ES: Walmart - Bells Ferry Road
Cherokee HS: Seasonal Designs Landscaping
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Enercon Corporation
Clayton ES: Amicalola EMC
Creekland MS: Northside Hospital-Cherokee
Creekview HS: Chick-fil-A Canton
Dean Rusk MS: The Premier Group - Keller Williams
E.T. Booth MS: Inalfa Roof Systems
Etowah HS: The Premier Group - Keller Williams
Free Home ES: Trotter & Patel
Freedom MS: Waffle House
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Service League of Cherokee County
Hickory Flat ES: Domino's/Bojangles
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: North Metro Waste
Indian Knoll ES: Burger King of Canton
Johnston ES: Modern Woodmen of America
Knox ES: Menchie's
Liberty ES: Publix at BridgeMill
Little River ES: Stevi B's - Woodstock
Macedonia ES: Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
Mill Creek MS: Just Driver Training
Mountain Road ES: Chick-fil-A Dwarf House
Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Hillcrest Baptist Church
Ralph Bunche Center: Laurel Canyon Optimist Club
R.M. Moore ES: Townsend Pipeline Construction
River Ridge HS: SignGig
Sequoyah HS: Bedoe's Bar and Grille
Sixes ES: Chick-fil-A at The Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta
Teasley MS: Oak Leaf Church
Tippens Education Center: North Canton Baptist Church
Woodstock ES: Park Green Homes
Woodstock HS: Woodstock Fire Department
2015 School Volunteers of the Year
Arnold Mill ES: Amy Hickman
Avery ES: Rebecca Warren
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Joan Hillhouse
Bascomb ES: Karen Griffin
Boston ES: Susan Honea
Canton ES STEM Academy: Sandra Brown
Carmel ES: Rodney and Pamela Allen
Cherokee HS: Dale and Kimberly Alexander
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Donnie Hamby
Clayton ES: Christy Worsham
Creekland MS: Jean and Jack Russell
Creekview HS: Phil Peppers
Dean Rusk MS: Cindy Brown
E.T. Booth MS: Mindy Rochon
Etowah HS: Cathy Wallner
Free Home ES: Erin Thomas
Freedom MS: Dale Alexander
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Faith Castagner
Hickory Flat ES: Kelly Sandt
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Sharon McLurd
Indian Knoll ES: Beverly Ledbetter
Johnston ES: Amber Pirrello
Knox ES: Michael McGuire II
Liberty ES: Theresa Spears
Little River ES: Brenda Page
Macedonia ES: Tara Nalley
Mill Creek MS: Nancy Woodward
Mountain Road ES: Monica Orrico
Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Christy Good
Ralph Bunche Center: Marcelle Robustelli Strong
R.M. Moore ES: Randy Baratka
River Ridge HS: Debbie Rabjohn
Sequoyah HS: Laurie Wengert
Sixes ES: Katherine Cobb
Teasley MS: Neda Chester
Woodstock ES: Paul Hutto
Woodstock HS: Michael Tank
Woodstock MS: North Georgia Knitting Guild