CCSD Celebrates 2016 Partners of the Year, Volunteers of the Year at Third Annual Recognition Ceremony
The Cherokee County School District celebrated its top school community partners and volunteers at the third annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony.
The ceremony, held on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Creekview 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.
The Rotary Club of Canton, the Canton Elementary School STEM Academy Partner of the Year, was named the CCSD 2016 Partner of the Year, and Danielle Sones, the Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Volunteer of the Year, was named the CCSD 2016 Volunteer of the Year.
“We would not be the nationally renowned, award-winning organization that we are today without your support,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower told the crowd of 75 honorees and their guests. “When I was a classroom teacher, seeing the support of partners and volunteers made a difference to me. As I became a school administrator, a district administrator and today, as superintendent of schools, the value of that support has grown even more meaningful. We receive tens of thousands of volunteer hours, just as many dollars through fundraisers and likely just as many cookies and casseroles, because you care. I see what you do, I appreciate what you do and I thank you.”
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 that has already awarded more than $120,000 in grants. Prior to 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 the Creekview High School Family and Consumer Sciences Department, and the Creekview HS JROTC presented the colors and Pledge of Allegiance.
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.
The Rotary Club of Canton was praised for its eager willingness to volunteer and to raise funds for grants to the school so far totaling $12,000, which have provided monies for field trips, the creation of an aquaponics lab and, this year, the construction of a MakerSpace.
“We are so blessed by the time they devote to our students, as well as innovative projects at Canton Elementary School STEM Academy,” Canton ES STEM Academy Principal Beth Long said of the Club. “Peter Gleichman remains in constant communication and is always asking, ‘What can we do?’ ‘What do you need?’ ‘How can we help?’ He is always the first person we think of if we need volunteers for an activity of event. The Club is always on hand at Read for the Record in October and Read Across America in March. Several members serve weekly during the Reading Buddies program we offer to our most at-risk students each morning. The Rotary Club of Canton continually goes above and beyond to spend valuable time with our students, but they also provide monetary donations in the form of grants to allow us to bring the latest and greatest innovation projects to our children. These donations bring the world to our doorstep and allow our students to have real-life experiences that they may not otherwise have.”
PTA Co-President Danielle Sones chose Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy for her children, so they could experience a diverse school family. She volunteers to ensure that the school and its teachers have as much support as possible to meet all the challenges they face serving a school with higher populations of students in need.
“Mrs. Sones truly inspires those who work alongside her,” Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy Principal Izell McGruder said of Ms. Sones. “She is a passionate leader who spreads the passion ‘to work’ to others. She is not afraid of challenges, understanding the many that Title I schools face. She is a motivator, teaches others and knows how to effectively delegate. She takes risks by trying new things. If it doesn’t work, she simply regroups and tries again. She demonstrates a sense of urgency around advocacy for at-risk kids and has the courage to protect our community from misconceptions and untruths. Mrs. Sones would tell you that she is just an ordinary person with a heart for service. We at Hasty feels that she may be an ordinary person, but one who is doing extraordinary things.”
2016 School Partners of the Year
Arnold Mill ES: Woodstock Walmart Supercenter
Avery ES: Adams Sports Instructions
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Ball Ground Business and Community Association
Bascomb ES: Publix at Rose Creek Shopping Center
Boston ES: Cobb EMC
Canton ES STEM Academy: The Rotary Club of Canton
Carmel ES: Family Eye Clinic at Towne Lake
CCSD Preschool Centers: Joseph Daniel Howard Foundation
Cherokee HS: Chart Industries
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Dairy Queen of Acworth
Clayton ES: Reinhardt University
Creekland MS: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt at Riverstone Plaza
Creekview HS: Chick-fil-A of Canton
Dean Rusk MS: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt at Riverstone Plaza
ET Booth MS: Chick-fil-A of Towne Lake
Etowah HS: Seasonal Designs Landscaping
Free Home ES: Cherokee Shrine Club
Freedom MS: Cherokee County Water & Sewerage Authority
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Heritage Baptist Church
Hickory Flat ES: Huntington Learning Center
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Holly Springs Walmart
Indian Knoll ES: Johnny’s New York Style Pizza of Hickory Flat
Johnston ES: Chick-fil-A Dwarf House of Woodstock
Knox ES: Northside Hospital-Cherokee
Liberty ES: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt at Riverstone Plaza
Little River ES: Woodstock Walmart Supercenter
Macedonia ES: Moss Family Chiropractic
Mill Creek MS: Woodstock Walmart Supercenter
Mountain Road ES: Domino’s of Hickory Flat
Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Hillcrest Baptist Church
R.M. Moore ES: Reinhardt University
River Ridge HS: Superior Plumbing
Sequoyah HS: Tenacious Tea, Alpharetta Beverage Company
Sixes ES: Hopewell Baptist Church
Teasley MS: Publix at Riverstone Plaza
Woodstock ES: Sojourn Church
Woodstock HS: The Premier Group, Keller Williams Realty Partners
Woodstock MS: Chick-fil-A of Towne Lake
2016 School Volunteers of the Year
Arnold Mill ES: Barbara Graves
Avery ES: Carrie Gilliam
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Carolyn Timcoe
Bascomb ES: Matt Mascuch
Boston ES: Amy Keeton
Canton ES STEM Academy: Clara Mae and Gus Van Brink
Carmel ES: Gillian Mims
CCSD Preschool Centers: Toby Sklar
Cherokee HS: April Luth
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Cassandra Hazelwood
Clayton ES: Teresa Dangar
Creekland MS: Jimmy Wilson
Dean Rusk MS: Monica Orrico
ET Booth MS: Kelly Covington
Etowah HS: Shannon Bates
Free Home ES: Ken Lightsey
Freedom MS: Clara Mae Van Brink
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Danielle Sones
Hickory Flat ES: Suzy Griffes
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Darci Turnage
Indian Knoll ES: Mary Robinson
Johnston ES: Natalie Dean
Knox ES: Amy Stegos
Liberty ES: Lauren Cook
Little River ES: Lelok Bessada
Macedonia ES: Tara Fuentes
Mill Creek MS: Gina Schmidt
Mountain Road ES: Cheryl Kunik
Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Peggy Davis
R.M. Moore ES: Karri Manning
River Ridge HS: Robert Houk
Sequoyah HS: Cassan Henley
Sixes ES: Greg Moffitt
Woodstock ES: Abby Wooten
Woodstock HS: Aimee Masters
Woodstock MS: Margret O’Meara
Read more here about the 2016 School winners!