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2022 Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year

CCSD Names District 2022 Partners of the Year, Volunteers of the Year

Laurel Canyon Optimist Club members react with surprise as they make their way to the front of the auditorium to be recognized as the 2022 CCSD Partner of the Year for their work supporting the CCSD Preschool Centers.

Laurel Canyon Optimist Club members react with surprise as they make their way to the front of the auditorium to be recognized as the 2022 CCSD Partner of the Year for their work supporting the CCSD Preschool Centers.

The Cherokee County School District celebrated outstanding school community partners and volunteers at the annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony held Thursday night.

The ceremony honored a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center.  The evening included the surprise announcement of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year selected from that pool of 79 honorees.

The Laurel Canyon Optimist Club, the CCSD Preschool Centers’ Partner of the Year, was named the CCSD 2022 Partner of the Year, and Peter Gleichman, the Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Volunteer of the Year, was named the CCSD 2022 Volunteer of the Year.

“We need you.  We respect you.  We’re so glad you’re with us,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said, as he congratulated the auditorium filled with outstanding volunteers and partner businesses and organizations.  “The time, talent and treasure you share are valuable beyond measure.  We appreciate you and thank you.”

The recognition ceremony was sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness for CCSD.  The ceremony included tributes and the presentation of plaques by the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members to all honorees, who were joined at the event by their families, Principals of the schools that they support and other special guests.

After the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year were announced, excerpts were shared from the nomination letters submitted by the Principals of the schools that they support. A committee of retired educators and community leaders selected the CCSD winners from the pool of exemplary nominees.

The CCSD Partner of the Year, Laurel Canyon Optimist Club, was recognized for its significant contributions of volunteer hours as reading buddies and supporters of other programs, as well as for its outstanding financial support of projects ranging from purchasing new playground equipment to adding books for classroom libraries.

“Many members of the Laurel Canyon Optimist Club have years of experience in education.  Some were teachers, curriculum directors and former administrators.  As such, they understand how much teachers give of themselves and understand the importance of supporting students and assisting in pouring the foundation for our littlest learners -- academically, socially and emotionally,” Principal Debbie Ritter said in her nomination.  “They support our centers by donating materials, supplies and their time.  Their team takes pride in preparing a project to support the arts in the areas of fine art and music, and work with a lead teacher to support current curricular goals.  The children look forward to these monthly visits and love their time with these ‘grandparent figures,’ whether it's getting a hug, hearing a story, or spending time with a friendly face.”

The CCSD Volunteer of the Year, Peter Gleichman was recognized for his strong support for Hasty, both as an individual and as a leader in the Rotary Club of Canton, the school’s Partner of the Year.  He is an exceptional volunteer, giving his time for special events like Trunk or Treat as well as weekly opportunities like serving as a class journal buddy to listen to students share their writing.

“Peter Gleichman is the volunteer of volunteers,” Principal Dr. Maria Rosario-Regan said.  “He not only looks for ways to serve our Hasty community, but he is committed to recruiting others to serve alongside him.  As a member of the Rotary Club of Canton, he incessantly advocates for support of Hasty and works to engage more members in service opportunities to help prepare our students to be successful in their current world and their future society!  If we all gave back to our community like Mr. Peter gives back to Hasty, our world would be an even better place.”

Every week, a different school Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will be featured on CCSD social media platforms.

Peter Gleichman reacts with emotion as the crowd applauds his selection as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year for the Cherokee County School District in recognition of his service to Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy.

Above: Peter Gleichman reacts with emotion as the crowd applauds his selection as the 2022 Volunteer of the Year for the Cherokee County School District in recognition of his service to Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy. Below: Celebrating the recognition are, from left, Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower, CCSD Volunteer of the Year Peter Gleichman and Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy Principal Dr. Maria Rosario-Regan.

Below: Celebrating the recognition are, from left, Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower, CCSD Volunteer of the Year Peter Gleichman and Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy Principal Dr. Maria Rosario-Regan.
Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower and CCSD Preschools Principal Debbie Ritter congratulate Laurel Canyon Optimist Club members upon their recognition as 2022 CCSD Partner of the Year.

Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower and CCSD Preschools Principal Debbie Ritter, second from right, congratulate Laurel Canyon Optimist Club members upon their recognition as 2022 CCSD Partner of the Year.

CCSD 2022 SCHOOL PARTNERS OF THE YEAR

ACE Academy: Northside Hospital Cherokee

Arnold Mill Elementary School: Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock

Avery Elementary School: Buffalo's Café

Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Modern Woodmen of America

Bascomb Elementary School: Smile Doctors by Williams Orthodontics

Boston Elementary School: New Victoria Baptist Church

Carmel Elementary School: The Premier Group

CCSD Preschool Centers: Laurel Canyon Optimist Club

Cherokee High School: Revolution Church

Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Chick-fil-A, Towne Lake

Clayton Elementary School: Waleska First Baptist Church Women on Missions

Creekland Middle School: Education First Fund Realty Team, powered by Keller Williams Realty Partners

Creekview High School: Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, Riverstone

Dean Rusk Middle School: Modern Woodmen of America

E.T. Booth Middle School: Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock

Etowah High School: Gotcha Covered Floor Covering

Free Home Elementary School: Allegro Business Products

Freedom Middle School: Modern Woodmen of America

Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Rotary Club of Canton

Hickory Flat Elementary School: NT Nails, Hickory Flat

Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock

Indian Knoll Elementary School: Rising Hills Church

Johnston Elementary School: Modern Woodmen of America

Knox ES STEM Academy: Johnny's New York Style Pizza, Riverstone

Liberty Elementary School: Guthrie’s

Little River Elementary School: Taekwondo of Woodstock

Macedonia Elementary School: Chick-fil-A, Canton Marketplace

Mill Creek Middle School: Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock

Mountain Road Elementary School: Chick-fil-A, Hickory Flat

Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy: Rotary Club of Woodstock

River Ridge High School: The Premier Group

R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Waleska United Methodist Church

Sequoyah High School: Honey Baked Ham

Sixes Elementary School: Townsend Realty Group

Teasley Middle School: Encompass Ministries

Tippens Education Center: Allegro Business Products

Woodstock Elementary School: Camellia Place of Woodstock

Woodstock High School: Credit Union of Georgia

Woodstock Middle School: Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock

 

CCSD 2022 SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

ACE Academy: Patti Tressler

Arnold Mill Elementary School: Jason Quinn

Avery Elementary School: Keri Rodes and Kelly Shapiro

Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Ball Ground ES STEM Academy PTA

Bascomb Elementary School: Hope Leak

Boston Elementary School: Tiffani Hairgrow

Carmel Elementary School: Ann Farmer

CCSD Preschool Centers: Bonny Keheley

Cherokee High School: Rose Garcia

Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Hetal Pandya

Clayton Elementary School: Susan Williamson

Creekland Middle School: Robert Moore

Creekview High School: Serv International

Dean Rusk Middle School: Suzy Griffies

E.T. Booth Middle School: Valorie Duckworth

Etowah High School: Scott Strickland

Free Home Elementary School: Kristin Hornsby

Freedom Middle School: Theresa Spivey

Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Peter Gleichman

Hickory Flat Elementary School: Angie Trimbach

Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Eddie Emmett II

Indian Knoll Elementary School: Michelle Kramer

Johnston Elementary School: Casey Hall

Knox ES STEM Academy: Melissa Owens

Liberty Elementary School: Myriee Graham

Little River Elementary School: Little River Elementary School PTA Executive Board

Macedonia Elementary School: Macedonia Elementary School PTA Executive Board

Mill Creek Middle School: Jennifer Conley

Mountain Road Elementary School: Stephen George

Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy: Chelsey Queen

River Ridge High School: Jessi Kessock

R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Karen Brown

Sequoyah High School: Mark S. Lucas

Sixes Elementary School: Wendy Krug and Alyssa Cheek

Teasley Middle School: Tiffany Bird

Tippens Education Center: Becky Thompson

Woodstock Elementary School: Kathy Mangieri

Woodstock High School: Jim Kivikoski

Woodstock Middle School: Maria Salazar

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