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.
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.
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.
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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