Teacher of the Year
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy Educator Named District Teacher of the Year!
The Cherokee County School District saluted educators tonight at the 2024 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration and Crystal Bennett of Ball Ground ES STEM Academy was named CCSD’s Teacher of the Year!
The Legacy Makers event held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center in Canton honored the Teacher of the Year for every CCSD school, including four finalists who were announced in February. Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis opened an envelope at the event’s conclusion to announce that Ms. Bennett is the 2024 CCSD Teacher of the Year!
“Teaching is the most exceptional profession that continues to change lives for the better. Crystal exemplifies the best of our profession, from the thoughtfulness she invests in each carefully crafted lesson to the love and compassion she shows to her students and colleagues,” Dr. Davis said. “Thank you for believing in our students’ limitless potential and ensuring they learn and grow as much as possible in your care.”
Ms. Bennett, a 13-year educator who teaches fifth-grade math, science and social studies at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, will advance as CCSD’s nominee for the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
Ms. Bennett is known for her exceptional STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) instruction and her cross-curricular lessons that transform her classroom and engage students in hands-on learning activities.
She was joined at the event by guests including her husband, Michael; and her parents. Her two daughters both attend Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, which also is Ms. Bennett’s alma mater.
“I’m just a girl from Ball Ground. I’m so thankful as I look out to this audience for all you have done to lead me back home to Ball Ground so my girls can go there,” Ms. Bennett said upon receiving the award. “This means so much to me, especially here in my hometown. I had never dreamt of this.”
The dinner, and the long list of gifts presented to the honorees, all were made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsor donations including Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram of Canton.
David Booth, general manager of Shottenkirk, announced at the event’s close that Ms. Bennett, as CCSD Teacher of the Year, would enjoy a free one-year lease of the vehicle of her choice from Shottenkirk.
The finalists and CCSD Teacher of the Year are selected by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each school’s Teacher of the Year; school winners are selected by their peers. The three other finalists, who received additional gifts and recognition at the event, are: Shannah Dean, Etowah High School, visual arts teacher; Stephanie Hopersberger, fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher, Liberty Elementary School; and Anna Marie Zincone, Freedom Middle School, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) and eighth-grade science teacher.
School Board Chair Kyla Cromer congratulated and thanked the honorees on behalf of the School Board.
“Thank you to each and every one of you for providing meaningful educational experiences to our students,” she said. “Your job is the most influential job in the world.”
All school Teacher of the Year winners each received a $200 Visa gift card purchased with donations from event sponsors; $100 local restaurant gift certificate from Shottenkirk; a free family portrait session from Cady Studios; $25 Amazon gift card from sponsors; $25 gift certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa in Canton; an engraved plaque; $15 Branchwater gift certificate; $15 Branch & Barrel at Avalon gift certificate; $15 Community Burger gift certificate; $10 Riverstone Corner Bistro gift certificate; and a tote bag filled with supplies and gifts from other sponsors.
The finalists, in addition to these gifts, also each received: a Dell Latitude laptop computer from ProLogics ITS; $500 Visa gift card purchased with donations from event sponsors; $200 Visa gift card from Cherokee Floor Covering; choice of CCSD or school logo merchandise from Allegro Business Products valued at $150; $100 gift card from Kroger; $100 gift card from Practically Perfect Day Spa; Birthday in a Box certificate from Nothing Bundt Cakes, valued at $80; gift basket from Buff City Soaps valued at $75; $50 Amazon gift card from Cady Studios; $50 Visa gift card from Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE); $50 gift certificate from Buffalo’s Café; $50 gift certificate from J. Michael’s Prime; gift bag from Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington) valued at $50; gift certificate for a catering tray from Chick-fil-A, Cherokee County; and a $20 gift card from Crumbl Cookie.
Ms. Bennett, in addition to the school winner and finalist gifts already noted, also received:
• Microsoft Surface Pro X laptop computer valued at $1,200 from Southern Computer Warehouse;
• $1,000 Visa gift card from event sponsors;
• Four club-level tickets to a Braves game, including parking and $80s in food credit (valued at $550) from Contour Engineering;
• $500 from EF2 Realty Team;
• One free use of event space gift certificate from Thrive Canton (valued between $500-1,500);
• $250 Visa gift card from Fforg Inc.;
• “Spa Day” Package certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa;
• Free half-hour party from Kona Ice Cherokee;
• Set of PeachSkin Sheets valued at $115;
• Additional $100 Amazon gift card from Cady Studios;
• Additional $100 gift card from Kroger;
• $100 gift card from Educators First
• $100 gift card from Rack Room Shoes;
• Two season passes to the 2024-25 theatre season from Cherokee Theatre Company;
• A gift box valued at $100 from Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington);
• A Compact Laser printer from PAGE;
Sponsors who made all of the gifts possible are:
Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF), Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram;
Platinum Sponsors: Cady Studios, Cobb EMC, Practically Perfect Day Spa, ProLogic ITS, Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW) and Thrive Canton;
Gold Sponsors: Allegro Business Products, Center Cut Catering, Cherokee Foor Covering, Cherokee Theatre Company, EF Tours, Modern Woodmen of America, Imaan International Inc. and Nova Engineering & Environmental LLC;
Silver Sponsors: Branch & Barrel at Avalon, Branchwater, Buff City Soap, Buffalo’s Café, Chick-fil-A Cherokee County, Community Burger, Contour Engineering, EF2 Realty Team, Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington), PeachSkin Sheets, Professional Association of Georgia (PAGE), Riverstone Corner Bistro and The Kroger Co; and,
Bronze Sponsors: Crumbl Cookie, Educators First, Fforg Inc., J. Michael’s Prime, Kona Ice of Cherokee, Marco's Pizza, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt Riverstone, Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock, Rack Room Shoes and World’s Finest Chocolate.
More photos from the event are online here.
#CCSDfam
Above: CCSD Teacher of the Year Crystal Bennett from Ball Ground ES STEM Academy is congratulated by Principal Melinda Roulier. Below: Ms. Bennett is congratulated by David Booth, general manager of Shottenkirk. He announced at the event’s close that Ms. Bennett, as CCSD Teacher of the Year, would enjoy a free one-year lease of the vehicle of her choice from Shottenkirk.
CCSD Announces 2024 Teacher of the Year Finalists
The Cherokee County School District this week surprised four teachers with the news they are finalists for the 2024 CCSD Teacher of the Year award!
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower visited their classrooms to announce that the judging committee selected them as the top teachers of all CCSD schools’ and centers’ Teachers of the Year.
They are: Crystal Bennett, Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy, fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher; Shannah Dean, Etowah High School, visual arts teacher; Stephanie Hopersberger, fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher, Liberty Elementary School; and Anna Marie Zincone, Freedom Middle School, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) and eighth-grade science teacher.
“Congratulations to our amazing finalists and thank you to all of our teachers for their dedication to our students and our community,” Dr. Hightower said. “Our finalists are incredible examples of our school district and our profession, as each exceeds expectations for outstanding classroom instruction, support for students and colleagues and engagement in their school community. As their colleagues and students shared in letters of support, these teachers are the best of the best.”
Each year, four finalists – two selected from all elementary school-level winners and two from all middle, high and centers honorees – are selected by a committee of retired educators, community leaders and the current CCSD Teacher of the Year. Their selection is based on essay answers to questions about their careers and their views on teaching and education, and letters of support from principals, colleagues, students and parents.
The CCSD Teacher of the Year, who is one of the four finalists, will be announced during CCSD’s Legacy Makers celebration for all school honorees this spring. The CCSD winner will represent the school district in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
The Legacy Makers banquet, and the prizes to be awarded to all of the honorees, are made possible by presenting sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton. Additional financial and in-kind sponsorship opportunities are available; interested businesses and organizations are encouraged to please contact Penny Dempsey at penny.dempsey@cherokeek12.net or 770.479.1871.
Crystal Bennett of Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy
Crystal Bennett believes in the transformative power of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.
Now in her 13th year as an educator, the fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher sees daily how lessons focused on exploration and innovation increase student engagement and inspire a love of learning.
“My classroom motto, ‘You are capable of amazing things,’ empowers my students,” said Ms. Bennett, who as a child attended Ball Ground ES where she now teaches. “I believe that an engaged learner is a motivated learner.”
Just as her lessons transform student learning, they also sometimes literally transform her classroom. One such lesson is “Operation Day,” when her classroom turns into a hospital overnight. Students scrub in using black-light activated glowing germ-detecting soap. Then they robe up in hospital gowns, masks and gloves and rotate between surgical tables to complete various lessons. It’s a cross-curricular learning event that involves math, social studies, science and technology lessons.
Continuously raising standards for herself and her students is a hallmark for Ms. Bennett, according to Principal Melinda Roulier.
“Whether it’s dressing up in a crazy outfit, using her karaoke machine to make up songs or turning her whole classroom into a triage unit … you can be sure Ms. Bennett will do whatever it takes to help her students deeply understand the standards they are expected to master,” she said. “Her passion for education, dedication to her students and contributions to our school community make her an outstanding choice for this recognition.”
Shannah Dean of Etowah High School
Shannah Dean doesn’t get to keep her greatest masterpieces: her students.
A 13-year educator, Ms. Dean teaches all levels of visual arts and is known for her great skill and care in including every student, no matter their artistic or learning abilities.
“I feel my classes give students a unique ability to express themselves and I am welcoming to whoever they are,” said Ms. Dean, who also graduated from Etowah. “I teach art skills to help students improve, but my main goal is to give them a place to belong and ability to know that they are important.”
As her colleagues and former students attest, she sees the artist in each student and helps them see opportunities to share their art in the world, whether as a career or a creative outlet. Among her greatest achievements is the establishment of Etowah’s AP (Advanced Placement) program for art, which has grown to three college credit-level courses.
“What Shannah accomplishes academically in a classroom is astonishing. She successfully manages multiple levels of different visual arts courses with varying curricula in the classroom at the same time. She excels in supporting and teaching a variety of different techniques and projects all within the same classroom all while instilling a love of arts in her students,” said Jennifer Jones, CCSD’s administrator for humanities and fine arts. “Shannah is an integral part of the art educator and artist community in Cherokee County.”
Stephanie Hopersberger of Liberty Elementary School
Stephanie Hopersberger, known as “Ms. Hops,” embedded character education lessons and service learning into her classroom “before it was ‘cool.”’
The fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher welcomes students at the door with the choice: handshake, hug or high-five? And then it’s onto the morning meeting where students reflect on a character education topic and also can share what’s on their minds – or hearts. They embark on community service learning projects together, often spurred by concerns shared by students during morning meetings.
Over her 12 years as a teacher at Liberty, Ms. Hops has seen these strategies for positive student engagement and character education spread across the school, school district and nation. Liberty’s success earned it national recognition and, along the way, led Ms. Hops and her colleagues to add new programs to help students, like the support group for students whose parents are divorcing … again, prompted by student conversations in morning meetings.
“While I was doing a small part within a school, it still makes me feel like a pioneer on the path for schools to create better humans for a better future and society,” she said. “With classroom connections, we create an environment where learning flourishes and students feel seen and valued. The essence of teaching lies in the relationships we build.”
Her colleagues and students agree and are quick to share their love for Ms. Hops. “I have never had such a caring or exciting teacher in my entire life,” one student shared. “No one can nor will out-teach Ms. Hopersberger.”
Anna Marie Zincone of Freedom Middle School
Family and Consumer Science is today’s version of home economics, and in Anna Marie Zincone’s class the emphasis is on the science.
After 17 years of teaching middle school science, Ms. Zincone two years ago expanded into teaching Family and Consumer Science (FACS) as well. Through her nine-week FACS class, students see their years of science learning blended into real-life experiences as they cook up delicious “lessons in chemistry.”
“Whether it’s the mysteries of science or the life skills nurtured in practical courses, my goal is to illuminate the path between the theoretical and the practical,” she said. “It’s about bridging the gap between the lessons and the challenges our students face outside these walls.”
Ms. Zincone also adds a delicious dash of fun to her FACS classes through inventive pop culture-inspired lessons like “Kitchen Crime Scene Investigation” and “The Food Truck Project” … combining skills such as kitchen safety and sanitation with report writing and food preparation with social media marketing.
“Anna spends time helping students connect their own experiences to their content,” said retired teacher Mary Chapman, who previously taught Freedom’s FACS classes. “She doesn’t just explain the content, she uses the content to problem solve. Anna’s many hours of planning and preparing classroom lessons are evident through student engagement and enthusiasm to learn. She represents CCSD as a compassionate and strong professional. Her passion for all students and their success is what makes Anna the perfect candidate to represent our schools.”
CCSD Announces 2024 School Teacher of the Year Winners
Photo collage includes surprise presentations at, from left to right, Etowah HS, Creekland MS, Johnton ES, Mountain Road ES, Woodstock MS, ACTIVE Academies and R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy.
Congratulations to the Cherokee County School District’s 2024 School Teachers of the Year winners!
Every school year, every CCSD school’s teachers and staff are asked to select a Teacher of the Year for their school. These school-level winners now are eligible for the honor of Cherokee County School District 2024 Teacher of the Year.
The districtwide competition is judged by a panel of retired educators and community partners based on applications submitted by the school-level winners. Four CCSD Finalists will be announced later this month by the Superintendent of Schools. They, along with all school winners, will be honored at the Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration this spring at which the CCSD 2024 Teacher of the Year will be announced. The overall CCSD winner will be entered into the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
“These honorees are the best of our best and represent who our outstanding educators believe best represents their profession and their school,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “I am thankful for their dedication to ensuring our students receive the best education possible and are shown each day that their teacher cares about them and their overall success.”
The annual Legacy Makers celebration, and gifts presented to the honorees, are sponsored by Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram of Canton. Additional financial and in-kind sponsorship opportunities are available; interested businesses and organizations are encouraged to please contact Penny Dempsey at penny.dempsey@cherokeek12.net or 770.479.1871.
Congratulations to CCSD’s 2024 School Teachers of the Year:
ACTIVE Academies: Jeanne Rottner
Arnold Mill Elementary School: Allison Buzeta
Avery Elementary School: Miranda Satterfield
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Crystal Bennett
Bascomb Elementary School: Alle Campbell
Boston Elementary School: Melissa Phillips
Carmel Elementary School: Samantha Harrington Karel
CCSD Preschool Centers: Stephanie Timbol
Cherokee High School: Hillary Baxter
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Ashley Murphy
Clayton Elementary School: Kari Brooks
Creekland Middle School: Kristie Stannard
Creekview High School: Andrea Sheldon
Dean Rusk Middle School: Amanda Coleman
E.T. Booth Middle School: Jamie Stahler
Etowah High School: Shannah Dean
Free Home Elementary School: Annsley Cochran
Freedom Middle School: Anna Zincone
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Carson O'Bryant
Hickory Flat Elementary School: Katie Bertram
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Amanda Anderson
Indian Knoll Elementary School: Kristin Towns
Johnston Elementary School: Joshua Philpot
Knox ES STEM Academy: Kara Gleason-Haynes
Liberty Elementary School: Stephanie Hopersberger
Little River Elementary School: Stephanie Keenum
Macedonia Elementary School: Kinsley Welch
Mill Creek Middle School: Laurie Taylor
Mountain Road Elementary School: Kristen Mitchell
Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy: Jessica Cole
R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Lindsay Hudgins
River Ridge High School: Mary Bisgrove
Sequoyah High School: Cora Hodgins
Sixes Elementary School: Carollyn Brown
Teasley Middle School: Cheryl Stephenson
Tippens Education Center: Curtis Durham
Woodstock Elementary School: Leeann Logue
Woodstock High School: Courteney Hooks
Woodstock Middle School: Jules Dingman
#CCSDfam