CCSD Celebrates Share The Love Contest Winners

Press release from CCSD:

Feb. 21, 2023

The Cherokee County School District celebrated Valentine’s Day by surprising winners of its second annual Share the Love contest!

Thanks to the sponsorship of Credit Union of Georgia, CCSD this month gave families the opportunity to nominate their child’s teacher or a support staff member at their child’s school to win a $250 Visa gift card.

The contest was announced in the monthly CCSD Connections parent newsletter, and four winners were selected at random from all of the nominations.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey presented the gift cards and other gifts to the four winners: Knox Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Sandy Giudice, Liberty Elementary School teacher Tiffany Wilson, Little River Elementary School teacher Chesley Blosser and Sixes Elementary School teacher Melissa Perryman. The presentations were a surprise and were greeted with applause and cheers from teachers and colleagues.

“Thank you to our community for helping us show your love to these outstanding educators,” Dr. Hightower said. “We received hundreds of entries praising everyone from teachers to counselors to bus drivers to cafeteria staff. Thank you to all of our employees for the love you show to our students and our community each day. We appreciate you and all that you do!”

The drawing was at random, but CCSD asked those entering the contest to share why the person they nominated deserved special recognition. Here are excerpts from their submissions:

Ms. Giudice, who is a past CCSD Teacher of the Year, was nominated by Kaylee Granger, mom of third-grader Adrian Granger. “Mrs. Giudice has been so helpful and accommodating during my son’s transition into Knox from out of state. She’s understanding and always available to talk. I can tell she really cares about her students,” Ms. Granger said. “She’s an absolute angel. I am so grateful that my son has her this year. I don’t know what we’d do without her!”

Ms. Blosser, who teaches fifth grade math, science and social studies, was nominated by Ana Nagel, mom of fifth-grader Michael Nagel. “Every fall I worry about the teacher my child will have for 180 days out of the year, but I feel like we hit the jackpot this year! Mrs. Blosser has created an environment where students are affirmed and affirm each other. This is something that I have seen my son continue at home and it’s been simply wonderful!” Ms. Nagel said “My son loves her science experiments and her creative ways of teaching math. She presents the students with fun and creative ways to challenge them to do their best work.”

Ms. Wilson, who teaches AIM gifted classes, was nominated by Tiffany Reichert, mom of fourth-grader Kyden Oliver. “Mrs. Wilson is amazing! She is such a fun, loving and supportive teacher,” Ms. Reichert said. “She makes learning fun. We are so grateful to have her.”

Ms. Perryman, who also is her school’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, was nominated by Hannah Luckie, mom of second-grader Sara Luckie. “I love the way that Ms. Perryman brings students with different abilities and brings them all together so that they not only learn, but also enjoy class. They love her and being in her class so much when she walks them out each day my daughter along with the others want to hug her and stay at school with her,” Ms. Luckie wrote. “I don’t know how she does what she does! These kids not only love her, but they love the way she works with and teaches them.”

The names of all the nominated teachers and support staff are posted online at http://www.cherokeek12.net/News/sharelove23

This press release was produced by CCSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.