Four Athens Academy Faculty Members to Receive Distinguished Service Awards

During the Georgia Independent School Association conference this November, four faculty members of Athens Academy will each receive the Distinguished Service Award for having dedicated at least 25 years of service to independent schools.

Cindy Boerma, Ley Brown, Randy Reid, and Beth Shaw will be recognized for the achievement, according to a news release from the school.

About the teachers:

Cindy Boerma has taught four-year-olds in the Athens Academy Preschool since 1988.  She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. Several years ago, Cindy and fellow K4 teacher Deena Eberhardt self-published a book, We Don’t Wear Pajamas at Our House, a collection of funny and endearing observations from their students over the years.

Ley Brown joined the Upper School faculty in the fall of 2004, and as a member of the humanities department he teaches European history, AP Microeconomics, and world history.   In addition to his teaching, Ley is also the head coach for the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams and is assistant coach for Middle School football.  He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Mississippi and a master’s in English literature from Middlebury College.  During his 25 years in education, Ley previously taught at Westminster, Marist, and Wesleyan in Atlanta, as well as Brentwood Academy in Tennessee.

Humanities Department Chair Randy Reid has taught in the Upper School since 1987.  In addition to heading up the department, he teaches U.S. history and “Visions in Literature and Film,” one of the most popular classes at Athens Academy, and has coached both girls’ soccer and girls’ basketball.  Randy received his bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University and his master’s from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

Orchestra teacher Beth Shaw has been a member of the Athens Academy faculty since 1988, when she began the school’s concert band and orchestra programs.  She is currently the chair of the music department, and she and colleague Debbie Schab teach orchestra to over 150 students in grades 2-12.  Beth has a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Georgia. 

Don’t miss any Oconee news. Subscribe to Oconee Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.