Chase Street's Beth Upchurch Wins Statewide Award

By Anisa Sullivan Jimenez

A Chase Street Elementary School gifted teacher has been named a Fountain Award recipient by State Superintendent John Barge. Elizabeth (Beth) Upchurch was surprised by the announcement earlier today when Barge was at the school. He was there to honor Chase for having been named a National Blue Ribbon School.

Fountain Awards are given four times per year. They began in fall 2011 when presented to Marty Fountain, a teacher and coach who significantly influenced Superintendent Barge. Upchurch was nominated for the award by Rachel Kulikoff, Clarke Central High School’s 2011 valedictorian and Clarke County’s STAR Student. 

“Ms. Upchurch encouraged and inspired me to grow into a better person, to give back to my community and to care about the world we live in,” said Kulikoff, who was in Upchurch’s 9^th grade physical science class and led Clarke Central’s environmental club, sponsored by Upchurch. 

Upchurch began her career in Clarke County in 1999, as a science teacher at Clarke Central High School. In 2010, she began teaching gifted education at Chase Street. She was graduated from Miami (Ohio) University with a focus in environmental studies, and her master’s was from the University of Georgia in education. 

“In Beth Upchurch’s class, the students are partners in learning, and the excitement and engagement is contagious,” said Principal Adam Kurtz. “We at Chase are fortunate to have such exceptional teachers who make sure positive impacts on our students – both academically and socially. Ms. Upchurch embodies the qualities that are at the very core of our school.” 

The award is sponsored by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in education, and the public is invited to nominate a teacher who had a profound impact on someone’s life and career.