Cherokee Educator Named Media Specialist Of The Year

CANTON, GA -- Cherokee High School media center’s transformation from an old-school library to a modern, collaborative learning space has earned Anne Nechvatal the honor of Cherokee County School District 2017 Media Specialist of the Year.

Nechvatal, who sees the center as “the largest classroom in the school,” was surprised Monday morning with the award by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower and school board members in front of an audience of the school’s faculty and her husband.

She now will represent Cherokee County in the state-level competition. The presentation and reception that followed were sponsored by Northside Hospital-Cherokee, a school district partner.

Dr. Hightower praised Nechvatal for her dedication to digital learning.

“You’ve turned the media center upside down to make sure it’s relevant for your students and teachers,” Dr. Hightower said, applauding her focus on staying up to date in an “age of information." “Anne is a shining example of everything we want a media specialist to be.”

Nechvatal, who was congratulated with a standing ovation, said she was “very honored and overwhelmed” by the surprise. She also was quick to acknowledge the work of her fellow media specialist, Vicki Barbre, noting “this is really her honor as well.”

The award process begins with each Innovation Zone (high school and feeder elementary and middle schools) selecting a Media Specialist for the Year. Applications from these honorees then are considered by a panel of retired educators and community leaders, who select the district's Media Specialist of the Year.

In addition to Nechvatal for the Cherokee Innovation Zone (IZ), the other zone winners are: Creekview IZ – Hollen Pope, Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy; Etowah IZ – Denise Lewis, Etowah High School; River Ridge IZ – Keara Rubin, River Ridge High School; Sequoyah IZ – Mia Temples, Hickory Flat Elementary School; and Woodstock IZ – Kimberly George, Sixes Elementary School.

They all will be recognized by Dr. Hightower and the school board at their March 16 meeting.

Nechvatal is a graduate of Oglethorpe University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She earned her masters of education degree in school library media at the University of West Georgia, where she also completed her education specialist degree.

A previous winner of the Creekview IZ’s Media Specialist of the Year Award, Nechvatal joined Cherokee High School two years ago and since then has focused on updating the media center and its resources to increase benefits to students and teachers. She also serves as the school’s Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Team coach and judges senior projects.

“My mission for the CHS media center is to create a space that is open, accessible and user-friendly; put simply, a place where students want to come,” said Nechvatal, who previously served as a media specialist at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy.

Dr. Pam Andes, as graduation coach at the school, sees students benefit from the media center’s resources and additional learning opportunities.

“Our students are waiting for the media center to open each morning in order to spend time here before school begins,” Dr. Andes said. “Students know that she will assist them with any issues in the media center. She truly cares about our students and wants our media center to be second to none.”

Nechvatal has applied for grants to improve the center and develops activities to increase student traffic, such as the annual Technology “Smackdown” event.

“Building relationships is one of the most important parts of being an effective media specialist," she said. "I strive to understand the wants and needs of both our students and teachers. I feel like the students are my customers, and I want to offer them the best customer service possible. I try not to ever let them go away empty handed.”

Principal Todd Miller thanked Nechvatal for all of her efforts that led to the honor.

“Thank you for what you do each day and for turning our media center into a digital learning center,” he said.

Photo 1: Cherokee High School Media Specialist Anne Nechvatal gets a congratulatory hug from social studies teacher Angie Pannell after the surprise announcement that she was chosen as the Cherokee County School District’s 2017 Media Specialist of the Year.

PHOTO 2: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower, congratulates CCSD 2017 Media Specialist of the Year Anne Nechvatal, as Cherokee High School Principal Todd Miller looks on.

PHOTO 3: From left to right, School Board member Kelly Poole, School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, and Jennifer Stanley of Northside Hospital-Cherokee, which sponsored by the award presentation and reception, congratulate CCSD 2017 Media Specialist of the Year Anne Nechvatal of Cherokee High School, center, with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower and Principal Todd Miller.

PHOTO 4: Cherokee County School District 2017 Media Specialist of the Year Anne Nechvatal of Cherokee High School receives a congratulatory hug from colleague Vicki Barbre after the surprise presentation on Monday, March 6, 2017.

PHOTO 5: Anne Nechvatal is congratulated by her husband, Gerry, as part of the surprise announcement that she is CCSD's Media Specialist of the Year, as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and Principal Todd Miller look on.

PHOTO 6: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, right, awards flowers and plaque to CCSD 2017 Media Specialist of the Year Anne Nechvatal, center, as fellow media specialist Vicki Barbre, left, hugs her.

PHOTO 7: Following the surprise, CCSD 2017 Media Specialist of the Year Anne Nechvatal was celebrated at a reception in the media center with cake, punch and coffee. The presentation and reception were sponsored by Northside Hospital-Cherokee, a CCSD Partner.

Photo credits: Cherokee County School District