'Legacy Makers' Celebrated At Teachers Of The Year Banquet

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County School District continued its tradition of honoring the men and women tasked with educating its 42,000 students with its 2018 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration.

The annual dinner for the district-level and school-level Teachers of the Year was held Nov. 9 at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center in Canton. The event was made possible thanks to donations from community partners, including presenting sponsors Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton.

Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower congratulated CCSD 2018 Teacher of the Year Stephanie Vidrine of Woodstock Middle School, as well as all school-level winners during the event, which also was attended by district principals, the Superintendent’s Cabinet and the Cherokee County School Board.

“She’s a shining example of our teaching profession,” Dr. Hightower said. “She has shown she’s a tireless advocate for students. Highly capable, highly accomplished, highly motivated. I’m so proud she’s a member of the CCSD family.”

The district Teacher of the Year is chosen by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each school’s candidate; school winners are selected by their peers. Vidrine, a 20-year teacher, is a two-time school-level Teacher of the Year, having previously earned the honor at Etowah High School in 2001.

Kayli Jones, one of Vidrine’s former students, spoke during the awards ceremony about how Vidrine not only is an exceptional teacher, but also a mentor and friend.

Vidrine in her awards dinner speech spoke about the importance teachers have in our lives. She used personal examples, including the high school math teacher who gave Vidrine confidence in her own math abilities, and a former colleague who has served as Vidrine’s teaching mentor since her first day on the job.

Dr. Hightower presented gifts to all of the school Teacher of the Year winners, including a $150 Visa Gift Card, a portrait by Lifetouch National Schools Studio, an engraved plaque and a tote bag filled with supplies and gifts. Vidrine, in addition to the portrait, plaque and gift bag, received:

• A one-year lease of the vehicle of her choice from Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton (she chose a Jeep Wrangler);
• A $1,000 Visa Gift Card funded by Platinum Sponsor Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Gold Sponsor Hewlett Packard;
• A $500 Kroger gift card and gift basket valued at $100 from gold sponsor, Kroger;
• An HP Probook laptop from gold sponsor, Southern Computer Warehouse;
• An HP Envy color printer from silver sponsor, PAGE: the Professional Association of Georgia Educators; and,
• A Fire HD10 tablet from bronze sponsor, Commscope.

Sponsors who made all of the gifts possible are:

• Presenting sponsors: Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton;
• Platinum sponsors: Aramark and Cherokee County Educational Foundation;
• Gold sponsors: Center Cut Catering, Emtec, Hewlett Packard, Kroger, Lifetouch National Schools Studio, Mark Harville Inc., Poole’s Insulation and Southern Computer Warehouse;
• Silver sponsors: Acopia Home Loans, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Cherokee Education Association, Cobb EMC, ContentKeeper, GC & E Systems Group, Georgia Association of Educators, Kajeet, Path & Post Real Estate, PAGE: Professional Association of Georgia Educators; and,
• Bronze sponsors: Chick-fil-A of Canton, Commscope, DataON, FloorCare Specialists Inc., Follett, NOVA Engineering & Environmental and Roly Poly of Woodstock.

“We truly appreciate the support of the sponsors who contribute financially and give gifts for our Teachers of the Year, so together we can show our community how much we appreciate teachers and the work they do each day to make our future brighter,” Dr. Hightower said.

Photo 1: CCSD Teacher of the Year Stephanie Vidrine reacts as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower lists the gifts she will receive thanks to donations from community sponsors.

Photo 2: Cherokee County School District 2018 Teachers of the Year pose for a group photo with the School Board and Superintendent of Schools.

Photo 3: David Booth, center, general manager of Presenting Sponsor, Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton, presents CCSD Teacher of the Year Stephanie Vidrine with the keys to the Jeep Wrangler she will get to drive for the next year, as Shottenkirk CDJR Community Relations Coordinator Ed Denovellis looks on.

Photo credits: Cherokee County School District