Riverwood Charter Announces Teacher, Professional Of The Year

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Riverwood International Charter School has announced its 2019-2020 Teacher and Professional of the Year.

Joel Kadish was named Riverwood’s-2019-2020 Teacher of the Year and Ashley Holmes was named Riverwood’s 2019-20 Professional of the Year. The Riverwood faculty and staff nominated and voted for this year’s recipients and the honorees received their awards at a March faculty meeting.

Kadish is in his 12th year at Riverwood where he teaches AP Government and IB 20th Century History. He is the sponsor of the Student Government Association with student activities and student advocacy. Kadish has a bachelor of arts in history and bachelor of science in education and social studies from the University of Georgia, and a masters of social studies education from Georgia State University. He will complete an education specialist, history education degree this summer. Aside from teaching at Riverwood, he is an alumnus of the school and grew up Sandy Springs. He currently resides in Dunwoody with a 93 pound black Labrador Retriever, aptly named “Fillibuster”.

Holmes serves as a Riverwood school counselor in the Student Services Department, working with AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) and Dual Enrollment students. She began her tenure at Riverwood in August 2018. Holmes is the sponsor of the Step Team and co-sponsor of the Black Student Union. She is a National Certified Counselor and has a bachelor of arts, speech communication and master of education, professional counseling from the University of Georgia. Holmes grew up in Decatur and graduated from Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia. In her free time she enjoys singing, traveling, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the dogs. She is engaged to her fiance, Andre, and will get married later in 2020.

“Riverwood is a special place be," Holmes said. "I feel that I've grown tremendously as a professional in my time here. At Riverwood, I never know what each day holds. As a counselor, I see a range of students and situations that keep me on my toes. I try to make sure that in my work, that all of my students feel valued, heard, and like they have an advocate working on their behalf.”