Teachers Win Educational Foundation 'On The Road' Contest

WOODSTOCK, GA -- The winners of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s third annual On the Road with CCEF Contest traveled the globe spreading its message of supporting public education.

Through the contest, the Cherokee County School District employee who wore his or her CCEF 2016 T-shirt at the furthest location from the county during summer break would win a $200 Visa gift card.

Every CCSD employee who entered the contest (even those who didn’t travel far) also was eligible for a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card.

Employees shared photos of their travels in their CCEF T-shirts to foreign countries to learn, visit loved ones and volunteer. Foundation Board Secretary Amanda Arnold said the contest is a wonderful way to raise awareness for CCEF and thank educators.

Freedom Middle School seventh-grade science teacher Martin Pracht won for the greatest distance traveled: 9,810 miles to 12 Apostles Marine National Park in Princetown VIC, Australia.

Arnold, who represents Credit Union of Georgia on the board, presented the $200 prize to Pracht in front of a class of cheering students. She was joined by School Board Chair Kyla Cromer and CCEF Board Member Debbie Rabjohn.

Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy Assistant Principal Jillian Nichols won the random drawing. She traveled to Skopje, Macedonia, to visit her best friend, who is a missionary at the 25th of May Orphanage. Nichols plans to donate her $100 prize to the orphanage.

The 2016 T-shirt theme was: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” which is a quote by Nelson Mandela. The T-shirts are sold in CCSD schools every fall to generate awareness of CCEF’s mission: supporting the students and staff of CCSD by promoting teaching and learning and celebrating achievements. The Foundation seeks funding and resources to enrich CCSD schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program.

The Foundation, since forming in 2012, has donated more than $120,000 to CCSD through grants to teachers, schools and programs and scholarships to students.

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Photo 1: Freedom Middle School seventh-grade science teacher Martin Pracht won the 2016 “On the Road with CCEF” for the greatest distance traveled: 9,810 miles to 12 Apostles Marine National Park in Princetown VIC, Australia.
Photo 2: Celebrating Mr. Pracht’s win are, from left, School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, Freedom Middle School Principal Sheila Grimes, CCEF Board Secretary Amanda Arnold and CCEF Board Member Debbie Rabjohn.
Photo 3: Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy Assistant Principal Jillian Nichols, back center, is congratulated by fifth-graders and CCEF Board Secretary Amanda Arnold, second from right, and Board Member Debbie Rabjohn.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District