Judge Marion T. Pope Jr.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) is now accepting nominations for its second annual Alumni of the Year Awards.
The Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Cherokee County School District, presented the first-ever Alumni of the Year Awards at its inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala in March.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation announced today that it is accepting applications for its third annual round of IMPACT Grants to encourage and support innovative and creative ideas in teaching and learning in the Cherokee County School District.
Due to growing public support, the Foundation Board has allotted $25,000 for the third round of grant awards… an increase from $15,000 last school year.
The Foundation will fund IMPACT Grants of as much as $2,500 per winning proposal; the application is posted on the CCEF and CCSD websites. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 11, 2016; no exceptions to this deadline will be made. Grants will be presented to winning applicants on Feb. 12, 2016.
Last school year’s grant winners included a variety of “bright ideas” ranging StoryCorps-inspired media center recording studio to archive a high school community’s oral histories to mobile gardening labs for first- and second-graders to learn about science (and to love vegetables) to equipping an elementary school with a 3D printer so students can see their engineering designs come to life.
Applications may be submitted by CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; teams of CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; CCSD administrators; or CCSD department heads.
A committee made up of Foundation Board members will review applications, which must meet the following criteria: strengthens academics; demonstrates a creative and innovative approach to education; provides meaningful and engaging instruction for students; is well thought-out with a long-term benefit; incorporates budget details; and, includes the official application completed in its entirety.
Applications require a narrative that outlines, among other information, how: the project will benefit a defined target population and strengthen education; the project relates to the school’s School Improvement Plan or the School District’s Five-Year Strategic Plan; the applicant will collaborate with the community; project expenditures and the sustainability of the project if applicable; and how outcomes of the project will be shared with colleagues and the community.
Grant recipients are required to complete a grant evaluation report at the end of the grant cycle.
For more information, see the website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (770) 704-4213 and leave a voicemail message.
A new 5K and Fun Run has raised $15,000 for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF) and Cherokee County Special Olympics.
Proceeds from the Chick-fil-A Connect Race Series 5K and Fun Run, which was held earlier this month in downtown Canton, were presented by Cherokee County Chick-fil-A operators on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, to representatives from the two organizations.
Organizers said the event’s success is a tribute to the community’s support of the Cherokee County School District, which will benefit directly from the funds donated to CCEF. One school already has received a grant from these proceeds.
Teasley Middle School’s teachers, administrators and students were glowing as they received a $1,000 grant from CCEF.
Dressed in neon yellow T-shirts from the 5K and Fun Run, the staff and students accepted their school’s award for having the highest participation in the event of any CCSD school. The Foundation offered the grant as an incentive to encourage teachers, parents and students to participate in the 5K and Fun Run.
The check presentation was made by CCEF Board Vice President Billy Hayes of Northside Hospital-Cherokee, Secretary and Awareness Chairwoman Amanda Arnold of Credit Union of Georgia and Fundraising Chairman Kevin Williams of Chick-fil-A of Canton, who organized the run with his fellow Chick-fil-A operators in Cherokee County. Northside Hospital-Cherokee and Credit Union of Georgia were among the event’s Gold sponsors, which also included Cherokee Ford, Ready Mix USA, Southeast Restoration Group and The Home Depot. A second annual 5K and Fun Run already is being planned for next August.
“The Cherokee County Educational Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the schools, teachers and students of the Cherokee County School District, and we greatly appreciate the support that they show for this mission,” said Ms. Arnold, who also serves as the Board’s Awareness Chair.
The Foundation’s next fundraiser is the annual CCEF Golf Classic, which is on Sept. 29 at Woodmont Golf & Country Club. Sponsorships are available at levels beginning at $250. For information, see the website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org.
The Chick-fil-A operators of Cherokee County on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015 presented $15,000 in proceeds from the Chick-fil-A Connect Race Series 5K and Fun Run held earlier this month in downtown Canton to the beneficiaries: the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and Cherokee County Special Olympics.
Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Vice President Billy Hayes, right; Secretary and Awareness Chairwoman Amanda Arnold and Fundraising Chairman Kevin Williams present a $1,000 grant to Teasley Middle School as an award for the highest participation in the Chick-fil-A Connect Race Series 5K and Fun Run that benefited CCEF and the Cherokee County Special Olympics.
Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Secretary and Awareness Chairwoman Amanda Arnold, left, present a $1,000 grant to Teasley Middle School Principal Dr. Sue Zinkil.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala on March 14 benefiting the Cherokee County School District netted $50,000 and honored outstanding teachers, students, partners, volunteers and alumni.
The black-tie optional event at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton, co-hosted by CCEF and presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee, was attended by more than 350 guests and included dinner, awards, a silent auction and the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show.
Foundation Board Members Amanda Arnold, Vice President for Credit Union of Georgia, and Debbie Rabjohn, River Ridge High School PTSA President, served as Gala Committee Co-Chairs.
“We greatly appreciate the community’s support of our inaugural Gala, which will assist the Foundation in its mission of supporting the School District through grants for schools, teachers and students,” Mrs. Arnold said. “The night was a wonderful celebration, and we look forward to many annual Galas to come.”
The “CCSD’s Got Talent” grand prize winner, River Ridge High School’s B’Acapella group (Matt Ainsley, Tolu Babalola, Josh Butler, Brent Flynn, Jesse Huskey, Megan Lerner, Saxon Olson, Camden Pruitt, Ricky Rudolph, Nate Sahlberg and Rachel Woods) won a $1,000 grant for the school; and the runner-up, Sequoyah High School’s duo of Amanda Roark and Alan Stein, won a $500 grant. Each of the schools received an honorarium for participating in the competition.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo was honored as the event’s Honorary Chair, and other special guests included the CCSD Teacher of the Year, Media Specialist of the Year, Counselor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
The Gala launched a new, major award to be presented annually by the Foundation: the Alumni of the Year Award, which will honor at least one CCSD high school alumnus and one alumna each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions.
The inaugural Alumni of the Year Award recipients were Judge Marion T. Pope Jr., who served as Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge and as a member of the House of Representatives among many other accomplishments; and Janice Prather, a lifetime educator whose career included serving as an Assistant Superintendent and Principal for the School District among other roles and is the immediate past president of the Retired Educators Association.
Foundation Board President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. presented both with plaques featuring medallions made by Creekview High School’s art department, and both were applauded with standing ovations. For the 2016 and subsequent Alumni of the Year Award presentations, the Foundation Board will accept nominations from the community.
Mr. Hasty during the Gala also announced another new project being undertaken by the Foundation: the establishment of a Cherokee County Educators Hall of Fame. Nominations for the first class will be accepted from the community in the coming year, with Mrs. Prather to be included in the inaugural group.
The evening included many special recognitions of educators and students including the cocktail hour music provided by Teasley Middle School students, the selection of Creekland Middle School teacher John Carter for master of ceremonies and the centerpieces created by Cherokee High School agriculture teacher Sarah Scarborough and her students. The Foundation presented grants to all of these schools as honorariums of appreciation for their participation.
The Foundation (CCEF) is a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission of supporting students and staff of the School District by promoting teaching and learning and celebrating achievements. The Foundation seeks funding and resources to enrich schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program.
All money raised by CCEF through the Gala and its other fundraisers is returned to the School District and its students, teachers and schools through donations, grant opportunities and other support. Since its establishment in 2012, CCEF has awarded more than $45,000 in grants to students, teachers and schools.
For more information about the Foundation, please see the website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org or the Foundation’s page on Facebook.
PHOTO 1: Cherokee County Educational Foundation ‘Celebration of Education’ Gala Co-Chairs Amanda Arnold, left, and Debbie Rabjohn, second from left, congratulate River Ridge High School’s B’Acapella group for winning the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show held as part of the inaugural event on March 14 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center. As first-place winners, the school received a $1,000 grant from the Foundation and a trophy.
PHOTO 2: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. presents an Alumni of the Year Awards to Janice Prather.
PHOTO 3: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. presents an Alumni of the Year Awards to Judge Marion T. Pope Jr.
PHOTO 4: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr., second from left, and Gala Co-Chairwoman Amanda Arnold thank Gala presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee during the program with a plaque featuring a medallion crafted by Creekview High School’s art department. The plaque was accepted by NH-C executives including CEO Billy Hayes, left, and Dr. Matthew Simmons, right, of Northside Cherokee Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Mr. Hayes also serves as Vice President of the Foundation’s Board.
PHOTO 5: Sequoyah High School’s duo of Amanda Roark and Alan Stein was named runner-up in the ‘CCSD’s Got Talent’ competition and won a $500 grant from the Foundation for their school.
PHOTO 6: Brady Payne and McKenzie Miklitsch of Cherokee High School perform 'Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better' during the talent show.
PHOTO 7: Creekview High School was represented in the competition by Paul DiCicco, who played 'Rhapsody in Blue.'
PHOTO 8: Etowah High School’s Sydney Wakeford and Jacob Kirk perform 'Legally Blonde' during the show.
PHOTO 9: Woodstock High School was represented by the band, The Fourshores: Alec Caslow, Logan Cornelison, Jake Davidson and Brett Sidney, which performed an original song.
PHOTO 10: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo served as Honorary Chair of the event.
The winners of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s second annual “On the Road with CCEF” Contest for Cherokee County School District employees spread the message of supporting public education both near and far!
For the first time, the contest included two prizes… one for the CCSD employee who wore a CCEF 2015 T-shirt to the destination the farthest from Cherokee County during summer break, and one who was selected from a random drawing of all entries.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala on March 14 benefiting the Cherokee County School District netted $50,000 and honored outstanding teachers, students, partners, volunteers and alumni.
The black-tie optional event at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton, co-hosted by CCEF and presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee, was attended by more than 350 guests and included dinner, awards, a silent auction and the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show.
Foundation Board Members Amanda Arnold, Vice President for Credit Union of Georgia, and Debbie Rabjohn, River Ridge High School PTSA President, served as Gala Committee Co-Chairs.
“We greatly appreciate the community’s support of our inaugural Gala, which will assist the Foundation in its mission of supporting the School District through grants for schools, teachers and students,” Mrs. Arnold said. “The night was a wonderful celebration, and we look forward to many annual Galas to come.”
The “CCSD’s Got Talent” grand prize winner, River Ridge High School’s B’Acapella group (Matt Ainsley, Tolu Babalola, Josh Butler, Brent Flynn, Jesse Huskey, Megan Lerner, Saxon Olson, Camden Pruitt, Ricky Rudolph, Nate Sahlberg and Rachel Woods) won a $1,000 grant for the school; and the runner-up, Sequoyah High School’s duo of Amanda Roark and Alan Stein, won a $500 grant. Each of the schools received an honorarium for participating in the competition.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo was honored as the event’s Honorary Chair, and other special guests included the CCSD Teacher of the Year, Media Specialist of the Year, Counselor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
The Gala launched a new, major award to be presented annually by the Foundation: the Alumni of the Year Award, which will honor at least one CCSD high school alumnus and one alumna each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions.
The inaugural Alumni of the Year Award recipients were Judge Marion T. Pope Jr., who served as Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge and as a member of the House of Representatives among many other accomplishments; and Janice Prather, a lifetime educator whose career included serving as an Assistant Superintendent and Principal for the School District among other roles and is the immediate past president of the Retired Educators Association.
Foundation Board President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. presented both with plaques featuring medallions made by Creekview High School’s art department, and both were applauded with standing ovations. For the 2016 and subsequent Alumni of the Year Award presentations, the Foundation Board will accept nominations from the community.
Mr. Hasty during the Gala also announced another new project being undertaken by the Foundation: the establishment of a Cherokee County Educators Hall of Fame. Nominations for the first class will be accepted from the community in the coming year, with Mrs. Prather to be included in the inaugural group.
The evening included many special recognitions of educators and students including the cocktail hour music provided by Teasley Middle School students, the selection of Creekland Middle School teacher John Carter for master of ceremonies and the centerpieces created by Cherokee High School agriculture teacher Sarah Scarborough and her students. The Foundation presented grants to all of these schools as honorariums of appreciation for their participation.
The Gala was made possible due an impressive list of sponsors that joined presenting sponsor, Northside Hospital-Cherokee, in supporting CCEF:The Foundation (CCEF) is a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission of supporting students and staff of the School District by promoting teaching and learning and celebrating achievements. The Foundation seeks funding and resources to enrich schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program.
All money raised by CCEF through the Gala and its other fundraisers is returned to the School District and its students, teachers and schools through donations, grant opportunities and other support. Since its establishment in 2012, CCEF has awarded more than $45,000 in grants to students, teachers and schools.
For more information about the Foundation, please see the website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org or the Foundation’s page on Facebook.
PHOTO 1: Cherokee County Educational Foundation ‘Celebration of Education’ Gala Co-Chairs Amanda Arnold, left, and Debbie Rabjohn, second from left, congratulate River Ridge High School’s B’Acapella group for winning the “CCSD’s Got Talent” high school student talent show held as part of the inaugural event on March 14 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center. As first-place winners, the school received a $1,000 grant from the Foundation and a trophy.
PHOTO 2: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. presents an Alumni of the Year Awards to Janice Prather.
PHOTO 3: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr. presents an Alumni of the Year Awards to Judge Marion T. Pope Jr.
PHOTO 4: Foundation Board President William ‘Billy’ G. Hasty Jr., second from left, and Gala Co-Chairwoman Amanda Arnold thank Gala presenting sponsor Northside Hospital-Cherokee during the program with a plaque featuring a medallion crafted by Creekview High School’s art department. The plaque was accepted by NH-C executives including CEO Billy Hayes, left, and Dr. Matthew Simmons, right, of Northside Cherokee Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Mr. Hayes also serves as Vice President of the Foundation’s Board.
PHOTO 5: Sequoyah High School’s duo of Amanda Roark and Alan Stein was named runner-up in the ‘CCSD’s Got Talent’ competition and won a $500 grant from the Foundation for their school.
PHOTO 6: Brady Payne and McKenzie Miklitsch of Cherokee High School perform 'Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better' during the talent show.
PHOTO 7: Creekview High School was represented in the competition by Paul DiCicco, who played 'Rhapsody in Blue.'
PHOTO 8: Etowah High School’s Sydney Wakeford and Jacob Kirk perform 'Legally Blonde' during the show.
PHOTO 9: Woodstock High School was represented by the band, The Fourshores: Alec Caslow, Logan Cornelison, Jake Davidson and Brett Sidney, which performed an original song.
PHOTO 10: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo served as Honorary Chair of the event.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 surprised Cherokee County School District teachers and students with a total of $15,000 awarded through its second annual round of competitive IMPACT Grants.
The grants will fund projects ranging from a StoryCorps-inspired media center recording studio to archive a high school community’s oral histories to mobile gardening labs for first- and second-graders to learn about science (and to love vegetables) to equipping an elementary school with a 3D printer so students can see their engineering designs come to life!
Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Secretary Amanda Arnold said the day of surprise “Prize Patrol”-style grant presentations with oversized checks, balloons, bouquets of flowers and cheering crowds of students is the “highlight of the year” for the Board.
“It’s so inspiring to read the grant applications and realize the creativity and dedication of the teachers in CCSD classrooms… and it’s incredibly fulfilling to make those visions become reality through these grants,” said Ms. Arnold, who represents Credit Union of Georgia on the Board. “We appreciate every donation the Foundation has received, as it allows us to show schools, teachers and students how much the community cares about them.”
The grant application process was open to individual CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; teams of CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; CCSD administrators; or CCSD department heads.
Through public support, the Foundation offers IMPACT Grants of as much as $2,500 per winning proposal, and on Friday eight grants were awarded; a ninth grant to be awarded later this month will bring the total to $15,000… which is an increase from $10,000 awarded last school year.
A committee made up of Foundation Board members reviewed the applications and selected proposals they determined would best strengthen academics; demonstrate a creative and innovative approach to education; provide meaningful and engaging instruction for students; and have a long-term benefit.
The 2015 IMPACT Grants presented on Friday are:
AVERY ES: Avery Elementary School teachers Tori Sinco, left, and Ashley West, fourth from left, accept a $2,399.40 IMPACT Grant from the Cherokee County Educational Foundation for their ‘Bringing Movement to Math’ idea to combine math and fun physical activity across the two grades they teach – kindergarten and fifth. Celebrating with them are CCEF Board Members, from left to right, Fundraising Chairman Kevin Williams, Vice President Billy Hayes, Colleen Blackwell, Debbie Rabjohn and Rod Drake.
CLARK CREEK ES STEM ACADEMY: Clark Creek ES STEM Academy Media Specialist Madeline Hall, right, gets a congratulatory hug from Principal Dr. Jennifer Scrivner for winning a $2,500 CCEF IMPACT Grant to create a STEM and art-inspired lab in the media center.
JOHNSTON ES: Johnston Elementary School teacher Julie Peppers, second from left, accepts a $1,325 CCEF IMPACT Grant for the school’s planned walking track.
RIVER RIDGE HS: River Ridge HS Media Specialist Keara Rubin, third from left, hugs Ms. Rabjohn upon learning that she and colleague Leslie O’Bryant, second from left, won a $1,900 CCEF IMPACT Grant for their media center recording studio project.
CANTON ES STEM ACADEMY: Canton Elementary School STEM Academy teachers won a $1,425 CCEF IMPACT Grant for a Flash Force 3D Engineering project. Celebrating the donation are, from left to right, CCEF Board Member Rod Drake, teacher David Cornn, Board Members Colleen Blackwell, Debbie Rabjohn and Kevin Williams and teachers Judy Wright and Emma Griffin.
WOODSTOCK ES: Woodstock Elementary School teacher Debby Pinion, right, shows her delight upon winning a CCEF IMPACT Grant for her idea to create mobile gardening labs for first- and second-graders. OAK GROVE ES FINE ARTS ACADEMY: Oak Grove Elementary School Fine Arts Academy teachers Kristin Guinther and Lisa Reidy hug upon learning they won a CCEF IMPACT Grant for their Homework Help program.
Mill Creek MS: From left to right, Cherokee County Educational Foundation Board Secretary Amanda Arnold and Board Member Colleen Blackwell applaud Mill Creek Middle School teacher Becky Stodola, as Board Member Debbie Rabjohn and students cheer her on for winning a $1,880 IMPACT Grant to expand her annual Paper & Tape Festival. The Foundation on Friday, Feb. 13, surprised teachers and schools throughout the Cherokee County School District with a total of $15,000 in grants for “bright ideas.”
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation will expand its efforts to raise awareness and funds for the Cherokee County School District with the presentation of its inaugural “Celebration of Education” Gala on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
The event sold out quickly and tickets are no longer available.
The black-tie optional event at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. and dinner, awards and entertainment at 7:30 p.m.
The event’s presenting sponsor is Northside Hospital-Cherokee.
“The Foundation Board is so pleased to host this inaugural Gala that will both celebrate and benefit all of the important work being done every day by the School District to provide a quality education to each of Cherokee County’s children,” Board President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. said. “Our students, teachers and schools consistently rank among the best in our country, and our alumni have found great success on many different paths… these accomplishments would not be possible without our community’s support, which we hope to have for this special evening.”
Sponsorship opportunities ranging from $5,000 to $500 are available. Other major sponsors already committed to the event include Bryant’s Quality Painting at the Valedictorian Level and Aramark Management Services and Credit Union of Georgia at the Salutatorian Level.
The entertainment will be “CCSD’s Got Talent,” a student talent show featuring the best act each from the School District’s six high schools in competition for a $1,000 grand prize and $500 runner-up prize.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo is the event’s Honorary Chair, and there will be special recognitions of outstanding alumni and educators as part of the evening’s festivities.
The Gala will launch a new, major award to be presented annually by the Foundation: the Alumni of the Year Award, which will honor at least one alumnus and one alumna of the School District each year for outstanding professional and civic contributions.
The inaugural Alumni of the Year Award recipients, who were unanimously selected by the Foundation Board, are Judge Marion T. Pope Jr., who served as Chief Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge and as a member of the House of Representatives among many other accomplishments; and Janice Prather, a lifetime educator whose career included serving as an Assistant Superintendent and Principal for the School District among other roles and is the immediate past president of the Retired Educators Association.
For the 2016 and subsequent Alumni of the Year Award presentations, the Foundation Board will accept nominations from the community… similar to the prestigious “First Citizen of Cherokee County” Award presented by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
The evening will include special recognitions of educators and students at every turn… from the cocktail hour music provided by Teasley Middle School students to the master of ceremonies Creekland Middle School teacher John Carter and from the recognitions of honorees like the School District’s Teacher of the Year Joy Silk of Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy to the centerpieces created by Cherokee High School students.
Amanda Arnold, Vice President for Credit Union of Georgia, and Debbie Rabjohn, River Ridge High School PTSA President, are the Foundation’s Gala Committee Co-Chairs, and are joined by Foundation Fundraising Chair Kevin Williams of Chick-fil-A of Canton, also a Gala sponsor, in organizing the event.
“Our vision for the Gala is a wonderful evening of celebrations, entertainment… and a surprise or two,” Mrs. Arnold said, noting guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and the option of visiting a cash bar during the cocktail hour reception, followed by dinner, dessert and the program, with time for socializing and dancing before the night’s end.
The Foundation (CCEF) is a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission of supporting students and staff of the School District by promoting teaching and learning and celebrating achievements. The Foundation seeks funding and resources to enrich schools in areas not fully funded in the regular school program.
Since its establishment in 2012, CCEF has awarded more than $30,000 in grants to students, teachers and schools. Another $15,000 will be awarded in February 2015 to teachers and schools through IMPACT Education Grants for “bright ideas” to improve teaching and learning.
The “Celebration of Education” Gala expands opportunities for local businesses and the community at large to show its support for students, teachers and schools.
All money raised by CCEF through the Gala and its other fundraisers is returned to the School District and its students, teachers and schools through donations, grant opportunities and other support.
For more information about the Foundation, please see the website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CherokeeCountyEducationalFoundation.
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation in December held its 2015-16 Annual Meeting and presented a record $25,000 in Special Projects Grants to the Cherokee County School District!
CCEF is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the students and staff of the Cherokee County School District 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.
“It’s so impressive to see the support we’ve received, as we had hoped, from the community,” CCEF President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. said at the meeting, which was held on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Freedom Middle School. “We are go thankful that we have the opportunity to support these important programs and projects.”
The presentation of $25,000 in these grants was a significant increase from last year’s $8,750, and Mr. Hasty noted that the generosity of supporters of fundraisers such as the CCEF “Celebration of Education” Gala, presented by Northside Hospital-Cherokee, make such giving possible. The 2016 Gala date has been set for March 12 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center. Special Projects Grants support CCSD programs not funded or not fully funded by Local, State and Federal funds.
[line]Additionally, thanks to Books-A-Million at Canton Marketplace and its customers, the Principals for ACE Academy, Canton ES STEM Academy, Cherokee HS and Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy each received a donation of grade-appropriate books for their schools.
CCEF returns all funds raised in the community to CCSD through several different grant programs, another one of which is the IMPACT Grants program for “bright ideas” submitted by teachers, departments and schools to encourage and support innovation and creativity in teaching and learning. Earlier this year, CCEF awarded $15,000 in these grants… and in February 2016, a record $25,000 in these grants will be awarded!
During the Annual Meeting, the Woodstock Innovation Zone Principals presented the CCEF Board with a donation of more than $1,400 raised through recent fundraisers at their schools.
Foundation Board Member Rod Drake, the Area Manager for Georgia Power, during the meeting also presented CCEF with a $3,000 donation from the utility company’s Foundation.
For more information about CCEF, please visit its website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org or find CCEF on Facebook.
Woodstock High School junior Tucker Jones is the winner of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation’s first-ever T-shirt design contest.
The Foundation invited all Cherokee County School District students in Grades 6-12 to submit a design for the organization’s 2015 T-shirt that represents CCEF and the theme of “For the Love of Education.”
The Cherokee County Educational Foundation announced today that it is accepting applications for its second annual round of IMPACT Grants to encourage and support innovative and creative ideas in teaching and learning in the Cherokee County School District.
Due to growing public support, the Foundation Board has allotted $15,000 for the second round of grant awards… an increase from $10,000 last school year.
The Foundation will fund IMPACT Grants of as much as $2,500 per winning proposal; the application is posted on the School District’s website at www.cherokee.k12.ga.us. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 13, 2015; no exceptions to this deadline will be made. Grants will be presented to winning applicants on Feb. 13, 2015.
The first round of grants awarded in February included a variety of “bright ideas” ranging from a hot-air balloon festival showcasing miniature balloons made by students to a professional development workshop for high school teachers to share STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) knowledge with elementary school teachers in their Innovation Zone.
“The applications we received were all so impressive, and it was a delight to present the grants to the winners in front of their cheering students and colleagues,” Board President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. said. “We can’t wait to see what teachers and schools will come up with this year.”
Applications may be submitted by CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; teams of CCSD teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff; CCSD administrators; or CCSD department heads.
A committee made up of Foundation Board members will review applications, which must meet the following criteria: strengthens academics; demonstrates a creative and innovative approach to education; provides meaningful and engaging instruction for students; is well thought-out with a long-term benefit; incorporates budget details; and, includes the official application completed in its entirety.
Applications require a narrative that outlines, among other information, how: the project will benefit a defined target population and strengthen education; the project relates to the school’s School Improvement Plan or the School District’s Five-Year Strategic Plan; the applicant will collaborate with the community; project expenditures and the sustainability of the project if applicable; and how outcomes of the project will be shared with colleagues and the community.
Grant recipients will be required to complete a grant evaluation report at the end of the grant cycle.
For more information about CCEF, see the Foundation website at www.cherokeecountyeducationalfoundation.org; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (770) 704-4213 and leave a voicemail message.