District Hosted Second Recognition Event on May 23

More than 400 students and staff from across the district were honored on May 23 at Chapel Hill HS at the second of two district recognition events.

Superintendent Tom Forcella welcomed everyone to the event and Board Vice Chair Jamezetta Bedford and Board Member Greg McElveen congratulated the honorees.

CHCCS and the Board of Education honor students and staff who earn first or second place at the state or national level, as well as anyone who earns a state or national award.  There were 24 groups honored at this event.  They were:

• Glenwood Gator Show Choir for its 17th consecutive overall win at the Show Choir Choral Festival
• two Culbreth MS teachers, Cindy Anderson, a Borchardt Award winner, and Jessica Porter, SAS Global Teacher Award winner
• Candace White, a third grader teacher at Glenwood Elementary, was named a 2013 Global Educator by VIF
• the Trash Terminators from Phillips MS who won the Siemens "We Can Change the World" challenge
• Smith MS students who qualified for the AIME based on their AMC8 exam scores
• 26 seventh grade students from Culbreth MS, McDougle MS, Phillips MS and Smith MS who earned Grand Recognition by Duke TIP 
• the TSA Teams at McDougle MS, Phillips MS and Chapel Hill HS who placed first or second at the state competition
• the East Chapel Hill HS DECA students who placed first or second at the state competition
• the Carrboro HS and Chapel Hill HS SkillsUSA students who placed first or second at the state competition
• the Chapel Hill HS Women's Basketball Team for their second place finish in the 3A Championship
• Coach Sherry Norris who earned her 500+ coaching win during the women's basketball season
• Anthony Vanhook, a senior at Chapel Hill HS, for being named to the East-West All-Star Team
• Pegah Kamrani, a senior at East Chapel Hill HS, for her Individual State Title in the 4A 3,200 Meter Run at the State Championship Meet
• Ben Griffin, a junior at East Chapel Hill HS, for his Individual State 4A Golf Title
• the East Chapel Hill HS Women's Lacrosse Team for their 2A State Championship
• 27 Governor's School selectees from Carrboro HS, Chapel Hill HS and East Chapel Hill HS
• Paris Buedel, a freshman at Carrboro HS, for his National Security Language Initiative for Youth selection
• Katie Caruso and Ellie McWilliam-Grench, both sophomores at Carrboro HS, for being selected for the Kenedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program
• Chapel Hill HS students who placed first and second at the NC Chinese Essay Writing Contest
• Carrboro HS and Chapel Hill HS students who placed first or second at the NC Japanese Language Speech Contest
• 53 students from Culbreth MS, Phillips MS, Smith MS, Carrboro HS, Chapel Hill HS and East Chapel Hill HS who scored in the 95th percentile on the National French Exam
• 14 students from Carrboro HS, Chapel Hill HS and East Chapel Hill HS who scored in the 95th-99th percentile on the National German Exam
• 63 students from McDougle MS, Phillips MS, Smith MS, Chapel Hill HS and East Chapel Hill HS who earned gold medals on the National Latin Exam
• 51 students from Phillips MS, Smith MS, Chapel Hill HS and East Chapel Hill HS who scored in the 95th percentile on the National Spanish Exam

Please see more pictures from the event in the album on the district's Facebook Page.

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Summer of Learning: Exciting Destinations for Unique Studies

Two of our CHCCS team members have been selected to participate in summer 2013 global graduate studies - one in the West African country of Namibia, and the other in the South American country of Guyana.

Beginning in early August, Phoenix Academy High School staff member Alicia Adcock Bettmann will study great cat conservation in Namibia. Culbreth Middle School staff member Kathleen Krafte will study local wisdom and conservation in Guyana.

The graduate courses from Miami University's Project Dragonfly are based on Earth Expeditions, which has engaged more than 1,400 people since 2004 in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. More information is located at www.EarthExpeditions.org.

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Harris Named Teacher of the Year at Recognition Reception

Michael Harris of Phillips MS, was named the District Teacher of the Year at the Annual Recognition Reception on May 17 at Carrboro High.

Harris is a social studies teacher with fourteen years of teaching experience.  Harris holds a bachelor's degree in biomechanics from the University of California at Davis, and a teaching certificate from Chapman University in Orange, CA.  Harris received a $1,000 check from Harrington Bank, as well as gifts from area businesses.

Two Honor Teachers were also named on Friday.  They are Sherry Norris of Seawell Elementary and Suzanne Stokes of Frank Porter Graham Elementary.  They each received a $500 check from Harrington Bank and gifts from local businesses.

Other Teachers of the Year were recognized with $100 checks from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation and gifts from local businesses.  They are:  Emily Moorman, Carrboro Elementary; Megen Vesser, Ephesus Elementary; Kris Swanson, Estes Hills Elementary; Candace White, Glenwood Elementary; Pam McAllister, McDougle Elementary; Becky Springer, Morris Grove Elementary; Nidhi Cash, Rashkis Elementary; Hannah Stang, Scroggs Elementary; Mimi Collins, Culbreth Middle School; Nichole Stewart, McDougle Middle School; Mackenzie Casey, Smith Middle School; Mark Kadlecik, Carrboro High School; Stephen Blackwell, Chapel Hill High; and Michelle Michaels, East Chapel Hill High.

Michael Harris, District Teacher of the Year
Phillips Middle

Sherry Norris, District Honor Teacher of the Year
Seawell Elementary

Suzanne Stokes, District Honor Teacher of the Year
Frank Porter Graham Elementary

Teacher of the Year gifts were provided by:  A Better Image Printing, Barnes and Noble at New Hope Commons, Chapel Hill Florist, Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, Office Depot and the Spotted Dog Restaurant.

The Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services was changed this year and now recognizes one classified staff member from each school and Lincoln Center.  The award recipient is Kristin Perone, a teacher assistant at Scroggs Elementary, who also received a $1,000 check.  Two Honor Recipients were named.  They are Lin Headen, the receptionist at McDougle Elementary, and Thomas Revelle, a teacher assistant at Ephesus Elementary.  They each received $250.

Other Classified Staff of the Year, who each received $100, are:  Robyn Riffe, data manager, Carrboro Elementary; Michelle Siegling, teacher assistant, Estes Hills Elementary; Sonia Honey, school secretary, FPG Elementary; Darrell Battle, custodian, Glenwood Elementary; Becky Dallke, school secretary, Morris Grove Elementary; Tasha Moore, data manager, Rashkis Elementary; Carolyn Brown, inclusion facilitator, Seawell Elementary; Kay Martinez, media assistant, Culbreth Middle; Angela Wilson-Crocker, inclusion facilitator, McDougle Middle; Phoebe Liles, school secretary, Phillips Middle; Marie Joe Saunders, school bookkeeper, Smith Middle; Leigh Anne Lombardi, administrative assistant, Carrboro High; Scott Walker, administrative assistant, Chapel Hill High; Laura Bowen, administrative assistant, East Chapel Hill High; Crystal Bowe, teacher assistant, Phoenix Academy High; and Cindy Dillehay, facilities management technician, Lincoln Center.

Other staff awards were also presented at the event.  Marny Ruben of Seawell Elementary was recognized as the district's Principal of the Year, while Robert Bales of McDougle Middle was named the district's Assistant Principal of the Year.  Christina Royster of Rashkis Elementary was the recipient of the Jeanette Blackwell Mentor Teacher Award.  Beth Kinney of McDougle Middle was the recipient of the Exceptional Children's Award for Outstanding Contributions as a Teacher.  Kathleen Carswell of Morris Grove Elementary received the CHC Public School Foundation Promising New Teacher Award.

Tina Moore, school social worker at Smith Middle, received the Exceptional Children Student Support Services Staff of the Year Award, as well as a check for $500.  The other nominees for this award are: Casey Marshall, school psychologist, Carrboro Elementary; Shelley Bunting, school nurse, Ephesus Elementary; Betsy Booth, school social worker, Estes Hills Elementery; May Mitchell, school counselor, FPG Elementary; Betty Harris, school counselor, Glenwood Elementary; Robbie Brown, school nurse, McDougle Elementary; Jordan Lupton, speech pathologist, Morris Grove Elementary; Katie Ethridge, school counselor, Rashkis Elementary; Cindy Zwiacher, school nurse, Scroggs Elementary; Becky Riggsbee, speech pathologist, Seawell Elementary; Stephanie Minter, school social worker, Culbreth Middle; Rhonda Hairston, school counselor, McDougle Middle; Jeremy Young, school counselor, Phillips Middle; Alice Bryan, Autism support specialist, Carrboro High; Diana Straghan, school nurse, Chapel Hill High; and Susan Lombardo, transition facilitator, East Chapel Hill High.

The Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate (BRMA) program presented two Excellence in Equitable Teaching Awards.  These award recipients are selected by the students in BRMA.  The middle school award went to Chuck Hennessee of Culbreth Middle, while Brian Link of East Chapel Hill High received the high school award.

Representatives of the Public School Foundation were on hand to present both new and renewing Teaching Chairs.  Tate Little of Carrboro Elementary was named the recipient of the Upper Elementary Chair for Excellence in Teaching Innovation.  Mimi Collins was named the recipient of the Elmo's Award for Excellence in Teaching English as a Second Language and World Language.  Jennifer Scott of Phillips Middle was named the recipient of the Zora Rashkis Chair in Middle School Language Arts.

Renewing chair recipients also were honored on Friday.  Tom Brown of Carrboro High School is the recipient of the Elmo's Excellence in Teaching Mathematics or Science Chair.  Tracey Hartman of Morris Grove is the Neil Pedersen Teachers First Chair.  Suzanne Stokes of FPG is the Sockwell Chair for Excellence in Teaching in the Elementary Classroom.  Mary Beth Braker of Carrboro High is the Bernadine Sullivan Chair for Excellence in Teaching English.  Thomas Drago is the CHHS PTSA Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities.  Kelly Sears of Smith Middle is the Glaxo Award for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science. Daniel Murphy of East Chapel Hill High is the Burton Stuart Chair for Promising New Teachers in Math or Science.

Forty-five employees are retiring from the district this year.  They include:  Diego Caballero, Carrboro Elementary; Patricia White, Carrboro Elementary; Anne Bradshaw, Ephesus Elementary; Kristin Brameld, Ephesus Elementary; Loretta Hopper, Ephesus Elementary; Karoline Mathewson, Ephesus Elementary; Deborah Gast, Estes Hills Elementary; Teresa Stewart, FPG Elementary; Kathryn Jordan-Pierce, Glenwood Elementary; Suzanne Hamrick, McDougle Elementary; Pamela Peterson, Scroggs Elementary; Carolyn Brown, Seawell Elementary; June Gillikin, Seawell Elementary; Yvonne Lambert, Seawell Elementary; Rebecca Riggsbee, Seawell Elementary; Shirley Scales, Seawell Elementary; Margaret Schmoeller, Seawell Elementary; Bobbie Williams, Seawell Elementary; Letitia Martin, Culbreth Middle; Sherry Lutterloh, McDougle Middle; Ray Martin, McDougle Middle; Joyce Buck, Phillips Middle; Ellen Nisbet, Phillips Middle; Patricia Oldham, Phillips Middle; Deborah Winstead, Smith Middle; Anne Thompson, Carrboro High; Karen Bell, Chapel Hill High; Larken Bell, Chapel Hill High; Michael Birkett, Chapel Hill High; Helen Bowers, Chapel Hill High; Dara Heller, Chapel Hill High; Loren Hintz, Chapel Hill High; Ronald Olsen, Chapel Hill High; Michael Waters, Chapel Hill High; Robert Brogden, East Chapel Hill High; Robert Purdy, East Chapel Hill High; Patricia Farrington, Phoenx Academy High; Ellen Holody, UNC Hospital School; Carolyn Inselmann, UNC Hospital School; Gloria Oldham, Transportation Department; Avery Apple, Lincoln Center; Earl Apple, Lincoln Center; Mary Bushnell, Lincoln Center; Priscilla Dennison, Lincoln Center; and Lori DeTrude, Lincoln Center.

Employees were also honored for attaining milestone years of service.  Vance Riggsbee of the Transportation Department was honored with 40 years of service.  

Employees with 30 years of service included:  Sarita Allen-Medlin, Lincoln Center; Dianne Jackson, Glenwood Elementary; Sandy Sean Rasnake, FPG Elementary; Joan Thompson, Transportation.

Employees with 25 years of service included:  Rosemary Campbell, McDougle Elementary; Ann Collins, Culbreth Middle; Phylis Cook-Mack, Seawell Elementary; Annie Cramer, Seawell Elementary; Mera Galassi, Seawell Elementary; Mildred Gerald, Chapel Hill High; Melodie Majette, Rashkis Elementary; Kay Lawson-Demery, Chapel Hill High; Robbie Nadas, Phillips Middle; Doug Noell, Lincoln Center; Carlos Perera, Seawell Elementary; and Ken Stewart, Chapel Hill High.

Employees with 20 years of service included:  Larry Baldwin, McDougle Middle; Kathie Guild, McDougle Elementary; Ann Harrawood, FPG Elementary; Katy Lipkus, East Chapel Hill High; Sally Massengale, Glenwood Elementary; Angela Short, Phillips Middle; and Suzanne Stokes, FPG Elementary.

The annual Recognition Reception is hosted in collaboration with the Public School Foundation.  A special thanks to the Carrboro High Jazz Band for providing the pre-event music.  Frank Jones is the band's director.

"It's always an inspiring event when you can recognize the outstanding teachers, staff and administrators we have in this district," said Superintendent Thomas A. Forcella.  "The hard work and passion that these individuals represent for both their school and the district is what makes Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools the best around.  I'm honored to have the opportunity to help recognize their efforts," he added.

Pictures from the event posted on Facebook.

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Keeping the Community Informed on the Budget Process

Last month the Board of Education presented its local budget request to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. The local budget requires an increase in the local per pupil expenditure. The majority of this increase is directly attributed to mandated cost increases, anticipated loss of grant funds, and the opening of Northside Elementary School. We are recommending additional funding to lower class sizes that, at times, have exceeded 30 students in the fourth and fifth grades. We are also recommending a small increase in expenditures to support professional development and curriculum development, to improve instruction and
continue our focus on Common Core implementation. Finally, we have included some initial recommendations to address ongoing safety and security needs and a small amount of funding to support general administrative operating needs. All along we have looked for opportunities to restructure or reallocate our existing budgets to minimize our total budget request.

In an effort to maintain transparency and to provide important information regarding the 2013-14 budget process, we invite you to visit our budget page - and please don't hesitate to call us if we can answer any questions.

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Teacher Appreciation Week - Note from Dr. Forcella

The following note was sent from Dr. Forcella to all staff earlier today. Our entire school district joins with Dr. Forcella in both thanking and congratulating our teachers for a job well done. 

____________________

This week, students and their families around the country celebrate the importance of genuine community heroes - their teachers. I know you get pressure from all sides to plan rigorous lessons, create fair and meaningful assessments, increase student achievement, and the list goes on. But, this week, Teacher Appreciation Week, I simply want to thank you for the way you build and sustain relationships with your students. At the end of the day, we don't teach a curriculum or a subject. We teach children. Your investment in their growth, and in their life success, is what classifies you as a hero...to your students and to your community. Thank you for choosing to be a teacher.

Sincerely,

Tom Forcella
Superintendent


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Jonathan Woody - Carrboro Elementary's New Assistant Principal

The Board of Education approved the hiring of Jonathan Woody as Assistant Principal for Carrboro Elementary School at its May 2 meeting.

Woody is currently serving as the school’s principal intern. Prior to his time at Carrboro Elementary, he spent eleven years as a teacher, working in three different schools. He also served as a teacher assistant with the Wake County Public School System for two years. Before entering the education field, Woody spent three years in private industry.

Woody earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting from Montreat College, his Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University and his Master of Arts in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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