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.
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| Michael Harris, District Teacher of the Year Phillips Middle |
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| Sherry Norris, District Honor Teacher of the Year Seawell Elementary |
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| 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.
Pictures from the event posted on Facebook.
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