Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey congratulates CCSD Share the Love contest winner Knox Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Sandy Giudice and presents her with gifts including a $250 Visa gift card.

The Cherokee County School District celebrated Valentine’s Day by surprising winners of its second annual Share the Love contest!

Thanks to the sponsorship of Credit Union of Georgia, CCSD this month gave families the opportunity to nominate their child’s teacher or a support staff member at their child’s school to win a $250 Visa gift card.  The contest was announced in the monthly CCSD Connections parent newsletter, and four winners were selected at random from all of the nominations.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey presented the gift cards and other gifts to the four winners: Knox Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Sandy Giudice, Liberty Elementary School teacher Tiffany Wilson, Little River Elementary School teacher Chesley Blosser and Sixes Elementary School teacher Melissa Perryman.  The presentations were a surprise and were greeted with applause and cheers from teachers and colleagues.

“Thank you to our community for helping us show your love to these outstanding educators,” Dr. Hightower said.  “We received hundreds of entries praising everyone from teachers to counselors to bus drivers to cafeteria staff.  Thank you to all of our employees for the love you show to our students and our community each day.  We appreciate you and all that you do!”

The drawing was at random, but CCSD asked those entering the contest to share why the person they nominated deserved special recognition.  Here are excerpts from their submissions:

Ms. Giudice, who is a past CCSD Teacher of the Year, was nominated by Kaylee Granger, mom of third-grader Adrian Granger.  “Mrs. Giudice has been so helpful and accommodating during my son’s transition into Knox from out of state.  She’s understanding and always available to talk.  I can tell she really cares about her students,” Ms. Granger said.  “She’s an absolute angel.  I am so grateful that my son has her this year.  I don’t know what we’d do without her!”

Ms. Blosser, who teaches fifth grade math, science and social studies, was nominated by Ana Nagel, mom of fifth-grader Michael Nagel.  “Every fall I worry about the teacher my child will have for 180 days out of the year, but I feel like we hit the jackpot this year!  Mrs. Blosser has created an environment where students are affirmed and affirm each other.  This is something that I have seen my son continue at home and it’s been simply wonderful!” Ms. Nagel said  “My son loves her science experiments and her creative ways of teaching math.  She presents the students with fun and creative ways to challenge them to do their best work.”  

Ms. Wilson, who teaches AIM gifted classes, was nominated by Tiffany Reichert, mom of fourth-grader Kyden Oliver.  “Mrs. Wilson is amazing!  She is such a fun, loving and supportive teacher,” Ms. Reichert said.  “She makes learning fun.  We are so grateful to have her.”

Ms. Perryman, who also is her school’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, was nominated by Hannah Luckie, mom of second-grader Sara Luckie.  “I love the way that Ms. Perryman brings students with different abilities and brings them all together so that they not only learn, but also enjoy class.  They love her and being in her class so much when she walks them out each day my daughter along with the others want to hug her and stay at school with her,” Ms. Luckie wrote.  “I don’t know how she does what she does!  These kids not only love her, but they love the way she works with and teaches them.” 

The names of all the nominated teachers and support staff are posted online here.

Knox Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Sandy Giudice is surprised, in front of some of her colleagues, today with the news that she is a CCSD Share the Love contest winner, which includes a $250 Visa gift card prize donated by Credit Union of Georgia.

Celebrating CCSD Share the Love contest winner Knox Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Sandy Giudice, center, are her colleagues and Assistant Principals Kerri Schmitt and Tammie Anderson, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey and Principal Jennifer McIntosh.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprises Liberty Elementary School teacher Tiffany Wilson today with the news that she is a CCSD Share the Love contest winner, which includes a $250 Visa gift card prize donated by Credit Union of Georgia.  Joining in the presentation are Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey, Principal Sandi Harrison and Assistant Principal Gena Ergle.

Celebrating CCSD Share the Love contest winner Liberty Elementary School teacher Tiffany Wilson, center, are, from left, Assistant Principal Gena Ergle, Principal Sandi Harrison, Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower.

Little River Elementary School teacher Chesley Blosser is surprised by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower today with the news that she is a CCSD Share the Love contest winner, which includes a $250 Visa gift card prize donated by Credit Union of Georgia. Joining in the presentation are Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey, Principal Matt Freedman and Assistant Principal Joni Adams. 

Celebrating CCSD Share the Love contest winner Little River Elementary School teacher Chesley Blosser, are, from left, Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and Principal Matt Freedman.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprises Sixes Elementary School teacher Melissa Prettyman with the news today that she is a CCSD Share the Love contest winner, which includes a $250 Visa gift card prize donated by Credit Union of Georgia.

Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey gives CCSD Share the Love contest winner Sixes Elementary School teacher Melissa Prettyman a hug as he congratulates her.

Celebrating CCSD Share the Love contest winner Sixes Elementary School teacher Melissa Prettyman, center, are, from left, Assistant Principal Clay Gunter, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Credit Union of Georgia Cherokee Area Manager Jason Blakey, Principal Dr. Ashley Kennerly and Assistant Principal Holly Miller.  Students and staff at Sixes ES raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital today through a special PJs and hats dress-up day.