Ball Ground ES STEM Academy Educator Named District Teacher of the Year!

The Cherokee County School District saluted educators tonight at the 2024 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration and Crystal Bennett of Ball Ground ES STEM Academy was named CCSD’s Teacher of the Year!

The Legacy Makers event held at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center in Canton honored the Teacher of the Year for every CCSD school, including four finalists who were announced in February.  Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis opened an envelope at the event’s conclusion to announce that Ms. Bennett is the 2024 CCSD Teacher of the Year! 

“Teaching is the most exceptional profession that continues to change lives for the better.  Crystal exemplifies the best of our profession, from the thoughtfulness she invests in each carefully crafted lesson to the love and compassion she shows to her students and colleagues,” Dr. Davis said.  “Thank you for believing in our students’ limitless potential and ensuring they learn and grow as much as possible in your care.”

Ms. Bennett, a 13-year educator who teaches fifth-grade math, science and social studies at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, will advance as CCSD’s nominee for the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.  

Ms. Bennett is known for her exceptional STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) instruction and her cross-curricular lessons that transform her classroom and engage students in hands-on learning activities.

She was joined at the event by guests including her husband, Michael; and her parents.  Her two daughters both attend Ball Ground ES STEM Academy, which also is Ms. Bennett’s alma mater.

“I’m just a girl from Ball Ground.  I’m so thankful as I look out to this audience for all you have done to lead me back home to Ball Ground so my girls can go there,” Ms. Bennett said upon receiving the award.  “This means so much to me, especially here in my hometown.  I had never dreamt of this.”  

The dinner, and the long list of gifts presented to the honorees, all were made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsor donations including Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram of Canton.

David Booth, general manager of Shottenkirk, announced at the event’s close that Ms. Bennett, as CCSD Teacher of the Year, would enjoy a free one-year lease of the vehicle of her choice from Shottenkirk.  

The finalists and CCSD Teacher of the Year are selected by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each school’s Teacher of the Year; school winners are selected by their peers.  The three other finalists, who received additional gifts and recognition at the event, are: Shannah Dean, Etowah High School, visual arts teacher; Stephanie Hopersberger, fifth-grade math, science and social studies teacher, Liberty Elementary School; and Anna Marie Zincone, Freedom Middle School, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) and eighth-grade science teacher.

School Board Chair Kyla Cromer congratulated and thanked the honorees on behalf of the School Board. 

“Thank you to each and every one of you for providing meaningful educational experiences to our students,” she said.  “Your job is the most influential job in the world.”

All school Teacher of the Year winners each received a $200 Visa gift card purchased with donations from event sponsors; $100 local restaurant gift certificate from Shottenkirk; a free family portrait session from Cady Studios; $25 Amazon gift card from sponsors; $25 gift certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa in Canton; an engraved plaque; $15 Branchwater gift certificate; $15 Branch & Barrel at Avalon gift certificate; $15 Community Burger gift certificate; $10 Riverstone Corner Bistro gift certificate; and a tote bag filled with supplies and gifts from other sponsors. 

The finalists, in addition to these gifts, also each received: a Dell Latitude laptop computer from ProLogics ITS; $500 Visa gift card purchased with donations from event sponsors; $200 Visa gift card from Cherokee Floor Covering; choice of CCSD or school logo merchandise from Allegro Business Products valued at $150; $100 gift card from Kroger; $100 gift card from Practically Perfect Day Spa; Birthday in a Box certificate from Nothing Bundt Cakes, valued at $80; gift basket from Buff City Soaps valued at $75; $50 Amazon gift card from Cady Studios; $50 Visa gift card from Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE); $50 gift certificate from Buffalo’s Café; $50 gift certificate from J. Michael’s Prime; gift bag from Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington) valued at $50; gift certificate for a catering tray from Chick-fil-A, Cherokee County; and a $20 gift card from Crumbl Cookie.

Ms. Bennett, in addition to the school winner and finalist gifts already noted, also received: 
•    Microsoft Surface Pro X laptop computer valued at $1,200 from Southern Computer Warehouse; 
•    $1,000 Visa gift card from event sponsors;
•    Four club-level tickets to a Braves game, including parking and $80s in food credit (valued at $550) from Contour Engineering;
•    $500 from EF2 Realty Team;
•    One free use of event space gift certificate from Thrive Canton (valued between $500-1,500);
•    $250 Visa gift card from Fforg Inc.; 
•    “Spa Day” Package certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa;
•    Free half-hour party from Kona Ice Cherokee;
•    Set of PeachSkin Sheets valued at $115;
•    Additional $100 Amazon gift card from Cady Studios;
•    Additional $100 gift card from Kroger; 
•    $100 gift card from Educators First
•    $100 gift card from Rack Room Shoes;
•    Two season passes to the 2024-25 theatre season from Cherokee Theatre Company;
•    A gift box valued at $100 from Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington);
•    A Compact Laser printer from PAGE;

Sponsors who made all of the gifts possible are:

Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF), Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram;

Platinum Sponsors: Cady Studios, Cobb EMC, Practically Perfect Day Spa, ProLogic ITS, Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW) and Thrive Canton; 

Gold Sponsors: Allegro Business Products, Center Cut Catering, Cherokee Foor Covering, Cherokee Theatre Company, EF Tours, Modern Woodmen of America, Imaan International Inc. and Nova Engineering & Environmental LLC;

Silver Sponsors: Branch & Barrel at Avalon, Branchwater, Buff City Soap, Buffalo’s Café, Chick-fil-A Cherokee County, Community Burger, Contour Engineering, EF2 Realty Team, Mary Kay (Lisa Arrington), PeachSkin Sheets, Professional Association of Georgia (PAGE), Riverstone Corner Bistro and The Kroger Co; and,

Bronze Sponsors: Crumbl Cookie, Educators First, Fforg Inc., J. Michael’s Prime, Kona Ice of Cherokee, Marco's Pizza, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt Riverstone, Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock, Rack Room Shoes and World’s Finest Chocolate.

More photos from the event are online here. 

Congratulations to CCSD’s 2024 School Teachers of the Year:

ACTIVE Academies: Jeanne Rottner
Arnold Mill Elementary School: Allison Buzeta
Avery Elementary School: Miranda Satterfield
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Crystal Bennett
Bascomb Elementary School: Alle Campbell
Boston Elementary School: Melissa Phillips
Carmel Elementary School: Samantha Harrington Karel
CCSD Preschool Centers: Stephanie Timbol
Cherokee High School: Hillary Baxter
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Ashley Murphy
Clayton Elementary School: Kari Brooks
Creekland Middle School: Kristie Stannard
Creekview High School: Andrea Sheldon
Dean Rusk Middle School: Amanda Coleman
E.T. Booth Middle School: Jamie Stahler
Etowah High School: Shannah Dean
Free Home Elementary School: Annsley Cochran
Freedom Middle School: Anna Zincone
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Carson O'Bryant
Hickory Flat Elementary School: Katie Bertram
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Amanda Anderson
Indian Knoll Elementary School: Kristin Towns
Johnston Elementary School: Joshua Philpot
Knox ES STEM Academy: Kara Gleason-Haynes
Liberty Elementary School: Stephanie Hopersberger
Little River Elementary School: Stephanie Keenum
Macedonia Elementary School: Kinsley Welch
Mill Creek Middle School: Laurie Taylor
Mountain Road Elementary School: Kristen Mitchell
Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy: Jessica Cole
R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Lindsay Hudgins
River Ridge High School: Mary Bisgrove
Sequoyah High School: Cora Hodgins
Sixes Elementary School: Carollyn Brown
Teasley Middle School: Cheryl Stephenson
Tippens Education Center: Curtis Durham
Woodstock Elementary School: Leeann Logue
Woodstock High School: Courteney Hooks
Woodstock Middle School: Jules Dingman

#CCSDfam

Above: CCSD Teacher of the Year Crystal Bennett from Ball Ground ES STEM Academy is congratulated by Principal Melinda Roulier. Below: Ms. Bennett is congratulated by David Booth, general manager of Shottenkirk.  He announced at the event’s close that Ms. Bennett, as CCSD Teacher of the Year, would enjoy a free one-year lease of the vehicle of her choice from Shottenkirk.