Foundation for Excellence Trustees Evan Elder (left) and Tad MacMillan (right) present science department teacher Adam Lee (middle, left picture) and Speakers of Other Languages department chair Jodi Bolgla (middle, right picture) with the Thomas H. Whitehead Chair for Teachers of Science Award and Joan D. Humphries Excellence in Teachers Award, respectively, on July 28 in Mell Audiotorium. Lee was grateful for his recognition, and hopes to pass on the honor by nominating his fellow teachers. “I actually nominated people when I was nominated because when someone notices something nice, they say something nice about your shirt that day, you’re like, ‘I should be more thoughtful to other people,’” Lee said. “And so I nominated people last year, but I’m going to do it again and I’ll continue doing it because it was a worthwhile process.” Photos courtesy of Christian Barner
The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education recognized two CCHS teachers for their outstanding performance.
Twelve Clarke County School District employees received awards from the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education on July 28. Among them were Clarke Central High School Speakers of Other Languages department chair Jodi Bolgla and science department teacher Adam Lee, who took home the Joan D. Humphries Excellence in Teaching Award and Thomas H. Whitehead Chair for Teachers of Science Award, respectively.
The respective awards have different requirements and focuses, but all recognize excellence within the CCSD community. According to FFE Director Catherine Neace, there was a record number of 419 nominees this year, making this year’s awards more competitive.
“When you have that many nominations, the people who win, they really, really, really stood out compared to everybody else,” Neace said. “(Lee) scored the maximum for each judge: 35 points. That’s really impressive.”
An infographic shows the winners of the twelve different teacher awards offered by the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education. FFE Director Catherine Neace was impressed by the recognized teachers. “It is amazing to me when you see people who (have) a really hard job and make it look easy and make it look fun, and make the kids want to come back to learn something,” Neace said. “When you have teachers who do that and who go out of their way, that’s who stands out.” Graphic by Isabella Westrich
Lee, who has worked in CCSD for 12 years and at CCHS for five, appreciates the recognition, which started with a nomination by science Instructional Coach Dr. Katie Green.
“I’m feeling good. It’s a little weird to get attention,” Lee said. “Someone else had to nominate (me), so just it’s a real honor. It feels good when your colleagues and peers notice something that you’re trying really hard at.”
Bolgla, who also received the FFE Martha Comer Chair for Languages Award in 2003, believes that she was recognized because of her community-centered approach to teaching.
“(I believe that) what is in the community comes to school. Because of this, I did some things during the (COVID-19) pandemic to help the community because I knew it was affecting our students. They needed hotspots, they didn’t have (things they needed), some parents lost work,” Bolgla said. “So I did some things to volunteer during that time, like delivering meals, during the pandemic. I think that’s what (the FFE) was thinking about.”
An infographic shows the winners of the twelve different teacher awards offered by the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education. FFE Director Catherine Neace was impressed by the recognized teachers. “It is amazing to me when you see people who (have) a really hard job and make it look easy and make it look fun, and make the kids want to come back to learn something,” Neace said. “When you have teachers who do that and who go out of their way, that’s who stands out.” Graphic by Isabella Westrich
Neace hopes that the awards can help the wider community recognize teachers’s work.
“I don’t think people understand how much teachers do in a classroom,” Neace said. “It’s really super important that we recognize what they’re doing, all the hats that they’re wearing. A lot of the teachers aren’t just a teacher. They’re (also) friends to students, sometimes they’re the social workers, sometimes they’re the counselors.”
