The Clarke Central High School recipients of The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education’s 2024 teaching and staff awards are pictured. FFE received 41 nominations on behalf of CCHS faculty and staff in 2024. “This year’s batch of applications across the board have been the best in quality our judges have seen in years,” FFE Director Catherine Neace said. Graphic by Wyatt Meyer
CCHS employees Vara Loggins, William Lance and Dr. Amanda Price are the recipients of awards from The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education.
Multiple Clarke Central High School faculty and staff were among those recognized in The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education’s 2024 teaching and staff awards on July 26.
Athens-Clarke County’s FFE, a non-profit recognizing excellence in the Clarke County School District, gives annual and biennial awards in a variety of categories. These awards recognize not only work in the classroom, but also in athletics and in the school community.
An infographic displays fast facts about The Foundation for Excellence in Public Education’s 2024 teacher and staff awards. Dr. Amanda Price, named the Lamar Dodd Chair for Teachers of Fine Arts, was one of three CCHS staff selected. “Ultimately, my teaching is all about facilitating creativity by making sure my students know they are supported, have the space to be vulnerable and imagine new ideas,” Price said. “That’s what I plan to keep doing.” Infographic by Wyatt Meyer
CCSD staff began the process by being nominated at the school level, at which point FFE reached out to them to apply.
“In March 2024, the FFE began to accept nominations of exceptional Clarke County School District (CCSD) teachers and staff members for 13 various teaching and staff awards. The FFE received 307 nominations for 237 different CCSD staff members,” a July 26 FFE press release stated. “In May 2024, the FFE received 125 completed applications.”
Among 32 different nominations and 15 completed applications for CCHS staff, fine arts department teacher Dr. Amanda Price, security officer Vara Loggins and head varsity softball coach William Lance received awards in 2024.
Price was recognized as the Lamar Dodd Chair for Teachers of Fine Arts, an award given biennially to a CCSD fine arts teacher. The FFE website states that the recipient should exemplify “the ideal of excellence in instruction and possess the ability to inspire creativity in students.”
“It feels really good to have my hard work recognized on that level,” Price said. “My goal is to continue to challenge and inspire students both inside and outside of the classroom.”
Loggins was a recipient of the Downs Family District Services Award, given annually to two CCSD support staff members. According to the FFE website, “the nominee (for this award) should be an individual who cheerfully connects with students and staff on a daily basis and demonstrates a desire to serve well in an assigned support role.”
“The most important reason for connecting with the students is to build a relationship and trust with them,” Loggins said.
“It feels really good to have my hard work recognized on that level,” Price said. “My goal is to continue to challenge and inspire students both inside and outside of the classroom.”
— Dr. Amanda Price,
fine arts department teacher
Lance received the Michael Peter Horvat Secondary Coaches’ Award, given annually to a CCSD middle or high school coach. The FFE website states that “the nominee should be an individual who inspires and motivates student athletes to excel and who promotes the values of teamwork and sacrifice.”
“You never go into coaching and teaching looking for personal recognition but if and when it comes it’s hard not to be proud and excited,” Lance said. “None of this would have been possible if it was not for the support I have in the school building, the parents, and most importantly the wonderful young ladies I have the privilege to coach.”
