Cleveland County’s top seniors converged at the LeGrand Center and recognized their favorite educators during the Teaching Excellence Awards. The annual event provides the opportunity for the seniors of Cleveland County with top academic standing to recognize an educator of their choice.
[Click here to view the photos from the event.]
“One by one, the seniors walked up to the podium, invited their educator to stand at their side, and delivered heartfelt remarks about the educator as many revealed as their very favorite of all time,” said Jamey Davis, president of the CCS Educational Foundation.”
“The teachers received a gift and redeemable points via the recognition platform from the Hospice Foundation,” said Ben Cabaniss, vice president of the CCS Educational Foundation and owner of Laughlin’s Furniture. “The students received amazing gift cards from LilyBean Coffee & Creamery, Dairy Queen, the CCS Educational Foundation, and Toscanos Bistro. I would especially like to thank Marlana Arreola of Toscanos for putting together the lovely gift baskets for our seniors, providing a wonderful arrangement of goodies, and a gift certificate.”
The educators and the senior scholars who nominated them are as follows:
- Anna Alexander of Cleveland Early College High with Teacher of Excellence Edie Greenlee of Cleveland Early College High
- Mason Blackburn of Shelby High with Teacher of Excellence Teresa Lacroix of Shelby High
- Megan Carley of Kings Mountain High with Teacher of Excellence Rayvis Key of Kings Mountain High
- Emma Devine of Burns High with Teacher of Excellence Chris Glover of Burns High
- Brody Douglass of Burns High with Teacher of Excellence Mike McSwain, who is now retired
- Alli Glover of Crest High with Teacher of Excellence Lisa Smith of Springmore Elementary
- Ian Hunnell of Burns High with Teacher of Excellence Jeff Cornwell of Burns High
- Caleb McCabe of Burns High with Teacher of Excellence Chad Beam of Burns High
- Mallory McCraw of Crest High with Teacher of Excellence Brandi Barker of Boiling Springs Elementary
- Kalon Porter of Kings Mountain with Teacher of Excellence Lauren Gibson of Kings Mountain High
- Cameron Rhom of Kings Mountain with Teacher of Excellence Andy Washburn of Kings Mountain High
- Dylan Steeves of Shelby High with Teacher of Excellence Mark Heffelfinger of Shelby High
- Ansley Walker of Shelby High with Teacher of Excellence Cassie Dills of Hope Church, formerly at Shelby Middle
- Jackson Wilson of Crest High with Teacher of Excellence Ronda Champion of Crest High
For this particular program, a GPA (Grade Point Average) tie existed for the third overall ranking for an individual school's class. In the spirit of recognition and reward, the Educational Foundation permitted an additional student to participate.
“This year's program was well supported,” said Greg Shull of Cleveland County Schools. “I walked into LilyBean Coffee & Creamer and mentioned the event to Meghan Stout. She literally stopped what she was doing and put the gift cards together for the deserving seniors.” Meghan, Marlana, and our friends at Dairy Queen did not hesitate to support these students, and for that, I am beyond grateful.”
The CCS Educational Foundation and the Dover Foundation continue to sponsor the event in memory of Hoyt and Anne Dover Bailey. The Late Hoyt Bailey, a former member of the Cleveland County Board of Education and a longtime member of the Foundation Board of Directors sponsored the event for many years in memory of his beloved wife, Anne Dover Bailey.