The East Cobb County Council (ECCC) of PTAs recently honored the 2018 Teacher and Classified Employees of the Year with its annual celebratory brunch, which highlighted the hard work and dedication of these amazing educators. This year’s celebration was hosted by the Kell/Lassiter Cluster of PTAs: Kell HS, Lassiter HS, Mabry MS, McCleskey MS, Davis ES, Garrison Mill ES, Rocky Mount ES, Keheley ES, and Nicholson ES. Under the leadership of Tammy Andress, Cluster Rep and Co-President of the Lassiter PTSA, the cluster focused on this year’s theme of “Hearts of Gold.”
Held at the beautiful Piedmont Church, it was an amazing event featuring a performance by the sweet voices of the Garrison Mill 5th Grade Chorus under the direction of Ms. Colleen Crotty, beautiful decorations by Rocky Mount PTA and door prizes collected by Nicholson ES for every Teacher Of The Year and Classified Employee Of The Year to go home with a goody. Keheley Elementary provided a sumptuous coffee bar and Craig Brasco of Davis Elementary put together a stunning program featuring statements from the principals describing why their honorees had “Hearts of Gold.” It was also the desire of this cluster to go paperless this year. Rather than send paper Save the Dates and invitations these notices were sent electronically through email and an Evite.
East Cobb Classified Employees of the Year
The Kell/Lassiter Cluster highlighted the amazing things happening in their cluster schools while also providing these hard working and dedicated educators positive and uplifting examples of just what an impact they make on our students. For example, The Kell Culinary students, under the tutelage of Chef Mark Maier, planned, cooked and served a scrumptious meal of eggs, sausage, bacon, homemade pastries, quiche and fruit (among other items). Not only was the brunch absolutely delicious, the entire menu, from planning, purchasing, preparation, serving and cleanup was almost completely student led.
East Cobb Teachers of the Year
Also, students produced a video that was presented at the celebration. Wanting to try something new, the Kell/Lassiter Cluster asked each PTA in the ECCC to send a short video explaining why their TOTY/CEOTY have “Hearts of Gold.” These videos, which featured students, teachers and parents alike, were then strung together and made into a movie. Produced almost 100% by eighth grade Mabry Middle School students, it was a great addition to a wonderful event. The Varsity Kell-Lassiter Color Guard, under the command of First Sergeant Lorenzo Cox, presented the Colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Overall, this event was designed as a way to showcase the amazing learning taking place in the schools in East Cobb County. We are so proud of our students and the teachers and classified employees who make such an impact in their lives. The ECCC PTA was proud to showcase and honor our amazing educators and classified employees.
Tammy lives in East Cobb with her husband Kiffer. She has three daughters who attend American University, Lassiter HS and Mabry MS. She is the current PTSA President at Lassiter HS and is a passionate advocate for education.
This article was written by Tammy Andress and originally appeared in the March issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 8. Click here to view the digital edition.
