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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com
Midweek Edition-April 3-4, 2024 3A
Brenau names its 2024 Masters in Teaching
BY BEN ANDERSON
banderson@gainesvilletimes.com
Brenau University has named its Masters
in Teaching for 2024.
These seven educators were given the
award at the 16th annual ceremony last
week:
• Kerry Caron, Lanier Technical College
• Chassie Corbin, Lakeview Academy
• Donna Cherveny, Brenau University
• Andy Jobson, Riverside Preparatory
Academy
• Steven McIntyre, Chestatee High School
• Hannah Reaume, Gainesville Middle
School East
• Lorraine Villarin, University of North
Georgia
The Masters in Teaching award is an
annual event that celebrates local educators
in the Gainesville-Hall County community.
“Being recognized as the 2024 Master in
Teaching for Brenau University is an honor
and a privilege,'’ said Donna Cherveny, an
associate professor of education at Brenau.
“I humbly share it with all of my students,
both former and current, and my esteemed
colleagues at Brenau, specifically in the Col
lege of Education. I am fortunate to learn
right alongside the best each day.”
Christy Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher
of the Year, was the guest speaker. She is a
music technology teacher in Fayette County
and one of four finalists for National Teacher
of the Year.
Todd compared teaching to being a social
media influencer.
“Teachers are the ultimate influences,”
Todd said. “Teachers change the future
when we help students see their potential.”
Gladys Harvey-Peterson, one of the orga
nizers and advising coordinator for Brenau's
College of Education, said she enjoys seeing
the reaction from award winners.
“The award today is not a surprise, but
when we initially reach out, it is,” she said.
“To see all the amazing things they do as
educators ... to them, it's second nature. But
it truly is incredible.”
‘Being recognized as the
2024 Master in Teaching for
Brenau University is an honor
and a privilege. I humbly share
it with all of my students,
both former and current, and
my esteemed colleagues at
Brenau, specifically in the
College of Education.’
Donna Cherveny
Associate professor of education at Brenau
Brenau
University
honored
local edu
cators at its
16th annu
al Masters
in Teaching
award cer
emony
Thursday,
March 28.
Photos courtesy
Alyson Boyko
FROM 1A
Playground
heart and brain.
The inclusive playground
at Sandra Deal Elementary
will cost $250,000, which
includes a $150,000 dona
tion from Norfolk Southern.
“To honor Norfolk South
ern and their donation,
we're doing a train theme,”
Filchak said.
“Collaborating with Hope
for Hall, we're grateful
to empower their mission
of normalizing disability
through play, education,
and technology, and we
look forward to the enrich
ment this playground will
bring to our Hall County
neighbors for generations
to come,” Kristin Wong,
Norfolk Southern's director
of corporate giving, said in
a statement to The Times.
The playground will
include a roller slide, musi
cal maze, two accessible
swings and panels for learn
ing Braille and American
Sign Language, among
other stations.
The Hall County School
District is contributing
$70,000. The remain
ing $30,000 contributed
by Hope for Hall is left
over from the fundrais
ing for Wauka Moun
tain's $800,000 inclusive
playground.
Filchak said the inclu
sive playground at Wauka
Mountain has already made
a huge impact. For children
with disabilities, she said, it
was the first time for many
that they were to join their
friends on the playground.
“I've seen a mom in a
wheelchair get to play with
her children,” Filchak said.
“Teachers at recess, they
send me pictures and vid
eos of kids that have never
been able to play at the
playground.”
Filchak's ultimate hope
is to bring inclusive play
grounds to every elemen
tary school in Hall County,
and the district seems to be
Artist's rendering
Sandra Deal Elementary will become the second school in Hall County to have an
inclusive playground when in opens in August, thanks in part to a $150,000 dona
tion from Norfolk Southern.
FROM 1A
Hutchens
Hutchens was indicted on two counts
of aggravated assault on a peace officer,
fleeing or attempting to elude a police
officer, driving under the influence(less
safe), reckless driving, speeding and
other traffic-related offenses.
The indictment stated Hutchens was
driving 100 mph on Cornelia Highway,
which is a 65-mph zone.
The aggravated assault on a peace
officer charges were reduced to felony
obstruction at the plea.
Though the legal limit in Georgia for
blood alcohol concentration is 0.08, law
enforcement can still charge “DUKless
safe)” if the person is under the influence
of drugs or alcohol “to the extent that it is
less safe for the person to drive,” accord
ing to Georgia law.
Hutchens must complete 240 hours
of community service within 16 months
of the sentence, and he must undergo
random drug screens as designated by
probation.
Gosselin also ordered Hutchens to
complete a 12-month Transitional Hous
ing for Offender Reentry-approved inpa
tient treatment.
Hutchens was sentenced under the First
Offender Act on the felony fleeing and
obstruction charges, meaning the case will
be discharged without being found guilty
if he fulfills the terms of his sentence.
Defense attorney Naja Macintosh did
not return a request for comment.
FROM 1A
Wagner
“I have been blessed to spend the last years
at West Hall High School as a teacher and
assistant principal/athletic director,” he said.
“The West Hall community has a special
place in my heart.”
Wagner joined Hall County Schools
in 2014 as a teacher and coach at Flowery
Branch High. He transferred to West Hall
High in 2017 and assumed the role of assis
tant principal and athletic director in 2018.
“Over the years, David Wagner has
demonstrated an ability to lead and collab-
oratively develop a culture that supports stu
dents,” said Schofield. “He understands the
importance of listening, communicating a
vision, and building relationships that serve
young people and their families. We are
excited for North Hall Middle School and
the North Hall community.”
Wagner has a bachelor's degree in chem
istry from Maryville College, a master's in
curriculum and instruction from Tennessee
Tech University, and a specialist degree in
curriculum and instruction from Lincoln
Memorial University.
on board.
School board chairman
Craig Herrington said they
are planning to build an
inclusive playground at
the district's second new
elementary school, which
broke ground earlier this
week and will open in
August 2025.
“And then as funds
become available, we'll
gradually do all the schools
I would imagine,” Her
rington said.
Filchak hopes to change
the heart of the community
one inclusive playground at
a time.
“I know it's changed my
heart,” she said. “And I
think inclusive playgrounds
can change the hearts of
these children as they're
growing up and as they're
around the kids that are dif
ferent from them, and learn
ing empathy and learning to
accept difference — and
that difference is not only
OK, but it's beautiful.'’
If you want to be a part of
that change, you can donate
through the PEACH Edu
cation Tax Credit program
and receive a dollar-for-dol-
lar tax credit on your state
income tax liability.
“You're already going
to pay these tax dollars
anyway, so why not desig
nate them to stay local and
go back into Hall County
inclusive playgrounds?”
Filchak said.
To donate, visit gfpe.org
and complete a tax credit
application.
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