Beech Tree News Network

Campbellsville University honored 160 teachers from 59 school districts throughout Kentucky by receiving the Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching Award Saturday, May 11 at Winters Dining Hall in the E. Bruce Heilman Student Center Complex on the CU campus.
    Gary Griesser, known as the “Singing Motivator,” commended the teachers for their awards and told them to “take care of yourselves first in order to take care of others.”
He asked them who had pushed them in their educational journey, and he advised them to push their students so they could achieve and receive their potential.
He urged the teachers to help students “find their calling in life and reach their dreams.”
He told them: “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
After singing two songs, “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” he told the teachers, “You give us reason for hope.”
Griesser had a 27-year career as a professional educator and is in his 14th year as a full-time inspirational speaker.
Dr. Frank Cheatham, senior vice president for academic affairs at Campbellsville University, said he is convinced teaching is a calling. He thanked the large number of administrators who were there to support their teachers.
He said the teachers are always welcome at Campbellsville University.
Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, is retiring at the end of the academic year, and Cheatham said there has been tremendous growth since she has served as dean. He said CU has a great faculty in the School of Education, and there are 24 academic programs approved by the standards board. She said early childhood education is the largest program.
Priddy said she thought of Cheatham as a “tremendous mentor.” She said it had been an “absolute pleasure to serve at CU.”
“I would put our faculty up against any in the Commonwealth and nation,” she said.
She told the teachers, along with their family and friends, the School of Education had recently done “an outstanding job” after the visit for re-accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
She told the teachers it was a “pleasure and honor to recognize some of the best teachers across the Commonwealth.”
She said a motto of the School of Education is “Teaching is the profession that creates all others.” She read from Ephesians 4:11,12 that says: “Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, or teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.”
Dave Walters, vice president for admissions and student services, lead in the invocation and thanked the teachers for the “excellence work you do.”
The opening remarks were in the Ransdell Chapel before the awards were presented at the Winters Dining Hall. An ensemble from the School of Music played during the lunch.
Dr. Donna Hedgepath, associate professor of education and chair of undergraduate programs, read the names of the award winners. Cheatham and Priddy presented the awards.
Campbellsville University began the Excellence in Teaching Awards Program in 1987 with assistance from Earl Aaron and the Ward, Cundiff and Aaron Memorial Fund. The purpose of the program is to recognize the quality teaching and learning taking place in the school systems throughout Kentucky.
Through the awards program, CU presents certificates to teachers in each grade level [preschool/elementary (P-five), middle grades (six to eight) and high school (nine to 12)] as selected by their school districts.
At this 27th annual program, CU recognized 160 teachers from 59 school districts. A total of 3,014 teachers have been recognized for their teaching excellence throughout the years.
The Excellence in Teaching Awards program is in partnership with Lexington’s CBS-affiliate, WKYT-TV.
The Excellence in Teaching Award recipients include the following with their superintendent listed first:
Ohio County School System – Scott Lewis, superintendent; Kevin Brent Ashby, Wayland Alexander Elementary School; Debbie Ann King Goff, Ohio County Middle School; and Jana L. Shultz, Ohio County High School.

Shultz is a ninth through 12th grade Spanish teacher at Ohio County High School where she has taught since 1995. She graduated from Butler County High School of Morgantown, Ky., in 1987. In 1995, she finished a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Kentucky University. She earned her master’s degree in 2000 from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 2010, she received her National Board Certification.
    She is the daughter of Richard Gidcumb and Shelia Phelps, both of Morgantown, Ky.
The Campellsville University School of Education has the following programs: undergraduate: P-5, elementary education; 5-9, middle grades education; 8-12, English, math, biology, chemistry and social studies;  P-12, art, music, health and physical education and special education; P-12, English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement; P-12, environmental education endorsement;  P-12, Spanish; early childhood education, and interdisciplinary early childhood education;
Graduate – teacher leader master of arts in education; teacher leader master of arts in special education; master of arts in special education initial certification; Rank I program; director of special education; P-12, ESL endorsement; P-12, environmental education endorsement; and P-12, gifted and talented education.
The school has 19 faculty members with five staff members. There are two student organizations Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) International Honor Society and The Education Club.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredits the Campbellsville University School of Education.
            Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator, and Rebekah Southwood, student news writer