Each month the Collinsville High School faculty honors a fellow faculty member with the “Faculty Member of the Month” designation. Here is a running list of those honored during the 2019-20 school year:
The August Faculty Member of the Month has made a huge impact in the short time time she has been at CHS. Her nominator wrote, “She has been an innovative leader of our RtI/MTSS program. She coordinated and developed our Summer JumpStart program for incoming freshmen. She volunteers her time in a variety of capacities throughout the school year and is a positive mentor for students and positive colleague to our staff.” For all of these reasons we proudly name Mrs. Heather Johnson the August Faculty Member of the Month.
The September Faculty Member of the Month was nominated by several people. Her nominators wrote, “She is a progressive department chair who has played a big role in transforming the department with TPRS instruction. She has helped produce numerous Seal of Biliteracy designations for CHS students. She organized a donation drive for Kreitner Elementary School (summer school supplies) and oversees the World Language Department’s tutoring during study hall periods. She volunteers to translate at various times and affords students “experiences of a lifetime” via overseas trips.” For all of these reasons we name Mrs. Cara Kettler the September Faculty Member of the Month.
The October Faculty Member of the Monthhas been a teacher at CHS for many years. Her nominator wrote, “She has always demonstrated a passion for music and her students. Lisa will be retiring at the conclusion of this school year, but she is still working diligently to provide meaningful choral experiences at CHS. She has also been instrumental in the development and implementation of our Life Skills Music Class. She has done a wonderful job of affording our students this elective course experience at CHS. She recently was awarded a Maritz Arts and Education for Teachers grant in the amount of $950 to support the inclusion of life skills students in the upcoming Madrigal Concert.” For all of these reasons, we proudly nameMrs. Lisa Clevelandas the October Faculty Member of the Month.
TheNovember Faculty Member of the Monthhas called CHS home for the vast majority of her career. She sent her two wonderful children through Collinsville High School. She has taught Advanced Placement Science courses here for many years and her former students have credited her with preparing them for their future college and career paths. In the classroom she has been described as fun loving, adventurous and always willing to go the extra mile for her students. She took on the task of organizing all the hazardous materials and chemicals within the Science Department to keep everyone safe and also during her time at CHS she has served as a Class Sponsor and Prom Organizer. For all of these reasons we nameMrs. Cheryl Varnerthe November Faculty Member of the Month and wish her well in her upcoming retirement later this school year.
The December Faculty Member of the Month has spent the last 21 years of her career at Collinsville High School. She joined the English Department in 1999 and soon took on the role of Freshmen Class Sponsor. Over the years she has been apart of some of the largest projects to ever be a part of Collinsville history. She helped welcome 2,500 students and teachers to CHS for a national student council conference, she has helped host two state conventions, she has served on two hosting committees for the Festival of Trees that raised more than $50,000 for CHS Scholarships and the Literacy Program, and she helped create the Writing Center which now flourishes in the library. She was an amazing building rep that fought for everyone in this building when needed. And I am quite sure most of you knew none of this because she has done all of her work behind the scenes with little to no attention over the years. She is a fighter for all kids and for all educators and for all of these reasons, we name Mrs. Alice Carroll the December Faculty Member of the Month.
The January Faculty Member of the Month was nominated by two individuals. They wrote of her, “I am not sure who evaluates/supervises which staff, but I wanted to give a SHOUT OUT to Ms. Gloria! She is always so kind, helpful and positive in my interactions with her. I have a Special Ed. student who is in her Chemistry class . He is struggling with material and beginning to have anxiety about tests. He knows the material and as soon as he gets the test, he freezes and cannot remember anything. The student and I brainstormed some possible accommodations and when I spoke with Ms. Gloria about them, she was willing to do whatever would help the student be successful and minimize his anxiety. These are not accommodations that are in his IEP and I so appreciate that Ms. Gloria is willing to be flexible and go above and beyond for her students.” For these reasons we name Mrs. Linda Gloriathe January Faculty Member of the Month!
The February Faculty Member of the Month was nominated by one of his colleagues. His colleague wrote, ” I would like to nominate him for faculty member of the month for he is most deserving. He is active in our school community and serves as a leader within our school athletics department. He is always willing to help out students and faculty members and has been willing to try different things to try to reach and best support all of his students. He even stopped to help me with a situation the other day and I am so grateful for his help and guidance. I appreciate all he does to help make CHS awesome!” For these reasons we name Mr. Colin Moore the February Faculty Member of the Month.