Cherrydale Elementary Teacher Selected for Teaching Excellence Award

Cherrydale Elementary Third Grade Teacher Elizabeth Allen has been named recipient of the 2020 Childers Education Foundation Teaching Excellence Award from Furman University.

Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Furman University last May. She received a $1,500 award during a ceremony at Cherrydale Elementary this month.

A committee of Furman faculty, along with school administrators and mentor teachers who worked closely with award nominees, used three main criteria in selecting the Childers Award winner:  love of content, love of teaching, and love of student.

“Elizabeth is an exceptional and inspiring teacher,” said Dr. Nelly Hecker, Education Professor and Department Chair. “She not only cares for her students’ growth and well-being, but also engages them in enthusiastically-presented, well-developed lessons. We are proud to honor her accomplishments as both teacher and Furman graduate.”

Allen makes it a point to start each day by welcoming each student by name and offering words of encouragement. She reaches out regularly to parents to let them know about their children’s progress and on occasion, leaves uplifting notes for students.

“From the first time I worked with Miss Allen, I knew immediately that she would be an amazing teacher because of the relationships that she builds with her students, her passion, her energy, and her organizational skills,” said Assistant Principal Jordan O’Toole, who nominated Allen for the award. “Cherrydale Elementary is thankful to be Miss Allen’s first home for teaching!”

The award for first-year teachers was established in 2009 by Marybeth Bunting Childers ’80, an education major at Furman who founded two schools and was named North Carolina Teacher of the Year, and her husband, Alfred Childers ‘80, a former member of Furman’s Board of Trustees.