Mother-Daughter Dynamos!

Debby and Barbara Ellis with Principal Phillips

Last night our county celebrated its Teacher of the Year with a lovely dinner and ceremony. At Chets Creek we celebrated our Teacher of the Year Debby Cothern and her mother, Barbara Ellis, our Employee of the Year! It's the first time we've ever celebrated a mother daughter team and what FUN! The tables were decorated with beautiful flowers and pictures of Barbara and Debby's life. The children had painted pictures as placemats. Each of the grade level teams did a skit and both the PTA and Faculty presented them with gifts. Next we watched a slide show of Barbara, beginning with her baby years, her marriage and the birth of her son and twins, Debby and Donna. We watched Debby move from a toddler through the birth of her own beautiful children - all this while we enjoyed breakfast. All of their family was there - their personal family and their Chets Creek family!

Debby has been a longtime kindergarten and first grade looping teacher. It's hard to think of Debby without her teammate, her best friend and sister-in-law, Michelle Ellis. Debby and Michelle are legendary at Chets Creek. They are a team that has hosted thousands of visitors over the years. They did some of our first live lessons and videoed lessons. They have single-handedly raised the level of what we expect on standard-based bulletin boards. Today they are on our Leadership Team and lead the Kindergarten Team. They are smart, talented, distinguished young women. They are a credit to their families and to our Chets Creek Family.

Barbara came to Chets Creek as a paraprofessional and has worked in Debby and Michelle's room! She has also had her grandchildren in the rooms where she has worked, but she in no way stands in the shadow of her very distinguished daughters. She is a competent and talented in her own right and is the much loved "Grandma Barbara."

How much our lives are enriched by having the Ellis family in our midst!