Meet Houston County’s gifted teacher of the year, plus other Middle Georgia awards

Middle Georgia is filled with people who commit their time and effort to make the community a better place, and these community leaders, students and organizations often receive awards for their dedication.

Here is a list of people in our community who have recently received awards.

Gifted Teacher of the Year

Northside High School teacher Kim Stewart was named the 2019-2020 Gifted Teacher of the Year for the Houston County School District and received a surprise announcement in her classroom Nov. 21, according to a news release.

Title I Distinguished Schools

Carter Elementary School and Springdale Elementary School, two schools in the Bibb County School Disctrict, were recognized as Title I Distinguished Schools by the Georgia Department of Education, according to a news release.

The recognition is given to schools ranked in the top 5% of the state’s Title I schools in the most recent College and Career Ready Performance Index data.

Houston County Teacher Hall of Fame

Margaret Washburn, Rebecca Crockett, Sandra Gilreath (top left to right), Pamela Knauer and Argene Claxton (bottom left to right) were inducted into the Houston County Teacher Hall of Fame on Nov. 21, according to a news release.

Bishop Gartland Service Award

Ten Middle Georgia area residents received the Bishop Gartland Service Award by the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, which honors people who have given outstanding service to the church, according to a news release. Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer presented the awards.

Armando Perez was nominated by the pastor of St. Peter Claver Church, Rev. William McIntyre, for his more than 20 years of active service to the church.

Bob Fenimore was nominated by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church pastor Rev. Scott Winchel. Fenimore has served on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church’s Stewardship Council and is also involved in Bible studies, outreach to the homeless and promoting the Rosary.

Cecilia and Manuel Blas were nominated by Sacred Heart Church pastor Rev. Stephen Pontzer, and they have served the church in many ways including helping with and speaking at their “Open your heart to the Spirit” retreats and participating in their Hispanic Pre-Cana team.

Dale McGoldrick was nominated by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church pastor Rev. Scott Winchel and has taken part in numerous ministries and activities for the past 50 years, according to the news release.

Loleatis Green was nominated by the pastor of St. Peter Claver Church, Rev. William McIntyre, for her service in the church’s ministries for 26 years.

Mary-Julia Burt Dennis was nominated by Immaculate Conception Church pastor Rev. Jude T. Shayo and has been an instructor, a role model and a devoted Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday, according to the release.

William Sanders was nominated by Immaculate Conception Church pastor Rev. Jude T. Shayo for his nine years of service to the church and his service through the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal service organization, according to the release.

James Drescher was nominated by St. Patrick Church pastor Rev. Eric Filmer and has served the country, the community and the parish since 1966.

Kathryn Drescher was nominated by St. Patrick Church pastor Rev. Eric Filmer and has served on the church’s Parish Council for more than seven years. She has also been the Catholic Council of Catholic Women treasurer for three years.