The January Teacher of the Month was honored by the Education Commission at last week's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The January Teacher of the Month was awarded to Mrs. Elizabeth Stuart, a Gifted Education teacher at Dogwood Elementary School. Praised by parents for her kind, supportive demeanor, Ms. Stuart thrives at encouraging her students to take risks and do their best even when a task seems difficult. She gives detailed explanations of assignments, exhibits patience when students are struggling and goes the extra mile to explore in-depth concepts that pique her students' interest.
In addition to her teaching duties, Ms. Stuart manages the school webpage and writes stories that run weekly in the Germantown News. She is a member of the National Association for Gifted Children and a local leader with the Professional Educators of Tennessee. She is a regular volunteer for school activities, such as decorating for the Veteran's Day Parade, and she also teaches one class daily at Forest Hill Elementary. She is currently creating a student journalism club.
Outside of school, Ms. Stuart is a monthly scripture reader at Kingsway Christian Church, where she's also a Faith and Vocation series speaker and the Kingsway Childcare and Learning Center oversight committee secretary.
The January Youth Excellence recipient was honored by the Education Commission at the January 23 meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The January Youth Excellence Award was presented to Chandni Karuhatty, a senior at Houston High School. Chandni is described as a self-driven leader who is ambitious, outgoing and has a steadfast work ethic. One nominator writes, "Her confidence and her communication skills are strong, and connecting with others is her area of strength."
In the classroom, Chandni has always done her best to excel in rigorous courses. As she has increased her class rigor each year, she has learned new study techniques to help her accomplish tasks. Chandni has demonstrated growth and commitment to' academic excellence through her involvement in the Houston Honors Academy, a selective admissions program within Houston High School.
Outside of the classroom, Chandni is a four-year member of the Houston Varsity Band and serves as the clarinet section leader. She is also an active member in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), where she was chosen by her peers to serve as the club's Event Coordinator and the team leader of the Biomedical Debate Team. Through her involvement in Key Club, Chandni consistently volunteers in the community by serving at food banks, tutoring other students or donating to causes that need support. She also works part-time at Code Ninjas, where she enjoys mentoring younger students and working with them to discover their gifts.
