Horizons Savannah Teachers and Administrators Nominated for National Award

Oct. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- (SAVANNAH, GA) – Horizons Savannah is proud to announce that two of its staff members have been nominated for an award from Horizons National.  Julian Childers, Academic Coordinator for the Horizons Savannah summer enrichment program for underprivileged children, and Amy Gorham, Reading Specialist, have been nominated for the Lyn McNaught Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the following areas:

• Leadership - serving as a role model for students and colleagues alike
• Commitment - viewing their relationship with Horizons as a long-term partnership
• Educational Excellence - developing curriculum that is exciting, challenging and relevant to students’ lives
• Compassion - providing a safe and nurturing classroom environment

Horizons Savannah executive Director Christy Edwards says, “Amy went above and beyond her duties this summer. She was very instrumental in helping our Academic Coordinator plan the daily schedule, orchestrate field trips, keep up with paperwork and supervise counselors.  She served as a liaison with parents and is continuing to help me (on her own time, without being paid) with assessing our work in the past and planning for our future.”

Horizons Savannah Board Chairman Tom Oxnard adds, "Julian was thrown into the fire in the summer of 2011 when we found ourselves leaderless just before the start of the program.  He did not flinch; in fact, in a calm, professional manner, he kept everything on track and managed the program as if he had never done another job.  He was a miracle worker and we are indebted to him for giving us a great summer."

The Lyn McNaught Award, named for Horizons' founder, includes recognition for the honoree and a $2,000 cash award, to be given to each chosen affiliate which, at the request of the funder, is to be used for attendance at a summer-learning related conference.  Up to three winners will be selected by a designated panel comprised of Horizons National staff, board members, Lyn McNaught herself and Executive Directors of past recipient programs.  This year, Horizons National will announce the winners at its Fall Conference, and the selected teachers will be invited to and honored at its Spring Conference, where they will be presented with their awards and will also have an opportunity to participate in conference workshops and panels.

Recognized as one of America’s best summer learning programs, Horizons at Savannah Country Day School welcomes about 150 low-income, K-8 public school students each summer.  Five days a week over six weeks, students engage in a variety of activities at little cost to their families.  Students participate in academic lessons, college tours, cultural activities, swimming lessons, fun projects and weekly field trips.  In an assessment of students before the start of Horizons National’s summer 2009 programs, nearly 75 percent tested at or below grade level in reading.  By summer’s end, students gained an average of four months’ growth in reading.  For more information, please contact Horizons Savannah Executive Director Christy Edwards at 912-961-8854, info@horizonssavannah.org, or visit our website at http://horizonssavannah.org/ .

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Horizons is a six-week academic, cultural & recreational summer enrichment program that helps students from a diverse, low-income population build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility & instill respect for oneself and others.