L-R Arnoldsburg School Principal, Bryan Sterns,
Dottie Nemitz and Charles Thomas
Arnoldsburg Elementary School teacher Charles Thomas of Chloe has been named Calhoun Teacher of the Year and Pleasant Hill resident Dottie Nemitz has been selected Service Employee of the Year.
Thomas said "I believe children are curious beings, by nature, who wish to understand the world in which they live. My role, as an educator, is to provide an environment where learning can take place."
"My teaching efforts have centered on the concepts that you should believe in children, teach them to believe in themselves, and teach them to help and care for each other," he said.
He has been an elementary teacher in Calhoun since 1985, having received a BA degree in education at Fairmont State and a MA degree in elementary education from Marshall University.
In 2001 he taught as an exchange teacher in Kenya, worked as the Energy Express Coordinator, in addition to working for Lights On! and other tutoring programs.
Besides continuous involvement in educational programs, continuing education and community affairs, he received the Exemplary Teacher Technique Award for RESA V and was West Virginia's 4-H Outstanding Leader for Calhoun County in 2003.
"But the greatest reward is watching students mature and develop a hunger for learning. By being the facilitator of learning it allows me to open the world to the exploring minds of my students," concluded Thomas.
Dottie Nemitz said "I was so taken back at the employee recognition gathering, that I was speechless," receiving the Service Employee of the Year Award.
Nemitz came to Calhoun from Monongahela, PA where she earned a BA degree from Slippery Rock College, she taught school in New Jersey for 25 years.
She has worked in the Calhoun school system for 12 years, starting as a paraprofessional in the preschool program at Pleasant Hill School with Kelli Whytsell.
"I was transferred to Arnoldsburg in 2003 to work in the kindergarten room with Kathy Nichols," she said.
After being struck speechless at the Awards Dinner, she said she wanted to say "I work with a group of people who are phenomenal. When you are surrounded by people who would do anything for you, how can you not reciprocate?"
"The atmosphere at Arnoldsburg School brings out the best in everyone and that makes you want do your part. We feel we have a unique school because we care about each other, support each other, have fun and really care about our students," she said.
"Other service personnel at Arnoldsburg School deserved this award. I am very touched that they chose me," Nimitz concluded.
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