The Habersham County Board of Education recognized two educators at their Monday night meeting for going “above and beyond,” for students and their families.
Once a month, the school board, alongside Peach State Federal Credit Union, recognize those who go the “extra mile” to improve the lives and further the educations of their students with the PSFCU “Extra Mile” and “Service Above Self” awards.
At their November meeting, the Habersham County Board of Education recognized two secondary educators, Habersham Central High School teacher Gulnur Pendaz and Wilbanks Middle School Paraprofessional Marthe Freeman, for their hard work.
Pendaz received the Extra Mile Award after being nominated by the HCHS administration. The HCHS physics and chemistry teacher is recognized for her dedication to helping struggling students, especially in the areas of math and science, as well as those learning to speak English.
Pendaz is the mother of HCHS’s 2021 Salutatorian, Ege Keskin, who also served on the 2020-2021 Georgia State School Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. It’s clear that her son takes after her when it comes to supporting student needs.
Pendaz has spearheaded multiple after-school activities to help students, as well as give her own students experience in leadership and service. One of her programs, the “Shining Stars,” is a club of upperclassmen who volunteer to help students with math and science.
“Once she pitched the idea to some of her AP Chemistry and Physics students they jumped at the chance to help others,” the administration said in their nomination letter for Pendaz. “Mrs. Pendaz is now working on matching students so that her volunteers can build peer relationships with their tutees that will hopefully last not just through the rest of this semester but through the rest of this year and beyond.”
Wilbanks Middle School Paraprofessional Marthe Freeman received the Service Above Self Award for her contributions to keeping Wilbanks Middle running and in the best shape possible. WMS Assistant Principal Chris Chitwood says that there was a time that the middle school was down to two custodians, leaving faculty and staff stressed when it came to keeping the school safe and clean. Chitwood says Freeman would spend part of her lunch break in the cafeteria helping custodians clean up to keep the school tidy.
“Mrs. Freeman is the definition of a ‘selfless person,'” says Chitwood. “She never seeks credit and always is willing to help behind the scenes for the good of others. I can’t think of a better example for this award than Mrs. Freeman. We are proud to have her at our school.”
