Cape Fear Elementary Teacher Honored as "Teacher of the Week"
January 20th, 2016
Four County EMC is proud to announce that local teacher Dr. Chris Wirszyla of Cape Fear Elementary School is being honored on a statewide level as a Bright Ideas Tar Heel Teacher of the Week. Four County EMC nominated Dr. Wirszyla in recognition of his dedication to students and for winning Bright Ideas education grant funding for his project �Sustainability of the School Garden Center.�
Dr. Wirszyla is one of only 26 teachers statewide to earn the Tar Heel Teacher of the Week designation this school year. He, along with other Tar Heel Teacher of the Week honorees, were recognized at the UNC vs. N.C. State game in Chapel Hill on Saturday, January 16 and was awarded a plaque commemorating his achievement. He will also be recognized on air during the radio broadcast of the University of North Carolina basketball game against Duke on March 5, and also on the Bright Ideas Facebook page and website at http://www.ncbrightideas.com/.
“We are privileged to work with many outstanding teachers through our Bright Ideas education grant program, and Dr. Wirszyla consistently goes above and beyond to make a difference for students,” said Gay Johnson, Director of Corporate Communications, of Four County EMC. “It is an honor to recognize Dr. Wirszyla for his hard work and to be able to thank him for the positive contribution he makes in our community.”
“Dr. Wirszyla is an outstanding Physical Education teacher because he makes learning exciting for his class, teachers, school and community. Many people have never been taught the concepts related to wellness, including nutritional habits, but Dr. Wirszyla strives to make a difference and hopes all involved develop a foundation for a healthy and nutritious life for years to come, comments Johnson.”
The Tar Heel Teacher of the Week and Bright Ideas education grant programs are examples of Four County EMC and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives’ commitment to community.
About the Bright Ideas education grant program: The Bright Ideas education grant program, sponsored by Four County EMC and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, strives to improve education in North Carolina classrooms by awarding grants to Tar Heel teachers in grades K-12 for innovative, classroom-based projects that would not otherwise be funded. Since the program began in 1994, about $9.6 million has been given to educators for more than 9,200 projects benefitting well over 1.8 million students.
Locally, Four County EMC has contributed more than $377,660 to teachers. Four County EMC accepts Bright Ideas education grant applications annually from local teachers beginning April 1 at http://www.ncbrightideas.com/ or http://www.fourcty.org/.
Four County EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 32,500 members in Bladen, Columbus, Duplin, Onslow, Pender, and Sampson counties.
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