Classical Christian Academy, a private hybrid school, celebrates Golden Halo Award Winner Mrs. Vicki Watson, along with two finalists.
5 – May – 2016 – North Fort Myers, Fla. – Three Classical Christian Academy teachers were recognized as outstanding Christian school educators, with Mrs. Vicki Watson winning the Golden Halo Award for middle school. The other CCA finalists were Mrs. Shawna Christenson, nominated for high school, and Mrs. Shannon Schram, nominated for elementary. Mrs. Watson is the fourth Golden Halo Award winning teacher from Classical Christian Academy. The school also has produced an additional nine Golden Halo finalists.
Mrs. Schram, Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Christenson were honored at the 2016 Golden Halo ceremony.
The awards are presented annually by the Christian Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Florida. The 10th Annual Golden Halo Awards Banquet was April 29, 2016, at Parish Life Center, honoring Southwest Florida’s best Christian school teachers. The event showcases top-notch teachers and shows they are appreciated.
Mrs. Watson teaches Lower and Upper School classes, including Bible, Algebra, Spanish, Logic and Choir.
“Mrs. Watson is so much fun to have as a teacher, and I can finally understand my math because of her,” said middle school student Hannah E., one of the students who nominated Mrs. Watson for this honor.
Mrs. Watson has been a certified teacher for 36 years. She called the Golden Halo Award the highlight of her career. The honor means more than recognition from peers and supervisors because nominations come from students, she added.
“Teachers don’t do what they do for the accolades; we do it because we have a calling to do what we do,” said Mrs. Watson. “And to be honored in that way was certainly more than I ever dreamed. I feel honored that students cared enough about me to vote for me. They are what matters, after all.”
She said she’s not sure what she does to be a “good teacher.”
“I pray a lot, and it makes it easy to teach when you love the students,” Mrs. Watson said. “I always want each student to succeed, in everything. I want them to feel good about themselves and know that they have within them the power to be the best they could possibly be.”
Mrs. Christenson, a Golden Halo finalist, joined CCA this year and teaches high school English.
“I like her class because she’s very honest, and we always have real discussions,” said Maggie E. “I voted for her because she always presented us with the right amount of homework, letting us know she understands we have other classes and that it’s a lot of pressure to do well in all of them.”
Mrs. Schram, who teaches mainly Upper School classes, was surprised to be nominated by a student in her elementary school math class.
“She seems genuinely interested in our own opinions or facts we have to share about a topic, and she does a great job at helping us understand new things,” said middle school Connections student Emily K. of Mrs. Schram.
For a school the size of CCA, it is an honor to have so many Golden Halo Award winners and finalists, said CCA Founder and Principal Amy Davis.
“We are thankful for all of the outstanding teachers we have been gifted with,” said Mrs. Davis.
Written by CCA student journalist Selah J.
About Classical Christian Academy
Classical Christian Academy is the premier hybrid school in Southwest Florida. CCA offers families an academically rigorous and Christ-centered K-12 education option that blends the best aspects of private and home schooling. Classical Christian Academy is a registered 501c (3) organization. For more information, visit www.discovercca.org and like CCA on www.facebook.com/DiscoverCCA.
About the Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida The Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida began in 1997. More than 200 members come together to network, develop their businesses and give God the glory. For more information, visit www.hischamber.org.
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