December SuperStar Teacher: Celebrating Christy Bennich at Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle
Christy Bennich, a reading specialist at Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle, has been named the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's SuperStar Teacher for December. Our presenting sponsor, Hubbard & Drake General - Mechanical Contractors, Inc., represented by Brian Beidleman, along with John Holley, Chairman of the Chamber's Board of Directors and Chamber staff, surprised Mrs. Bennich with a $150 gift card for her classroom, a $50 gift card for personal use and a $1,000 grant awarded to Crestline Elementary School from the Chamber’s One Vision Foundation. Hartselle City Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Clayton also revealed that Mrs. Bennich was named the Crestline Elementary School Teacher of the Year and the Hartselle City Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Bennich has been teaching at Crestline Elementary for 29 years. In her nomination, Principal Karissa Lang highlighted Mrs. Bennich's profound impact on her students and colleagues. Principal Lang stated:
“As the reading coach, Christy Bennich impacts every classroom and every student at Crestline. She tirelessly works to support teachers both in and out of the classroom. She pushes into classrooms and teaches alongside teachers to ensure students are equipped with strategies to be successful. Anytime teachers need anything, she works after school, at night and on the weekends to create games, center materials, small group materials and anything else needed to make the teacher's job easier. She constantly checks in on teachers and students and has such a positive relationship with them all. In addition, Mrs. Bennich was a driving force behind Crestline's success with reading proficiency on state assessments that lead to Crestline being named a National Blue Ribbon School for High Exemplary Success. I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Bennich for the past eight years and I have never seen anyone have the desire to constantly improve like her. She is always looking for better ways to help students and teachers. Without her, Crestline Elementary School would have not made the gains in reading that it has. She is Crestline's biggest fan and has been since the day she started here in 1995. I can’t think of a better person that embodies love and providing support like Christy Bennich.”
“I was totally not expecting that at all. I’m very humbled and just overwhelmed that people would recognize work that’s sometimes done behind the scenes. It’s just nice that people notice,” said Bennich.
The Chamber’s SuperStar Teacher program celebrates educators who make a significant impact on their students, colleagues and communities. For the 2024-2025 school year, the Chamber's One Vision Foundation will award a $1,000 grant to the school of each SuperStar Teacher of the Month. This initiative is part of the Chamber's ongoing commitment to recognizing and supporting outstanding educators in Decatur-Morgan County. The One Vision Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, funds these grants through the generous support of our Chamber members. Members can contribute through their invoices, or a tax-deductible donation can be made by visiting our website, www.dcc.org.