Automotive teacher Robert Ballard was recognized as the Chapel Hill High School’s Teacher of the Year, and guidance counselor Imani Agee was named School Support and Wellness Employee of the Year; administrative assistant Teresa Sloan was honored as Classified Employee of the Year for the second year in a row.
Ballard, Agee and Sloan were officially announced at the employees of the year on March 9.
Ballard, the runner-up for Career and Technical Education (C.T.E.) Teacher of the Year in 2022, said being honored as Teacher of the Year is a win for his department as a whole.
“I think it’s bigger than me. I think it’s good that C.T.E. programs are being recognized, and it’s nice being recognized as a part of a C.T.E. program for this particular award,” Ballard said.
Ballard’s day-to-day instruction involves classroom teaching and hands-on automotive work.
“I like to make sure the kids know what they are touching before they touch it. I go over the content, and then we actually apply what we learn in the classroom,” Ballard said. “So whether it be electronics, diagnostics, suspension work or brakes work, we cover it first in the classroom, then we [apply the teaching] to a car.”
Ballard teaches senior Keny Batres-Coronado, who says that no student “doesn’t respect and admire” Ballard.
“Every day starts off with a bang if you have [Ballard] in the morning,” Batres-Coronado said. “[Ballard is the] funniest and most understanding teacher I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and learning from. He is the only part of school I will genuinely miss.”
Sophomore Cy Steele-Cobb echoed this sentiment, stating that Ballard “is very good about making sure [students] have actual experience working on cars.”
Junior Oliver McClure noted that Ballard is “interested in the subjects” he teaches, which “makes it easier to learn.”
Agee said she was surprised to be named School Support and Wellness Employee of the Year, considering she has held her position at Chapel Hill High School for just two-and-a-half years.
“I had an anxiety attack. I don’t really like attention, so it was hard for me to accept being awarded such an important award,” Agee said. “I was not expecting it, but it is nice to be acknowledged for all my hard work.”
Agee is currently working with freshman, sophomore, and junior students to set up class registration for the 2023-2024 school year.
“If I have a child who’s in a crisis, and I’m doing class registration, the child in the crisis comes first,” Agee said, “so I have to be okay with getting behind in my class registration meetings, knowing that I can catch up, and knowing that the reason I am behind is because something else took priority.”
Agee is counselor to senior Shannon McManus, who said that Agee is “very willing to help anyone, even if they aren’t assigned to her.”
“She’s always been really helpful, and [Agee is] one of the friendliest staff members for sure,” McManus said.
Assistant principal Ryan Kulikowski added that Agee is “awesome,” and school security guard Jonathan Stephens remarked that he and others “call her the MVP.”
“People see what I’m doing, and they’re willing to acknowledge that,” Agee said. “It does feel good aside from my issues with attention. It does feel good for people to say, ‘Oh, she’s working really hard, and she does a lot for these kids.’ So I appreciate that. And I’m thankful for that.”
Sloan, who was honored as Classified Employee of the Year in 2022, said she appreciates the kind words being echoed by fellow employees, and she is grateful for their support in her job.
“I’m just putting pieces together every day,” Sloan said. “Each day, the puzzle is different. Yet each day, with the support of the administrative team, we are able to complete that puzzle.”
Substitute teacher Dominick Barone has known Sloan since he started working at Chapel Hill High School, and he was delighted to find out that she received recognition for her work.
“From my first day to the current day, she has been incredibly diligent, helpful, and amiable,” Barone said. “Her dedication to her duty coupled with her kind and approachable demeanor make her an absolute asset to the school.”
Sloan said she is grateful for the staff, students, and parents who necessitate her job.
“Kindness, gratitude and perseverance is key. This is a workplace where I can be myself, learn from my mistakes,” Sloan wrote in an email. “Staff, students and parents have a great deal of support, and in turn, we can be supportive too, with confidence.”
Ballard, Agee and Sloan have a chance to receive further recognition at the district level, following a round of interviews and a review of the winners’ profiles.
