East Chapel Hill High Educator Named CHCCS Teacher of the Year

Brian Link of East Chapel Hill High School is Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Teacher of the Year.

Brian Link, an East Chapel Hill High School social studies teacher, earned the district’s Teacher of the Year Award. (Photo via CHCCS.)

Announced during the district’s annual Recognition Reception on Wednesday, the highest award given to a CHCCS educator was one of several announced as the school system celebrated its employees. Held at the end of each academic year, the event honors its top educators and staff, as well as those who are retiring from the district.

Link is a social studies teacher at East Chapel Hill High, as well as the district’s Social Justice Academy director. An educator of nine years, he holds a Master of Education degree from UNC, as well as degrees from Northwestern University and Stanford University.

As part of the prize for winning Teacher of the Year, Link received a $1,000 check courtesy of Pinnacle Financial Partners. He will now advance to compete at the regional level for Teacher of the Year, with the winner then moving to the group of nine educators up for the statewide award.

The 2021 Recognition Reception is the first for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Dr. Nyah Hamlett, who said she enjoys honoring and celebrating the district’s staff.

“Ever since I became a part of the CHCCS family and learning community,” said Hamlett in a release, “I’ve been so impressed with the fortitude, leadership and unwavering commitment to service that I’ve witnessed in our employees. I look forward to doing this in person soon. My first Recognition Reception is an opportunity to publicly say ‘thank you’ to the CHCCS staff for all they do and have done. Recognizing our amazing retirees, our hard working staff for years of service, and celebrating teaching chairs and other staff awards is a bright moment in any school year.”

Other recipients of awards on Wednesday were Crystal Epps of Scroggs Elementary School, who won CHCCS’ Principal of the Year, and Kirtisha Jones of Northside Elementary School, who won Assistant Principal of the Year. Brad Johnson, the director of transportation for the school system, earned the Award of Excellence in District Administration.

Three staff members also earned $1,000 checks as recpients of the Mary Scroggs Award of Excellence in Providing Support Services. CHCCS awarded it to Glenwood Elementary School custodian Stephen Crownson, Chapel Hill High School bookkeeper Lillian Rodermond and IT network engineer Matthew Jorgenson.

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

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Brian Link of East Chapel Hill High School is Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Announced during the district’s annual Recognition Reception on Wednesday, the highest award given to a CHCCS educator was one of several announced as the school system celebrated its employees. Held at the end of each academic year, the […]

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