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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ alumna Kara Cowdrick ’10 was among 10 Atlanta educators selected in August as .

The award recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in three areas: raising student achievement, enhancing students’ self-esteem and collaboration with multiple stakeholders for the benefit of students.

Cowdrick, a fifth grade teacher at Chesney Elementary School in Duluth, Georgia, received a prize of $7,500 that includes funds for innovative classroom projects, professional development and a personal stipend. She plans to create the Chesney Champion Book Mobile with some of the money she received.

The book mobile is a literacy initiative that will operate next summer. By getting books in the hands of students, Cowdrick hopes to prevent the reading level “summer slide.”

After graduating from ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ with a degree in elementary education in 2010, Cowdrick earned a master’s degree in education from Georgia State University in 2012. In her five years as an educator, she has served as a local school and county staff development facilitator, mentor for new teachers and pre-service teachers, Teacher Advisory Council representative, Summer Bridge educator, Relay for Life Team co-coordinator and Drama Club sponsor.

She was also selected Chesney’s 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year.