Cobb teacher of the year

Dodgen teacher Fred Veeder honored by Cobb Chamber of Commerce

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Dodgen teacher Fred Veeder

On Thursday it was the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s turn to pay tribute to Dodgen teacher Fred Veeder, the Cobb County School District’s 2018 teacher of the year.

We posted earlier about how he got the news in a big surprise right before the school year about being the district’s middle school teacher of the year, and then the overall recipient.

With that latter designation comes a special “Give Our Students A Hand” event sponsored by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce on the Marietta Square, along with honorees from Marietta City Schools. Due to the rainy weather, they weren’t able to make the presentation outdoors, as is the custom, but repaired indoors instead to the Strand Theatre.

Here’s more about Veeder from Nan Kiel of CCSD, who also passed along the photo above, as he’s flanked by Cobb Chamber CEO Sharon Mason and Cobb schools superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Veeder also was joined by his principal, Loralee Hill, and previous Dodgen associates also gave testimonials to his dedication as a 7th grade math teacher. Explained Veeder:

“On the first day of school, I always promise my kids two things: I promise them that I will never yell at them and I promise them to do my best every day, and, ‘I’m expecting your best every day.’” 

There’s another related event coming up on Oct. 23, a Cobb Teacher of the Year pep rally at Roswell Street Baptist Church. Every school’s teacher of the year will be honored, and Veeder and other finalists will get to pick a car from the Ed Voyles dealerships that they’ll get to drive free for a year.

 

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The 2018 Cobb schools teacher of the year is from Dodgen Middle School

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Cobb schools teacher of the year, Fred Veeder
Fred Veeder is overcome with emotion as Cobb schools supterintendent Chris Ragsdale announced Friday he’s the district’s teacher of the year for 2018. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

The Cobb schools teacher of the year presentation was disguised as something else for the seventh grade class at Dodgen Middle School Friday morning.

In order to keep a secret, and surprise the recipient, seventh grade teacher Fred Veeder, students were assembled into the auditorium and told they would be hearing from a Pearl Harbor survivor.

The special visit was even noted on the school marquee.

Veeder, who teaches seventh grade math, had been named the district’s middle school teacher of the year a couple weeks ago, and was overwhelmed and touched by the honor.

When the he took the stage Friday morning, his voice broke a little as he thanked his administration, fellow teachers, students and Cobb County School District staff.

“I feel so honored, so blessed,” Veeder said. “I feel like I have two families.”

Cobb Schools teacher of the year, Dodgen Middle School

As in his previous honor, Veeder mentioned his mother, a retired seventh grade math teacher herself (and who also was in attendance Friday) for help instilling the values and the desire to become a teacher.

After years as a gas station owner, Veeder finished his college education and began teaching at Dodgen 15 years ago. He said being named the district’s teacher of the year is an honor for the whole school, not just himself.

“There are so many wonderful teachers at this school that I have taken so many good things from” as a teacher, he said, his voice choking with emotion from time to time.

“It’s a blessing beyond belief. I don’t feel like this is just my award. This is Dodgen’s award, and I’m just a part of the family.”

Cobb schools teacher of the year, Dodgen Middle School

Veeder will next be in the running for the Georgia teacher of the year award. Other high-ranking Cobb schools officials were in attendance, as were East Cobb-area Cobb school board members Scott Sweeney, David Banks and David Chastain and chairman Brad Wheeler.

He was also thanked by Dodgen principal Dr. Loralee Hill, who has said of Veeder that he is ” a legend in our community.”

As the pep rally closed, she told him that “We are so blessed that you are here.”

Cobb schools teacher of the year, Fred Veeder

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Dodgen Middle School teacher ‘a legend in our community’

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Fred Veeder, Dodgen Middle School teacher
With Dodgen principal Dr. Loralee Hill applauding, Fred Veeder reacts to being named the Cobb middle school teacher of the year by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale Wednesday. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Fred Veeder was sitting in the cafeteria with his peers Wednesday morning, shortly after a welcome-back staff breakfast. The Dodgen Middle School teacher had no idea he was about to become the center of attention.

Then an entourage from the Cobb County School District, including superintendent Chris Ragsdale, entered the room, along with Veeder’s sister and mother.

He had been chosen the Cobb district’s middle school teacher of the year, and he was completely blown away by the honor.

The surprise announcements were repeated for teachers at Nickajack Elementary School in Smyrna and Harrison High School in Kennesaw.

Ragsdale, who told the Dodgen teachers that “you are the rock stars” of the school district, said breaking the news to the selected teachers is “probably one of my favorite things to do.”

A seventh grade math teacher at Dodgen for the last 15 years, Veeder was humble in being asked to speak to his colleagues.

“This is for all of us, not just me,” Veeder said.

Dodgen Middle School teachers listen to Fred Veeder after he was named a Cobb teacher of the year finalist.

Asked later what the honor means, Veeder still couldn’t believe it. “Oh God,” he said. “It just blows me away. I just love the job so much. That’s the reward in itself. This. . . this is surreal.”

Teaching is a second career for Veeder. He previously owned a Chevron station in Buckhead. After selling that business, he decided to go back to college and complete his education.

He’s been at Dodgen all 15 years as a public school teacher, but his teaching career isn’t a happenstance. His mother was a seventh grade math teacher before him, and she warmly embraced him at the celebration.

“He was just born to be a math teacher,” Dr. Loralee Hill, the Dodgen principal, said of Veeder. “It’s in his blood.”

Fred Veeder, Dodgen Middle School teacher
Dodgen Middle School teacher Fred Veeder gets a hug from his mother, a retired 7th grade math teacher.

She said that what distinguishes Veeder is a “passion for the kids that’s insurmountable” and his success in engaging with them in the classroom.

Hill said while Veeder is a demanding teacher in a demanding subject, the way he questions students in classes is among the best she’s observed by a teacher.

Veeder also has been a sponsor of the Dodgen math club while teaching a 7th grade honors class. Hill said students taking math support classes eagerly sign up for him to be their teacher.

Not only is Veeder constantly willing to collaborate and learn new things, Hill said, he passes on that knowledge.

“He’s a legend in our community,” Hill said.

Veeder is a finalist for the Cobb County School District teacher of the year, which will be named after the start of the school year.

Among the perks is the free use of a vehicle of his choice for this school year from the Ed Voyles dealerships.

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