BEST OF THE BEST Chamber presents its annual awards to individuals, businesses

Catoosa County Schools Superintendent Denia Reese earned the Citizen of the Year award, which was presented Feb. 27 at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala.

The Chamber presents a host of awards each year at the gala recognizing individuals and businesses that have made outstanding contributions to the community.

Reese is a lifelong resident of Catoosa. She attended West Side Elementary School, Lakeview Junior High, and graduated from LakeviewFort Oglethorpe High School. She was a teacher for four years, served as assistant principal for six years, and principal for 11 years before becoming Catoosa County Public Schools superintendent in 2005.

As superintendent, Reese has led her team of educators and administrators through disaster recovery efforts after 2011’s EF4 tornado destroyed Ringgold Middle and High Schools, as well as the ever-changing challenges of providing digital learning and meal distribution for Catoosa County students due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Reese said a quote by Rita Pierson shaped her life as an educator: “Every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”

“I’ve had the opportunity,” Reese said, “to be a champion for children in the classroom and as superintendent I’ve had the opportunity to inspire 1,800 employees to be champions for Catoosa’s children. It is a great honor that I am being considered as Catoosa County’s Citizen of the Year for doing what I love and was called to do in life.”

Her current community leadership positions include:

♦ Past chairperson of the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce

♦ Past president of Ringgold Rotary

♦ Chairperson of the Northwest Georgia Regional Education Service Agency

♦ Chairperson of the Catoosa Family Collaborative

♦ North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation board of directors member