Caldwell ISD is proud to recognize several students and a staff member who were recently honored by VFW Post No. 4458 during its annual awards banquet held on Thursday, February 12.
Caldwell High School senior Emma Davis was named the recipient of the Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Award, while Caldwell Junior High student Grayson Behler earned top honors in the Patriotโs Pen essay contest. Both programs encourage students to reflect on themes of democracy, citizenship, and patriotism through written and audio essays.
In addition to student recognitions, Caldwell Junior High history teacher Cody Savell was honored as the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year for the area. Savell was selected for his commitment to fostering meaningful classroom discussions and creating an environment built on trust and mutual respect โ qualities that are foundational to strong citizenship education.
CJH Principal Beatriz English shared that Savell consistently goes above and beyond in his role as an educator. In addition to teaching history, Savell also coaches volleyball, basketball, and baseball at CJH and serves in the Army Reserves. His dedication to students both inside and outside the classroom makes him an outstanding representative of the values recognized by the VFW award.
Savellโs recognition extended beyond the local level, as he was also selected as the District Teacher of the Year among 17 VFW posts.
Caldwell ISD congratulates Emma, Grayson, and Mr. Savell on these well-deserved honors and thanks the VFW for its continued support of student achievement and citizenship education.