Longtime Hall County Board of Education member Sam Chapman was named the county's Pioneer RESA Pioneer in Education for 2021.
Pioneer RESA presents the award each year to those who make a positive impact on students and education, and each of the 15 districts within its service area names its recipient.
Chapman is in his fourteenth year of service as a school board member for the Hall County School District.
Superintendent Will Schofield, who has served alongside Chapman for the entirety of his school board tenure, praised his colleague.
"In many ways, Sam Chapman represents the man I want to become," Schofield said. "He continues to be an example of what good, noble and true looks like when it is wearing shoes and serving others."
A farmer and a long-time supporter of agricultural education, Chapman has spent much of his tenure advocating for workforce readiness programs and facility improvements—most recently the district’s newly developed Agribusiness Center. Chapman has always been a staunch supporter of local control with regard to educational issues.
Kevin Bales, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, said Chapman's level of commitment to the students and families of Hall County is unmatched.
"Sam is a man that has overcome challenges in many forms to chart an admirable course for his family, his church, his community and his school district. He is a true pioneer," Bales said.
Recipients of the Pioneer in Education Award serve their districts in a number of different roles: teachers, directors, board members, transportation specialists, etc. The key requirement is having made a substantial, positive impact on the lives of students.
This year’s recipients were honored Friday, November 5 at The Venue at Cenita in Cleveland Georgia.
