Latest news with #Soward
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Monocacy Elementary students cheer for FCPS Teacher of the Year
On Tuesday morning, ALonna Soward, a fourth grade teacher at Monocacy Elementary School, headed to what she believed would be a meeting with Troy Barnes, the school's principal. Fourth and fifth grade students were led to a decorated cafeteria adorned with blue and green balloons — the elementary school's colors. The students readied themselves to surprise Soward with the 2025-26 Frederick County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award. Fourth and fifth graders gathered at the cafeteria's tables while school system officials, community partners and Soward's family sat in rows across the stage. Soward descended the cafeteria's ramp, and her eyes immediately landed on her students. As she began to realize what was happening, the cafeteria erupted in claps and cheers. 2025-26 FCPS Teacher of the Year Surprise ALonna Soward, the 2025-26 FCPS Teacher of the Year, is surprised by fourth and fifth grade students at Monocacy Elementary School on Tuesday. As she walked into the silent room, the students erupted in cheers. Soward said in an interview after the celebration that she "wasn't even thinking" there would be a surprise for her in the cafeteria. "It just goes to show how our Monocacy family really cares and extends past just the school," she said. "To reach out to my family and my husband, that was super exciting." Once Soward was seated on stage with her family, FCPS Superintendent Cheryl Dyson said the fourth grade teacher was "fantastic," and would represent the district well at the state-level competition. Barnes also spoke at the lectern in the crowded cafeteria, and said Soward, who has taught at the school for six years, "really does represent the best of the best here at Monocacy." 2025 Teacher of the Year Students line the halls during a clap out to celebrate ALonna Soward, a fourth grade teacher at Monocacy Elementary School, center, following a surprise ceremony at the school to recognize her as the Frederick County Public Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year on Tuesday. He said in an interview after the ceremony that Soward began at the elementary school as a student teacher when she was a senior at Hood College, and he's been her principal "the whole time." "I'm extremely proud of ALonna. I'm extremely proud," he said. "I've seen her really work so hard since she was a student teacher with us to becoming a teacher, so to see that growth and to see where she is now, it's just ... You're proud of her." At the ceremony, Soward was presented with a $2,000 check from Ferko Maryland Federal Credit Union; a $2,025 check from Educational Systems Federal Credit Union; a $3,000 check from Dynamic Automotive; and a collection of gift cards from businesses in downtown Frederick, including Brewer's Alley and Curious Iguana bookshop. She also spoke at the lectern. With tears in her eyes, she told her students that "you guys are why I'm here." "I love you all, and I show up to work every day because of you," Soward said. "When I'm challenging you and I'm pushing you, it's because I know that you can achieve things." She was then "clapped out" of the cafeteria by students lining the hallways all the way to the school's media center for a reception. 2025 Teacher of the Year ALonna Soward, a fourth grade teacher at Monocacy Elementary School, center, wipes a tear as Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Cheryl Dyson, at the podium, speaks during a surprise ceremony at the school to recognize Soward as the Frederick County Public Schools 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year on Tuesday. Soward and her husband, Nathaniel Puryear Jr., got married on April 17 in Jamaica. Monday was Soward's first day back at school after their honeymoon. Puryear said he received a call from Barnes with the news while in Jamaica. Even though Soward heard Barnes on the phone and was a little suspicious, "if someone tells me a secret, it'll stay a secret," Puryear said. "I was like, 'Oh, no, [Barnes] just called to say congrats. He just wanted to talk to me alone and give me some wedding advice,'" Puryear said he told Soward. "I was able to play that off, and I had to think of that on the fly." Puryear said Soward is hardworking and dedicated, and it shows in how much time and care she puts into her job. "It was just great seeing someone that I love get to experience that, but also to see all the love and support that she gets, not just from coworkers, but her students as well," he said. "Just being able to watch that myself is awesome." Soward grew up in Frederick County and graduated from Frederick High School and Hood College. She said being able to represent her home school district at the state level is "really special" and "super surreal." Once all school districts in Maryland announce their representative, a panel of judges narrows the list to seven finalists. One winner is announced in October during an Annual Awards Gala. "When I decided I wanted to be a teacher ... never in my wildest dreams did I think it would lead me here," Soward said. "I'm only six years in. I have so much more work to do, and so many more kids and colleagues to collaborate with and impact. It's just very surreal." Lonna Soward, ALonna Soward's mother, said in an interview that she was honored just to be present at the celebration. "I'm just very proud of who she is and all of the hard work that she puts in," Lonna Soward said. "She loves her students. She loves what she does, and she has the passion for what she does." She added that her daughter is "a great representation" for FCPS. "She has always been a shining star in our lives, and I am just so proud of her," Lonna Soward said. "I cannot wait to see how far she is going to go." ALonna Soward said teaching students how to add and subtract fractions is important, but "the type of person they grow up to be is what matters more." "I feel like as elementary school teachers, we're that foundation. I have them for 180 days," she said. "For that 180 days, I just try to pour into them. Whether they remember me or not, I hope they remember the lessons, the life lessons."
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Boston's iconic Boch Center Wang Theatre celebrates 100th anniversary with special events
Boston's iconic Boch Center Wang Theatre is celebrating 100 years of bringing entertainment to the city, and there are some special events to mark occasion. When the Wang opened in 1925, it was the tallest building in the city. J. Casey Soward, the president and CEO of the Boch Center said, "It went from a movie theater to having a concert stage as the music hall for a number of decades, and then it had decades as the Wang Center where it became more of a performing arts center, to what it is today." With a capacity of 3,500 seats, it's the largest theater in New England, something Soward says is a big draw to big-name acts. "I think someone that's looking for that experience of the historic theater in a large seating capacity we're the first place they look," Soward said. "Like when Ed Sheeran was here last year, he was looking for exactly that kind of theater to complement his two shows he did at Gillette Stadium, and he ended up doing one night here and just blowing everybody away, playing an acoustic unplugged on the stage." New exhibits, 100 Acts of Kindness The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame is another draw. A new exhibit, highlighting Joan Baez, is set to open in early March. The theater is also going back to its cinema roots, hosting free screenings of film favorites. "People have this need for nostalgia," Soward said. "And so being able to bring your child or your grandchild to see a movie that was really important to you when you were growing up, and sharing that experience in a historic theater, is something that I think will resonate with people." Another community initiative in the works is 100 Acts of Kindness. "We have a forum on our website where you can nominate someone for an act of kindness," Soward says. "We're doing things like upgrading people's tickets, giving them a special VIP experience or a tour, things like even having people's [names] on the marquee... It's just a fun way for us to give back to those who have supported us for 100 years." The Wang hosted its first free film fest over Presidents' Day weekend. Another is being planned for this summer.
Boston Globe
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Ernie Boch extends naming rights sponsorship of the Boch Center for ten more years
Advertisement Boch, who's owned numerous car dealerships over the years, said he'd always loved the Wang. He recalled that he saw his first concert there (Cat Stevens) and later slept on the sidewalk for Deep Purple tickets. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I kind of get a little nostalgic for that theater,' said Boch, who first Boch added that he admires how the performing arts center has evolved, launching the But the past five years, he said, were pivotal, as his relationship to the theater deepened. 'I decided to re-up because we went through COVID with that theater,' said Boch, recalling the pandemic-era lockdowns. 'That was touch and go. That was emotional. It's like having a friend sick in the hospital, and they survived. There was extreme bonding there.' Soward, 'That's something he's very passionate about,' said Soward, adding that Boch started Though today it's known as the Wang Theatre, the playhouse started life as the Metropolitan Theatre, one of largest movie theaters in the country. It was renamed the Music Hall in 1962, when it became home to Boston Ballet and host to a mix of dance, opera, film, and other performances. The theater, which became a nonprofit in 1980, was later rechristened the Wang in honor of Dr. An Wang, whose sizable gift galvanized the philanthropic community to fund extensive renovations. Advertisement Soward said the Boch Center is planning a variety of programs over the next year to celebrate the Wang's 100th birthday, including movies, concerts, and an open house. The Boch Center is also launching a year-long initiative called '100 Acts of Kindness' that will feature giveaways, complimentary ticket upgrades, and the chance for patrons to be featured on the theater's marquee, among other things. Soward added that the movie screenings, which start Valentine's Day weekend, will be pay-what-you want. He said it will take the erstwhile moviehouse 'back to our roots,' featuring a slate of movies with local ties, including 'Good Will Hunting,' 'Legally Blonde,' and 'The Departed.' The Boch Center will also host an open house later this year, which Soward said will likely include live performances, special guests, and will spotlight the center's education programs. 'We will also be announcing some major concerts with some major artists,' said Soward. 'Some of them are iconic artists that have played here throughout the decades that will be announced throughout the year.' He added that the Folk Hall of Fame is also planning to open new exhibitions this year, including one on Joan Baez's career and activism, and another on the late Levon Helm, formerly of The Band. Advertisement 'People have been so generous to keep us in business for 100 years,' he said. 'A lot of it's just going to be about giving back.' Malcolm Gay can be reached at
