Powell presented with Community Builder Award by Mt. Hiram Lodge

By EMERALD BENTLEY

Cove Leader-Press

Tuesday evening the Mt. Hiram Masonic Lodge #595 honored Cindy Powell with the Community Builders Award.

This award is given by the Grand Lodge of Texas to recognize a person who has worked hard to contribute to the improvement of the community.

In Powell’s 41 years of teaching, she has been a part of education systems in Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, Department of Defense Schools, and Copperas Cove Independent School District.

Of those 41 years teaching, 30 of have been spent with CCISD.

Past Master and Chairman of the Community Builders Committee, Bill Price, provided attendees with an extensive look into Powell’s education career and accolades.

“Mrs. Powell has brought ingenuity and creative thinking to her first grade classroom,” said Price.

Powell has been teaching her students with a series of classroom created books since 2006. The first book published was titled “P is for Powell’s Penguins.” The books are written, edited, revised, and illustrated by students and peers.

“The children learn lessons in research, writing, editing, art, arithmetic, and public speaking while creating for themselves a treasured memento of their school days,” said Price.

Powell was escorted to the center of the room and presented with a certificate, plaque, and flowers.

“This is such an honor. I could never have done this without the support of the community, the Masons with my book, and my Lord,” said Powell as she stood surrounded by family.

Five years ago, Powell was invited to speak to the Mt. Hiram Lodge about her classroom’s book project, as well as the financial needs of some students.

“I used to rely on other teachers to sponsor a student who could not afford to purchase a copy of the book,” told Powell.

Upon hearing about the need, lodge members began a partnership with Powell. The lodge now takes it upon themselves to sponsor students that cannot afford to purchase a copy of the classroom book they created.

The book process begins each year in January and are published in March. Powell chose this timeline so she could spend her spring break tracing over each student’s story with a permanent marker.

“Sometimes my hand hurts and I ask my husband to come help,” Powell said, laughing.

The book project culminates with an Author’s Tea each spring where friends, family, administrators, and the Masons are invited to attend. Each student is given the opportunity to read and present their page of the book.

“The Author’s Tea is by far the student’s favorite part of the process,” said Powell.

The Masons attend the Author’s Tea each year and stick around to get autographs on the program from each student.

This year’s book, “Exploring Space”, marks the 13th and final book of Powell’s classroom series, as she officially retired from teaching in May.

Powell has presented the book project to other teachers, and even offered her help, in hopes that someone will keep it going.

“This is what makes America great. This is education at its best. She makes each kid feel so special. You cannot let something like that go unrecognized,” said longtime friend, Marky Price.