The Paul M. Cogar Fund for Classroom Innovation honors Mr. Cogar’s motto to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. It provides one annual grant of up to $500 to support innovative classroom strategies and programs in Orange County Public Schools. The grant is awarded each spring to support programs that:

• exemplify the use of best practice instruction to maximize student achievement;
• focus on character building as a component for nurturing student success, including but not limited to leadership skills, good decision making strategies, team building and collaboration; and/or
• inspire students to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.

The Fund was established in 2013 by the family of Paul M. Cogar in recognition of his 35 years of service in public education and his significant contributions to public education in Orange County. Mr. Cogar taught business education and served as a coach at Orange County High School from 1967 to 1970. He was the high school’s attendance director in 1970-71 and an assistant principal during 1971-72. He served as principal of Gordon-Barbour Elementary School from 1972 to 1976, Prospect Heights Middle School from 1976 to 1984, and Orange County High School from 1984 to 1987.

During Mr. Cogar’s tenure as its principal, Prospect Heights received national recognition for excellence in secondary school education. During the 1982-83 school year, it was one of five secondary schools, and the only middle school, from across the nation to earn “exemplary” status from the U.S. Department of Education. The designation resulted in a visit to the school by then-U.S. Secretary of Education, Terrel H. Bell, and other federal and state dignitaries.

Mr. Cogar earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Davis and Elkins College in 1956 and his Master of Science degree in business education from Madison College (now James Madison University) in 1971. He was a teacher and coach in West Virginia from 1956 until he moved to Orange County in 1967. After leaving Orange County in 1987, he served as principal of Harrisonburg High School from 1987 to 1991.

The Paul M. Cogar Classroom Innovation Grant was awarded in 2013.

2021 Award Winner

Guidance, Orange Elementary School; Caroline Freeman; Cheetas Who Care