CelebraGtiAoneofoExrcelglen2icea00T1eacher of the Year Recognition Banquet May 5, 2000 Renaissance Concourse Hotel Atlanta, Georgia Linda C. Schrenko State Superintendent of Schools Welcome Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964); sex (Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990); or disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) in educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Employees, students, and the general public are hereby notified that the Georgia Department of Education does not discriminate in any educational programs or activities or in employment policies. The following individuals have been designated as the employees responsible for coordinating the department's effort to implement this nondiscriminatory policy. Perkins Act--Jimmy Hogg, Vocational Equity Coordinator (404) 657-8317 Title VI--Betsy Howerton, Legal Services (404) 656-4689 Title IX--Betsy Howerton, Legal Services (404) 656-4689 Section 504 and ADA--Betsy Howerton, Legal Services (404) 656-4689 Inquiries concerning the application of the Perkins Act, Title VI, Title IX, or Section 504 and ADA to the policies and practices of the department may be addressed to the Georgia Department of Education, Twin Towers East, Atlanta 30334, (404) 656-2800; to the Regional Office for Civil Rights, Atlanta 30323; or to the Director, Office for Civil Rights, Education Department, Washington, D.C. 20201. On behalf of Linda C. Schrenko, State Superintendent of Schools and the Recognition Programs staff, we thank you. Judy Floyd, Director of Recognition Programs Gerri Heard, Education Program Specialist Merri Heidemann, Graphic Designer Jewell Camp, Special Assistant Jackie Westry, Administrative Assistant Sarah Wyatt, Secretary Ed Sikes, Education Program Specialist Marian Dabney, Education Program Specialist 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year Sponsors BANQUET Georgia Power Company King and Spivey Enterprises Georgia Department of Education State Board of Education CONFERENCE Georgia Power Company Georgia Teacher of the Year Association Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Coca Cola Company Our sincere thanks to all of our sponsors for their generous support of the Georgia Teacher of the Year Program, Recognition Banquet and Conference. These sponsors have allowed us to recognize all of Georgia's 2001 Teachers of the Year. 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year Mary Wilson Eager Mathematics Teacher Lumpkin County High School, Lumpkin County Schools Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wesleyan College Master of Arts in Education from North Georgia College Specialist in Education from The University of Georgia Mary Wilson Eager's mother always told her that she was "good with people." When she was in fifth grade she wanted to be a missionary. Since she thrived in school and enjoyed interacting with people, teaching became her natural choice. Twenty-eight years after graduating from college, she is still teaching and learning about teaching. She belongs to several professional mathematics organizations and has participated and conducted educational workshops and seminars. Ms. Eager has received numerous awards and recognitions. She has been named a STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition Award) teacher five times, an Outstanding Teacher of Technology three times, and Lumpkin County Teacher of the Year two times. Ms. Eager serves as a mentor for novice and aspiring young teachers at her school. She believes a key element that determines the strength of the teaching profession is the quality of the individuals who choose to teach, and she encourages her best students to consider teaching as a career. Her son, an aspiring teacher, gives her hope that the profession will continue to improve as intelligent, dedicated, energetic people enter the teaching field. She also believes that teachers should lean on each other, share their expertise, and encourage each other daily. PROGRAM WELCOME Linda C. Schrenko State Superintendent of Schools NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PLEDGE Dr. Ed Floyd Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Evelyn Hanshew Accompanist Director of Clinical Training, Psychological Studies Institute INSPIRATION Amy Monroe Denty 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year SPECIAL MUSIC West Side Magnet School Advanced Strings "String Beaver" DINNER Music Provided By West Side Magnet School Advanced Strings Under the Direction of Lynda Brock Tomato and Mozzarella Napoleon Salad Basil Vinaigrette Dressing Roasted New York Sirloin with Chianti Red Wine Sauce Au Gratin Potatoes Fresh Seasonal Vegetables Key Lime Pie INTRODUCTION AND RECOGNITION OF SPONSORS Linda C. Schrenko Georgia Power Company King and Spivey Enterprises Georgia Association of Educators Professional Association of Georgia Educators Coca Cola Company Blue Bell Ice Cream RECOGNITION OF SPECIAL GUESTS Linda C. Schrenko State Board of Education Members Teacher of the Year Judges Department of Education Staff A Special Thanks We extend a special thanks to all the talented musicians of the West Side Magnet School Advanced Strings who provided the music before and during the dinner. Violins: Ashton Price Cathy Dekmar Julie Won JoAnna Turner Mollie Lukken Rachael Edwards Erin Askew Michael Thornton Michael Lewis Jesse Barganier Violas: Rachel Jackson Liz Haines Amanda Jones Cellos: Tyler Brock Josh McWhorter Tommy Bailey Bass: Brent Evans Under the direction of Lynda Brock Roll of Excellence Georgia Teachers of the Year 2000 *1999 1998 1997 1995-96 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 Amy Monroe Denty Andy Baumgartner Jamie P. Lipscomb Barbara Ann Ford Catherine S. Pittman Vallye Blanton Nancy B. Royal Sue Snow Jeff White Molly P. Howard Larry W. Bussey Jean Williams Eliot Wigginton Brenda Opie Julie Lanier Kay Harvey James McRaney Sandra Worsham William Densmore, Jr. Emma Stevens Murrah Everett Coker John McRae Patricia Hammond Edith Smoak Betty Lewis Phillips Norma Lattimore Kathleen Hobgood White Ferrell Drummond Murl Rountree Wayne County Richmond County Coweta County Clayton County Glynn County Lowndes County Coweta County Carrollton City Gwinnett County Jefferson County Tift County Douglas County Rabun County Cobb County Bulloch County Gwinnett County DeKalb County Baldwin County Atlanta City Lowndes County Cobb County Valdosta City Lumpkin County Glynn County Bibb County Rome City Barrow County Carrollton City Tift County * 1999 National Teacher of the Year STUDENT PRESENTATION Amy Monroe Denty 2000 Georgia Teacher of the Year Woody Whitson Space Camp Winner Arthur Williams Middle School, Wayne County Schools RECOGNITION OF LOCAL SYSTEM TEACHERS OF THE YEAR Linda C. Schrenko RECOGNITION OF SEMIFINALISTS Linda C. Schrenko RECOGNITION OF FINALISTS Linda C. Schrenko INTRODUCTION AND RECOGNITION OF 2001 GEORGIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR Linda C. Schrenko ADDRESS Mary Wilson Eager 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Georgia Association of Educators Professional Association of Georgia Educators College Fund Division/Midwest National Life Insurance Company Herff Jones Company Blue Bell Ice Cream Creative Solutions CLOSING REMARKS Linda C. Schrenko A special note of thanks is extended to the State Board of Education, the Georgia Department of Education and the staff of Recognition Programs for their generous support of the Recognition Banquet honoring Georgia's Teachers of the Year. Thank you for your continued support of excellent classroom teaching. Finalists 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year Darlene Callan Runner-up English Literature/Composition, Humanities Teacher Gordon Central High School, Gordon County Schools Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgia State University; Master of Arts in English from State University of West Georgia "Perhaps my greatest accomplishment in or contribution to education is that I have become an encourager. My experience of growing up with children of many cultures and social classes taught me an important principle: Children, regardless of origin, must realize their self-worth before they can master academics. Love is more powerful than knowledge; and for students to desire knowledge, they must first know that they are appreciated." Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Jane Grizzle Ware County Middle School Ware County Schools Kathryn Kennedy Tennille Elementary School Washington County Schools Brenda Edenfield Arthur Williams Middle School Wayne County Schools John Greene Webster County Elementary School Webster County Schools Laurie Milhollin Jack P. Nix Primary School White County Schools Aldona Pattillo Tunnel Hill Elementary School Whitfield County Schools Joni Moore Washington-Wilkes Middle School Wilkes County Schools Donna Robb Holley Elementary School Worth County Schools All of you represent excellence in the field of teaching and are an asset to the education profession. Thank you for what you do for education and for the children of Georgia. Sabrina Bennett Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Madison County High School, Madison County Schools Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Education from The University of Georgia "I have a burning desire to make life better for young people. They are all very special and have unique needs and situations. That desire has kept me striving to be a better teacher. I believe that every child that enters my classroom has a special gift to share with those in the class. My commitment is to find that child's special gift and to address each special need. Some are basic: A little attention, a warm smile, a word of encouragement. I feel blessed and honored to have the opportunity to make a difference in students' lives." Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Mary Youmans Seminole County Elementary School Seminole County Schools Deborah Nicholson Towns County Comprehensive High School Towns County Schools Connie Cannon Social Circle High School Social Circle City Schools Elizabeth Patterson Towns County Comprehensive High School Towns County Schools Teresa Dansby Stephens County Middle School Stephens County Schools Vicki Hamrick Trion Middle School Trion City Schools Debra Hart Cherokee Elementary School Sumter County Schools Carol H. Cain West Side Magnet School Troup County Schools Renna Dasher Glennville Elementary School Tattnall County Schools Karin Brown Turner County Elementary School Turner County Schools Mary Hendricks Telfair County High School Telfair County Schools James Shinholster Twiggs County Middle School Twiggs County Schools Gwendolyn Taylor Terrell Middle School Terrell County Schools Judy Hughes Union County Elementary School Union County Schools Jackie Winchester Central Middle School Thomas County Schools Resa Harris Sallas-Mahone Elementary School Valdosta City Schools Patricia Hayes Upson-Lee South Elementary School Thomaston-Upson County Schools Lynn Lewis J. R. Trippe Middle School Vidalia City Schools Nancy Garner Len Lastinger Primary School Tift County Schools Connie Nelms North LaFayette Elementary School Walker County Schools Katherine Palmer Lyons Elementary School Toombs County Schools Pauline Jarman Monroe Area Comprehensive High School Walton County Schools Finalists 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year Carol H. Cain Language Arts and Theatre Teacher West Side Magnet School, Troup County Schools Bachelor of Arts in English and Speech/Drama from LaGrange College "I feel great satisfaction that I have found my life's work and that it continues to challenge me daily. No honor or award can replace the sense of fulfillment I feel by being a part of the growth and education of young people. To see a face light up when a student exclaims, "I got it! I understand! I can do this!" is an accomplishment that few outside of education experience. James W. Morris, Jr. Fifth-grade Inclusion All Subjects Teacher Mountain View Elementary School, Cobb County Schools Bachelor of Architectural Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University "I want each child to see more than they have ever seen, to envision more than they have ever envisioned, and to accomplish more than they ever thought they could, and by doing that, see how much more there is to learn and realize how exciting education can be. I tell my Maverick parents, "'Nothing I do in this class will keep your child out of college, but everything I do in this classroom will put your child in Harvard.'" Semifinalists 2001 Georgia Teacher of the Year C. C. Bates Fairview Elementary School > Newton County Sabrina Bennett Madison County High School > Madison County Pamela Brown Smokey Road Middle School > Coweta County Carol H. Cain West Side Magnet School > Troup County Darlene Callan Gordon Central High School > Gordon County Mary Wilson Eager Lumpkin County High School > Lumpkin County Brenda Edenfield Arthur Williams Middle School > Wayne County Marsha McFall Gainesville High School > Gainesville City Debra Malone Pepperell Elementary School > Floyd County Rebecca Mobley Jeff Davis Primary School > Jeff Davis County James W. Morris, Jr. Mountain View Elementary School > Cobb County Christina Starkey B. B. Harris Elementary School > Gwinnett County You are outstanding examples of excellence in the field of teaching. Congratulations to all of you and thank you for your dedication to education and to your students. Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Betsy Carone Todd-Grant Elementary School McIntosh County Schools Lanita McDuffie Mitchell County Elementary School Mitchell County Schools Heidi Graziano Morgan County Elementary School Morgan County Schools Nell Wilburn Spring Place Elementary School Murray County Schools Jacqueline Grandy James B. Key Elementary School Muscogee County Schools Celeste Bates Fairview Elementary School Newton County Schools Sandra Nash Oconee County Middle School Oconee County Schools Teresa Hoechst Oglethorpe County Elementary School Oglethorpe County Schools Irene Arnold East Paulding Middle School Paulding County Schools Mary Banter Fort Valley Middle School Peach County Schools Shelia Cain Pelham Elementary School Pelham City Schools Katherine Morris Pickens County Middle School Pickens County Schools Sandi Milton Patterson Elementary School Pierce County Schools Brenda Ross Pike County Primary School Pike County Schools Patricia Lanham Cedartown High School Polk County Schools Christina Woods L.I.T.T.L.E. Children Growing Pulaski County Schools Deana Harkness Rabun County Middle School Rabun County Schools Julie Purvis Davidson Fine Arts School Richmond County Schools Pamela Hayes Barksdale Elementary School Rockdale County Schools Andrew Blackburn Rome High School Rome City Schools Nancy West Savannah Arts Academy Savannah-Chatham County Schools Deanna Bragg Screven County Middle School Screven County Schools Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Virginia Kimble Wesley Lakes Elementary School Henry County Schools Kathy James Kings Chapel Elementary School Houston County Schools Leigh Sumner Irwin County High School Irwin County Schools Miles Adams Jackson Comprehensive High School Jackson County Schools Rebecca Mobley Jeff Davis Primary School Jeff Davis County Schools Mary Williamson Jefferson Elementary School Jefferson City Schools Dana Williams Louisville Academy Jefferson County Schools Jancey Brinson Jenkins County Elementary School Jenkins County Schools Rebecca Frost Johnson County Elementary School Johnson County Schools Tyrone Bacon Lamar County Comprehensive High School Lamar County Schools Deborah Raines Lanier County High School Lanier County Schools Kathy Moseley East Laurens Middle School Laurens County Schools Elaine Ruckel Lee County High School Lee County Schools Merle Watson Bradwell Institute Liberty County Schools Tonya Burt Lincoln County Middle School Lincoln County Schools Shane Brannen Long County High School Long County Schools Iris Mathis Hahira Elementary School Lowndes County Schools Mary Wilson Eager Lumpkin County High School Lumpkin County Schools Sabrina Bennett Madison County High School Madison County Schools Sharon Kirby Marietta High School Marietta City Schools Teresa Banks Tri-County High School Marion County Schools Sonya Moss-Powell Thomson Middle School McDuffie County Schools Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Cynthia Hatchett Appling Comprehensive High School Appling County Schools Jacquelyne Burke D. M. Therrell High School Atlanta City Schools Susan Oliver Banks County High School Banks County Schools Debra Darling Bramlett Elementary School Barrow County Schools Donald Witsell Cass High School Bartow County Schools Terri Brown Ben Hill County Middle School Ben Hill County Schools Sheila Rice Berrien Elementary School Berrien County Schools Jamie Akin Westside High school Bibb County Schools Carol Murphy Bremen High School Bremen City Schools Christine Hiers Quitman Elementary School Brooks County Schools Sherry Davis Lanier Primary School Bryan County Schools Jill Britt Buford Academy Buford City Schools Christy Lanier Brooklet Elementary School Bulloch County Schools Julie Roberts Waynesboro Primary School Burke County Schools Annie Evans Jackson Elementary School Butts County Schools Hayley Gilreath Eastside Primary School Calhoun City Schools Kendra Blackerby Mamie Lou Gross Elementary School Camden County Schools Melissa Williams Metter High School Candler County Schools Sonny Reeves Technical High School of Carroll County Carroll County Schools Beverly McGinnis Carrollton Elementary School Carrollton City Schools Randi Sonenshine Cartersville High School Cartersville City Schools Brenda Coe Cloud Springs Elementary School Catoosa County Schools Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Joshua Howard Charlton County High School Charlton County Schools Martha Templeton Summerville Middle School Chattooga County Schools Susan McCarthy E. T. Booth Middle School Cherokee County Schools Sharon McKillip Whit Davis Elementary School Clarke County Schools Linda Andrews J. W. Arnold Elementary School Clayton County Schools James W. Morris, Jr. Mountain View Elementary School Cobb County Schools Dana Davenport Coffee High School Coffee County Schools Mary Fath Colquitt County High School Colquitt County Schools Elizabeth Truelove Lakeside Middle School Columbia County Schools Debbie Clark Commerce Elementary School Commerce City Schools Pamela Brown Smokey Road Middle School Coweta County Schools Pam Perry Crawford County High School Crawford County Schools Carmen McLain Crisp County High School Crisp County Schools Julia Higgins Dalton High School Dalton City Schools Sherry Browning Dawson County High School Dawson County Schools Sheryl Hinson West Bainbridge Middle School Decatur County Schools Deborah Dunn Peachtree Middle School DeKalb County Schools Melinda Dennis Dodge County High School Dodge County Schools Hazel Masters Dougherty Comprehensive High School Dougherty County Schools Cyndi Burnett Bright Star Elementary School Douglas County Schools Terry Kennedy Dublin High School Dublin City Schools Rhonda Carlisle Early County Elementary School Early County Schools Local System 2001 Teachers of the Year Travis Nesmith South Effingham High School Effingham County Schools Lori Joiner Needwood Middle School Glynn County Schools Fran Oakley Falling Creek Elementary School Elbert County Schools Darlene Callan Gordon Central High School Gordon County Schools Steven Kozlosky Swainsboro High School Emanuel County Schools Lisa LeGette Cairo High School Grady County Schools Natalie Acker Claxton High School Evans County Schools Dee Smith Greene-Taliaferro Comprehensive High School Greene County Schools Joan Davenport East Fannin Elementary School Fannin County Schools Jackie Patterson Beaverbrook Elementary School Griffin-Spalding County Schools Debra Malone Pepperell Elementary School Floyd County Schools Christina Starkey B. B. Harris Elementary School Gwinnett County Schools Alice Holland North Forsyth High School Forsyth County Schools Pamela Giesler Clarkesville Elementary School Habersham County Schools Jane Evans Lavonia Elementary School Franklin County Schools James Haight North Hall High School Hall County Schools Marsha McFall Gainesville High School Gainesville City Schools Ilana McKibben Haralson County High School Haralson County Schools Lynne Pritchett Gilmer High School Gilmer County Schools Reba Dyer Mulberry Creek Elementary School Harris County Schools Mary Marsingill Glascock County Consolidated Glascock County Schools Carolyn Burrell Hart County High School Hart County Schools