2010 Georgia teacher of the year: Gwen Desselle / Georgia. Dept. of Education

Request for Appearances
Gwen Desselle is available to speak to education, business, civic or government groups and to provide workshops to interested educators. She is also available for presentations at professional conferences. Requests for appearances should be sent directly to Mrs. Desselle.
E -mail: gdesselle@doe.k12.ga.us P hone: (404) 567-0932
Speaking engagements and workshops will be presented by PowerPoint, and the host should provide an LCD projector and screen. Compatibility with Microsoft Vista is required.
Although no honorarium may be given, reimbursement for travel expenses (mileage, hotel, meals) associated with the visit is expected.

About the Program
The Georgia Teacher of the Year (GTOY) Program strives to promote and retain quality teachers. District Teachers of the Year are honored at a state recognition banquet each spring. In a surprise announcement, the GTOY is named from a pool of ten finalists. The GTOY serves as an ambassador for education, traveling the state speaking to various educators and community groups. The GTOY also competes in the National Teacher of the Year Program, representing Georgia at several national conferences with other State Teachers of the Year.
For more information about the Georgia Teacher of the Year Program and sponsorships, please contact:
Susan Ely, Recognitions Manager Georgia Department of Education 2070 Twin Towers East Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Tel (404) 657-2949 Fax (404) 657-2988
December 7, 2009 Applications from District Teachers of the Year due to the Georgia Department of Education
February 2010 10 Finalists for GTOY Announced
May 2010 Teacher of the Year Banquet 2011 Georgia Teacher of the Year Announced
In accordance with State and Federal law, the Georgia Department of Education prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its educational and employment activities. Inquiries regarding the application of these practices may be addressed to the General Counsel of the Georgia Department of Education, 2052 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, Georgia, 30334, (404) 656-2800.

2010
TeGeaorgciaher
of the Year
Gwen Desselle
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

Biography
Gwen Desselle, a social studies
teacher at Colquitt County High School, teaches in the same county where she was born and reared. A veteran of 32 years in the classroom, Gwen received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in history from Valdosta State University. She earned a T-5 teaching certificate and taught for four years at Valdosta High School before returning to teach in her hometown. In 2004, she earned her Education Specialist degree in Secondary Education. She is a graduate of the Taft Institute for Government from the
University of Georgia and has Advanced Placement certification in European History.
Gwen has taught many of the social sciences in her long career, but most of her classes have been World History and US History. She has taught

advanced level classes, but the last few years she has concentrated on teaching inclusion classes that combine regular and special education instruction. Her determination to ensure that all students graduate led her to accept a position with the local night school program, teaching students challenged by socioeconomic or behavioral issues. She uses research-based methods and teaching strategies that differentiate instruction so no student is left behind.
A gifted storyteller, Gwen can make the pages of history come to life. She and her family love to visit the places they have read about and Gwen has visited all 50 states, been to four continents and sailed three oceans. Drawing from her experiences as a tourist, her vast knowledge of content, and using her keen sense of humor, she makes performance standards come to life.
Gwen is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, the National Council for Social Studies, and serves on the board for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.
In 32 years, Gwen has seen many changes take place in education, and most of them have been positive. Her biggest delight in teaching is helping struggling students pass the high school graduation test. She is humbled when students tell their guidance counselors that they "want to be a teacher just like Mrs. Desselle."

Topics of Discussion
1. Change is a Four Letter Word:
a. Why are changes in education necessary? b. Why are changes opposed? c. What kind of changes need to be made? d. What role can teachers play in bringing change?
2. Bringing the Standards to Life
a. Strategies for organizing and implementing standards b. M aking classwork engaging so students can learn
the standards c. Demonstrating the relevance of standards to
digital learners
3. Recruiting and Retaining Teachers
a. Why this is a hot topic today b. How the schools and the community can work
together to bring stability to the education workforce
4. T eaching Social Studies Across the Curriculum
a. T he true role of social studies in the curriculum
b. S trategies for incorporating social studies content and skills in academic and extracurricular courses