About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2025)
Community Thursday November 6, 2025 The Eatonton Messenger Sharon Creek PUTNAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Sha’Kedra Ellison PUTNAM COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL Melissa Burke PUTNAM COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Dr. Sarah Higgins PUTNAM COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL c. / PCCSS honors Teachers of the Year The Putnam County Charter School System recently named its Teachers of the Year for 2025-26. PCHS Teacher of the Year and 2025-26 District Teacher of the Year Sharon Creek Sharon Creek is a dedicated educator whose passion for teaching and serving students is rooted in a lifelong journey of personal and professional discovery. She began her career in 2002 as a middle school social studies teacher and initially felt fulfilled by the knowledge students gained under her guidance. However, she soon realized that the true purpose of teaching went beyond the content itself; it was about the deep, transformative connections forged with students. With a love for world cultures and a background in travel, Creek has thrived in building meaningful relationships with ESOL students and their families. Recognizing a need in the community, she completed her ESOL certification to better serve these students. Her belief is that human connection is as vital as content knowledge in the educational process. Creek played a pivotal role in establishing the ESOL program at Putnam County High School and Putnam County Middle School. She considers it her calling to support ESOL students, their families, and their teachers. She often reflects on how her life's experiences — travel, cultural exchange, and teaching — have all led to this God-given purpose. Today, Creek continues to be inspired by her students' resilience and determination, which fuels her commitment to teaching. For Creek, teaching is more than just a profession; it’s a purpose that brings joy, meaning, and a sense of fulfillment. Her students are not just learners, they are the heartbeat of her work, driving her to be a leader among her peers, a guide to her students, and a lifeline to their fami lies in and out of the classroom. PCMS Teacher of the Year Sha'Kedra Ellison Sha'Kedra Ellison is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator at Putnam County Middle School, where she focuses on inspiring young minds through math ematics. A native of Putnam County, Ellison has deep roots in her community, having graduated from Putnam County High School in 2014. Her commitment to education is reflected in her academic achievements; she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Columbus State University in 2019 and is currently poised to complete her Master of Education Degree in Middle Grades Mathematics from Western Governors University. Ellison is not only a passionate teacher but also an accomplished coach. As the head coach of the PCMS girls’ basket- ball team, she has led those players to victory, securing three conference cham pionships during her coaching tenure. Her dedication extends to athletics as the head girls' track and field coach at PCMS, where she continues to motivate and develop her student-athletes. Outside of her professional commit ments, Ellison is a proud mother to her daughter, Maddelyn, who is seven years old. She values her family immensely and enjoys spending quality time with them. In her free time, Ellison loves to travel and explore new places, enriching her life with diverse experiences. Her vibrant personality and dedication to her students and community make her a cherished member of the Putnam County School System. PCES Teacher of the Year Melissa Burke Melissa Burke has dedicated her life to education, spending an impressive 31 years as an educator in Putnam County. Her journey began as a graduate of Putnam County High School, and she chose to return to her alma mater to give back to the community that profoundly influenced her life. Burke’s academic background is both diverse and impres sive; she holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, a master's degree in Interrelated Education, and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership. These qualifications have equipped her with the expertise needed to address the diverse learning needs of her students, ensuring that each one receives the support and encouragement necessary to succeed. Throughout her career, Burke has been an advocate for inclusive learning environments, believing that every student, regardless of their abilities or background, deserves the opportunity to succeed. Her approach has always been student-centered, focusing on building a supportive and inclusive classroom where all students can thrive. Burke’s dedication extends beyond the classroom as well. For 15 years, she served as the basketball cheerleading coach at Putnam County High School. In this role, she mentored young athletes, instilling in them values of teamwork, perseverance, and school spirit. Her leadership on the sidelines was as impactful as her teaching in the classroom, fostering a sense of pride and unity among students. Burke’s lifelong commitment to educa tion, leadership, and community service makes her a shining example of excel lence in teaching. Her legacy is one of passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the success and well- being of her students and the broader Putnam County community. PCPS Teacher of the Year Dr. Sarah Higgins Dr. Sarah Higgins is the dedicated music specialist at Putnam County Primary School. She passionately teaches music to kindergarten, first, and second graders, ensuring that her young learners develop a love for music through engaging and playful learning experiences. Currently in her 16th year of teaching, Higgins has spent 15 of those years at the primary level, cultivating an inclusive environment where every student feels music is for them. In addition to her role at the primary school, Higgins extends her expertise to higher education by teaching music appreciation courses online through Central Georgia Technical College. Her commitment to music education high lights her belief in its importance across all age groups and learning stages. Outside of her professional life, Higgins enjoys a fulfilling personal life with her husband, Luis, and their daughter, Sophia. Whether she is reading, going for walks, or spending quality time with her family, Higgins cherishes her free time and the joy it brings. — Contributed GWM offers gourmet cookbooks for holidays November ushers in the season of holiday cooking as ovens work overtime to yield culinary delights for family and friends. Stop by Georgia Writers Museum from Wednesday through Saturday each week to explore its array of holiday cookbooks. Among them are three new cookbooks currently on sale in the GWM bookstore. Baking in the American South, from New York Times bestselling author Anne Byrn, includes more than 200 recipes from 14 Southern states, plus more than 150 photos. It also provides a history lesson, since recipes can speak volumes about crops raised, languages spoken, family customs, and old-world flavors. Did you know that where a mill was located affected the recipes handed down from its geographical area? Or that baking and selling pound cakes directly impacted the Civil Rights Movement? These stories and recipes, from good times and bad, were collected and perfected over years. They are now made accessible to all thanks to Byrn’s expertise in assessing, modernizing, and developing well- written recipes. Similarly, Cook 8 Cele brate, by foodie extraor dinaire Johnathon Scott Barrett, takes readers/ cooks on a Southern food journey within the pages of his newest book. Barrett takes readers from the Commonwealth of Virginia to Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry, BAKING IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH 200 Untold Stories and over to Mobile Bay, with jaunts in between to showcase the favorite dishes (and the stories behind them) that South erners used to fete the holidays and one another. Memories abound with Hoppin’ John and collards at New Year’s, fried chicken and potato salad COOK & Celebrale Of Collection of thru CHbday SoCPar Cumagy Imaitions .7L Johnathon Scott Barrett on Independence Day, sweet, cloud-like coconut cakes at Easter, and the veritable Tom Turkey and cornbread dressing which crown dining tables at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Barrett shares all these recipes, along with 100-plus more, while introducing in each chapter friends and loved ones along the way. The Supper Club, by hosting whisperer Lydia Menzies, is the consum mate encyclopedia for entertaining excellence. This master connector of people celebrates the members of her own supper club, a business group that exchanges inspiring ideas for enter taining, tablescapes, and more. Within this book’s colorful pages are stylists and designers showcasing their own talents in the hospitality realm, while empowering readers to fulfill their own potential. Entertaining is the art of bringing everyone together while providing a stimulating background for stirring creativity. Whether it’s food, flowers, an interesting theme, or a unique venue, the key is to create an atmosphere that inspires. Nothing caps off a dining experience like creating the sights, sounds, and smells that are as scrumptious as the meal. — Contributed ATHENS #1 Ford Dealer in Athens/Oconee/ Oglethorpe and President’s Award-Winning Huge Selection and the Best Deals guaranteed! LifeTime Warranty only we can offer! 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