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4A Sunday, December 9, 2018
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
Hall County Teachers of the Year
Amy Holliman
School: Myers
Elementary
Teaches: 4th grade
Years at school: 7
Years teaching: 11
City of residence:
Braselton
Quote: Being an
educator is an awesome
responsibility. I consider it such a
blessing and my daily mission. We have
an amazing opportunity to help students
develop a lifelong love of learning and
make a positive impact on their lives. I am
honored that my Myers family recognizes
my passion to help students succeed and
become the best version of themselves.
Amy Berra
School: Chicopee Woods
Elementary
Teaches: Reader’s
Theater
Years at school: 14
Years teaching: 14
City of residence:
Clermont
Quote: “A good teacher
can inspire hope, ignite the imagination,
and instill a love of learning.” - Brad Henry.
I pray every day that I am being the teacher
my students need. When I see them with
hope in their eyes that was previously
not there, or watch them create, or have
joy when they figure something out, I feel
rewarded. I did not put it there, but I try to
help draw it out. Every student has dreams
and I want so badly for them to reach for
them and be courageous in their learning.
Ashley Snapp
School: Sugar Hill
Academy
Teaches: Kindergarten
Years at school: 17
Years teaching: 19
City of residence:
Jefferson
Quote: What makes
teaching so rewarding
to me is knowing that I am able to make
an impact on students’ lives everyday.
Having former students come back year
after year with smiling faces and warm
hugs makes me remember why I do what
I do. To have been chosen as the teacher
of the year for Sugar Hill among so many
fabulous teachers is a huge honor to me.
If feels good to know that my efforts are
seen and appreciated by my co-workers.
Jackie Greene
^ School: Cherokee Bluff
■ Teaches: Severe
L j Profound Disabilities
I t > J Years at School: 1
L ■ Years Teaching: 19
™ City of Residence:
Gainesville
Quote: I am so humbled and honored
to be chosen as Cherokee Bluff Middle
School’s first teacher of the year! People
always tell me that it takes a special
person to teach children with special
needs, but I believe with all my heart that
a child with special needs inspires me to
be a special kind of person.
Mary Katherine Johnson
School: White Sulphur
Elementary
Teaches: 4th Grade
Writing
Years at school: 5
Years teaching: 5
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: One of the
greatest privileges of a teacher is the
opportunity to inspire and encourage
students to be the best versions of
themselves. As teachers, we can
empower students to take charge of their
learning, ignite a passion in them, and
encourage them to work hard toward
accomplishing their goals. I am honored
to be selected as teacher of the year and
am grateful for the opportunity to impact
the lives of students each day.
Shawn Griffin
g School: Spout Springs
I elementary
Teaches: 3rd Grade
I Years at school: 4
I* - Jl Years teaching: 17 years
Wa City of residence: Flowery
Branch
Quote: The rewards are
endless in 3rd grade,
however one of my favorites is when
the light bulb clicks and they finally get
it! Watching the excitement spread
across their face and knowing they feel
successful is such an amazing experience!
I feel honored that my team members felt
that I was deserving of this recognition.
Everyone at SSSE works very hard to help
our students to be successful, I don’t feel
that I am better or more deserving of this
reward than they are.
Jessica Mueller
School: Cherokee Bluff
High
Teaches: Library media
specialist
Years at school: 1
Years teaching: 15
City of residence:
Braselton
Quote: Each day, I get the opportunity
to inspire learners to know that they are
capable of changing their world; I get to
support teachers who are excited about
innovatively reaching their students; and I
get to partner with faculty and community
members to help make a difference in our
school and local community.
Jeff Kelly
School: Chestatee High
Teaches: Theater
Years at school: 8
Years teaching: 13
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: Theater is life. It
shows us our humanity, or
lack thereof. It encourages dialogue, fosters
teamwork and gives confidence in one’s
self. Most of all, it allows us to see who
we really are without pretense, and more
importantly, it shows us who we can and
should be. This award means the world and
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
Vickie Rundbaken
School: Flowery Branch
High
Teaches: Family &
Consumer Sciences
Years at school: 5
Years teaching: 27
City of residence: Dacula
Quote: It is a great honor
to have been selected
as the teacher of the year. The quote from
William Yeats, “Education is not the filling
of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,” is the
perfect saying to represent the style of
teacher that I am. To find students that
are excited about learning and finding
their passion is the reason I teach.
Kara Thomas
School: Flowery Branch
Elementary
Teaches: K/1 multi-age
Years at school: 11
Years teaching: 17
City of residence: Buford
Quote: Teaching is one of
my greatest joys. I love
hands-on activities and
am motivated by seeing the kids light up as
a lesson comes to life. Building relationships
with the children in my classroom, and their
families, for years long after they’ve left my
classroom is just one of the many rewards
of my job. I love my school and community;
it is such an honor to represent both.
Sonia Alvarez
School: World Language
Academy
Teaches: 3rd grade math,
science, and language
arts-all in Spanish.
Years at school: 10
Years teaching: 24
City of residence: Buford
Quote: I strongly believe that learning is a
never-ending process and being a teacher
is the best example of it. When I decided
to be a teacher, I just started getting
involved in this process that implies not
only training, but being deeply committed
to high-quality education for children.
I am very grateful to my colleagues for
making me worthy of this honor for the
second time. It is important to share our
experiences and learn from them.
Cheryl Walls
School: Chestnut
Mountain CSI
Teaches: 4th Grade
Years at school: 17
Years teaching: 21
City of residence:
Braselton
Quote: One of the most
rewarding things about teaching is seeing
my students grow to love learning. I love
seeing them gain confidence and believe
that they can reach their goals and be
successful. Being selected as CMCSI’s
Teacher of the Year is a great honor and I
am thankful to work with such an amazing
group of people who inspire me daily.
Sonja Carter
School: McEverArts
Academy
Teaches: Kindergarten
Years at school: 16
Years teaching: 24
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: It’s very rewarding
to hear the students say, “This has been
the best day ever!” It makes all the
planning worth it. Also, it’s an honor to
me when former students come back
to visit after moving on to middle school
and high school, and share with me their
career paths, that they are making good
grades, what activities they are involved
with, and what they remembered about
Marlene Goodall
School: West Hall High
Teaches: Science
Years at school: 5
Years teaching: 5
City of residence: Braselton
Quote: Teaching is a
gift that shouldn’t be
taken for granted. The
classroom is the soil containing all the
nutrients to cultivate the students to grow
beyond what is expected. To help them
grow, it is important to identify a purpose.
Students are eager to learn better when
knowledge has meaning. When students
understand meaning they thrive in and out
of the classroom. I am blessed to know
that I serve as a role model to many.
Megan Kotula
School: Academies of
Discovery at South Hall
Middle School
Teaches: 7th grade
science
Years at school: 7
Years teaching: 13
City of residence: Flowery
Branch
Quote: To me, helping students learn and
inspiring a sense of wonder about the natural
world makes teaching science rewarding.
I feel very honored and blessed to receive
this award when I work with so many other
amazing teachers who are just as deserving.
Casey Phillips
School: Tadmore
Elementary
Teaches: Digital Learning
Lab
Years at school: 11
Years teaching: 15
City of residence:
Jefferson
Quote: The most rewarding part of
teaching for me is witnessing that
celebratory “Aha!” moment when
a student overcomes a challenge,
learns something new or realizes they
have reached their goal. Being able
to encourage students to become
empowered learners is important to me.
Lorrie Miller
School: Lanier Elementary
Teaches: 5th grade
Years at school: 12
Years teaching: 15
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: Teaching is definitely
a calling and I feel
blessed to be called to such a rewarding
job where I can touch the lives of kids
daily. I feel like I learn just as much from
my students as they do from me. I am
honored to be the teacher of the year at
Lanier among all the wonderful teachers.
Ann Stroberg Harper
School: Mount Vernon
Exploratory
Teaches: 3rd grade
Years at school: 2
Years teaching: 15
City of residence:
Cleveland
Quote: It is an honor
to be named teacher of the year at
Mount Vernon. I am so fortunate
to get to work alongside amazing
teachers, administrators, and 24 pretty
extraordinary 3rd graders. I quest to
make learning fun and exciting for my
students. It is my ultimate goal that they
grow to be lifelong learners.
Giovanna Garcia
School: World Language
W zz. i n Years at the school: 8
\ I Years teaching: 8
\ . - / I City of Residence:
' —■ Quote: I became a teacher
looking for “meaning.”
Today, I know that what I do every day
helps shape a human being that will be
able to solve problems and will be able to
stand behind their own decisions. Being
teacher of the year has validated my hard
work. I realized that what I do does matter
and it transcends beyond the four walls of
my classroom.
Misty Bull
School: Sardis
Enrichment School
Teaches: Physical
Education
Years at school: 20
Years teaching: 20
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: Teaching is so rewarding because
kindergarten.
it allows you to really inspire and help kids
become the best version of themselves.
I want them to leave my classroom with
character and the confidence to believe
in themselves just like I believe in them.
I often use the quote from John Wooden
that states, “Character is who you are
when no one is watching.”
Nicole Hill
School: Friendship
Elementary
Teaches: Gifted
Education
Years at school: 23
Years teaching: 25
City of Residence:
Flowery Branch
Quote: I am honored to represent my
school, colleagues and community as
teacher of the year. Every day, I look
for new ways to inspire my students to
problem solve more, dream more, create
more and achieve more.
William “Buddy”
Earnest Jr.
School: Chestatee
Academy
Teaches: Social studies
Years at school: 17
Years teaching: 23
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: To be recognized
among such an outstanding faculty here
at Chestatee is truly an honor. I love what
I do and believe that - to be an effective
educator - you have to really love kids
and enjoy being around and working
with them. I have been blessed to be
surrounded by some amazing people
who have poured into me and helped me
develop my teaching style.
Mandy Sullens
School: Wauka Mountain
Multiple Intelligences
Academy
Teaches: Special
Education Resource
Years at school: 8
Years teaching: 8
City of residence:
Gainesville
Quote: Helping my students achieve
academic and personal goals, and being
able to celebrate those accomplishments
with them, is what makes teaching so
rewarding for me. I have the opportunity
to do what I am most passionate about
while making a positive impact on my
students every day.
Dody Sorrells
School: C.W. Davis
Middle
Teaches: 6th grade earth
science
Years at school: 17
Years teaching: 20
City of residence:
Braselton
Quote: It is an honor to be recognized
by my colleagues. I work with amazing
teachers who continue to inspire me to
always do what’s best for our students.
The most rewarding times are the
moments I see students gain confidence
in themselves and begin to believe the
potential I already see in them.
Kelly Olson
School: Riverbend
Elementary
Teaches: Special
Education
Years at school: 14
Years teaching: 28
City of residence: Lula
Quote: There is nothing
more rewarding than knowing and seeing
the evidence that you’ve made an impact
on a student’s (and their family’s) life. To
be recognized as Riverbend Elementary’s
teacher of the year is a true honor, but
I am very cognizant of the fact that a
student’s success is a result of a team of
individuals, not just one teacher or staff
member.
April Kirby
School: West Hall
Middle
Teaches: Math
remediation
Years at school: 18
Years teaching: 25
City of residence:
Flowery Branch
Quote: I will never make
millions of dollars for what I do each
day, but I have something much more
precious tucked safely away in my desk
drawer. This is where I keep letters and
notes from my students thanking me for
teaching and helping them believe in
themselves. This is why I teach. I know
my students will not always remember
everything I taught them, but they will
remember how I treated them, and that
is what is really important in the life of a
child.
1364 Candler Rd.,
Gainesville, GA 30507
Congratulations to this Year’s
Teachers of the Year
