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April
13, 2015 – State
School Superintendent Richard Woods today announced the finalists for 2016
Georgia Teacher of the Year.
The
10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 151 applicants who were selected as the
Teacher of the Year in their school districts. The applications were read by a
panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year
winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The
finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
"I
congratulate these 10 finalists for 2016 Georgia Teacher of the Year,” said
Superintendent Woods. "I’m looking forward to working with this
extraordinary group of teachers to ensure our policies are child-focused and
classroom-centered."
Over
the next several weeks, a panel of judges will conduct video observations and
interview each of the finalists. This week, finalists will also give a speech
at a luncheon sponsored by Georgia Power. The winner will be announced at the
Georgia Teacher of the Year conference during the luncheon on May 8, 2015, in
the Floyd Room at the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd Veterans Memorial Building. The
conference, which is paid for through donations from sponsors, will honor each
local district Teacher of the Year.
The
2016 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation,
serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The winner will also be
entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The
2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year is Mrs. Amanda Miliner, a fourth grade
teacher, from Miller Elementary in Warner Robins.
To
learn more about the Teacher of the Year program, click here.
2016
Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalists (in alphabetical order by district)
Teacher,
Subject, System, School
Brian
David Butler, Science
Bibb
County, Rutland High
Patrick
Logan, First Grade
Buford
City, Buford Elementary
Alexandra
Vlachakis, Information Technology
Fayette
County, Sandy Creek High
John
Wood, Art
Henry
County, Luella High
Holly
Canup, Media Resource Specialist/Online Instructor
Jackson
County, East Jackson Comprehensive High
Brian
Patrick, English/Literature
Jasper
County, Jasper County High
Kimberly
Lester, Writing/Language Arts
Muscogee
County, St. Elmo Center for the Gifted
Gary
Allen Jones, II, Gifted
Rome
City, East Central Elementary
Ernest
William Lee II, IB History, US Government and Civics
Savannah-Chatham
County, Winsor Forest High
Blair
Inabinet, Georgia Studies
Walton
County, Youth Middle