The 2015 Teachers of the Year for each of Coweta County’s 31 public schools have been chosen by their fellow teachers.
The teachers are elected each year in recognition of exemplary teaching, and serve as ambassadors of their profession. This year’s honorees represent student instruction ranging from Kindergarten through 12th grade, and educational disciplines including elementary grade instruction, math, physical education, sciences, music, special education, history, language arts and media services.
They will be honored at the Coweta County Teacher of the Year Program, held in May at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. The Coweta County Board of Education presents the program annually with the Newnan Pilot Club.
The 2015 Teachers of the Year from each school are:
From elementary schools: Robin Travis, 2nd Grade (Arbor Springs); Kristie Stewart, Kindergarten (Arnco-Sargent); Cami Sullivan, REACH (gifted), (Atkinson); Natalie Hill, 3rd Grade (Brooks); Andrea Chitwood, Music (Canongate); Alicia Futral, 2nd Grade (Eastside); Elizabeth Rance, 5th Grade (Elm Street); Lynne Pence, 3rd Grade (Glanton); Lisa Diebboll, 4th Grade (Jefferson Parkway); Cheri Barnett, 3rd Grade (Moreland); Tonya Copeland, 2nd Grade (Newnan Crossing); Colette Peaks, 5th Grade (Northside); Stephanie Craig, 2nd Grade (Poplar Road); Cassie Ferrell, Physical Education (Ruth Hill); Rebecca Key, 3rd Grade (Thomas Crossroads); Janet McCranie, 3rd Grade (Welch); Will Larkey, 4th Grade (Western); Sheila Bealing, 2nd Grade (White Oak); Kelly Zern, 5th Grade (Willis Road).
From middle schools: Samantha Clark, 8th Social Studies (Arnall); Julia Lotti, Chorus (East Coweta); Moses Mitchell, 6th-8th Grade Connections (Evans); Jason Fairchild, Special Education (Lee); Phillip Sykes, 8th Grade Georgia History (Madras); Lynne Thomason, 7th Grade Science (Smokey Road); Ona Alford, 6th-8th Grade Language Arts (Maggie Brown).
From high schools: Judy Baker, Healthcare Science (the Central Educational Center); Martha Milam, Chemistry (East Coweta); Rebecca Snider, Math (Newnan); Jim Rew, Social Studies (Northgate); Jan Deyton, Media Specialist (Winston Dowdell Academy).
Coweta’s Teachers of the Year are named each year at all county schools. They are chosen by and from among certified teachers who spend the majority of their time in student instruction, in any grade and academic discipline. They are selected for the quality of their teaching, professional development, teaching philosophies and methods, community involvement, contributions to education, and their ability to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
The county’s 2015 Teacher of the Year – who also serves as the Coweta County nominee for state Teacher of the Year – will be announced at the May program.
The Coweta County School System is the only school system in Georgia with three county nominees chosen as Georgia Teacher of the Year, including Lorraine Johnson, Jamie Lipscomb and Nancy Royal. There have also been thirteen Coweta County semi-finalists for Georgia teacher of the year since 1986.
Ruth Hill Elementary School 5th grade teacher Ami Patel was named Coweta County’s 2014 Teacher of the Year at the annual Coweta County Teacher of the Year ceremony. Patel was chosen for the honor from among three finalists, also including Northgate High School Economics Teacher Amanda Connell and Winston Dowdell Academy Special Education Teacher Wendy Arnold.
