Introducing the New Regional Teachers of the Year!

     December has been a whirlwind of travel, stepping into one school after another to make the Regional Teacher of the Year announcements.  The experience of making these announcements has truly been a highlight for me this year.  The announcements are such a great way to feel like I am "paying it forward" and to personally thank nine outstanding educators in our state.  I also had the opportunity to be reunited with some of my Teacher of the Year friends and Regional Teacher of the Year team members as I made the announcements.

     While making the surprise announcements, I got to travel across our state, often spending the night or stopping in small, rural towns that I probably never would have visited otherwise.  I got to meet incredibly kind North Carolinians along the way, many outstanding educators, the families of the Regional Teachers of the Year, and of course, the new Regional Teachers of the Year!  They often thanked me for "driving all that way just to make the announcement," but I would not have had it any other way.  You see, a year ago when Darcy Grimes, NC Teacher of the Year 2012-2013, showed up at Grimsley High School to announce that I was the new Region 5 Teacher of the Year, my life changed.  I am so honored to be able to change the lives of other teachers in our state. 

      Furthermore, the different way that each school chooses to make the surprise announcement gave me a great feel for the personalities of some of the schools across our state.  When my announcement was made, my principal took me to our central office for a staged meeting concerning a book challenge while half of our school assembled in the auditorium.  I had to go through with my presentation at the meeting, and when returned to Grimsley High School, I walked onto a darkened stage and the house lights went up to reveal the faces of my family, students, and coworkers cheering for me.  It was truly a moment I will never forget!  This year I made the announcements at Winter Celebration assemblies, assemblies for mock guest speakers on topics like bullying and local history, pep rallies, a fire drill with a flash mob dance party, a reward assembly following a speech by the mayor of Charlotte, and at an assembly after Santa Claus interrupted the superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools.  Each announcement ended with the naming of a new Regional Teacher of the Year, and I loved seeing the celebrations of the school communities and the teachers' loved ones. 

      Below are the nine new Regional Teachers of the Year.  To find out a little more about them, you can check out the links to my Teacher of the Year Facebook account for a brief description and additional pictures.  Congratulations to each new Regional Teacher of the Year!  They are such an amazing group of educators, and I am so excited about the year ahead of them!

Northeast Region 1, Charlene Evans, Math Teacher, Plymouth High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=377285819073648&id=308452419290322

Pam Mills, Region 1 TOY 2012-2013 on the Left; Charlene Evans in the Center

Southeast Region 2, Melissa Gillespie, Social Studies Teacher, Laney High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=374141122721451&id=308452419290322



North Central Region 3, Rhonda Holmes, Visual Arts Teacher, Conway Middle School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=377288242406739&id=308452419290322

A Student Who Read a Letter Congratulating Ms. Holmes and Lt. Col. Thomas McGeachy, Region 3 TOY 2012-2013 on the Right

Sandhills/South Central Region 4, Everlene Davis, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, South Columbus High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=376751475793749&id=308452419290322

  



Piedmont-Triad/Central Region 5, Kathy Saunders, English Teacher, Asheboro High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=374269459375284&id=308452419290322

Kathy Saunders in the Center; Cindi Rigsbee, Region 5 TOY, NC TOY 2008-2009, Finalist for National TOY on the Right

Southwest Region 6, James Ford, Social Studies Teacher, Garinger High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=380237865445110&id=308452419290322

James Ford in the Center; Julian Wilson, Region 6 TOY 2012-2013 on the Right

  

Northwest Region 7, Alex Reynolds, Theater Arts Teacher, Jesse Carson High School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=379326905536206&id=308452419290322

Western Region 8, Melissa Faetz, First Grade Teacher, South Macon Elementary School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=379805842154979&id=308452419290322

Charter School Teacher of the Year, Chris Weaver, Third Grade Teacher, Evergreen Community Charter School:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=379735458828684&id=308452419290322

Congratulations once again!  A great journey is before each one of them!