Wednesday, April 24, 2002
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
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Teacher of the Year named during celebration honoring all Fayette educators Some of the shining stars of the Fayette County School System were treated to an evening of honor and praise last week as one of their own was named the county's 2001-2002 Teacher of the Year. "Saluting Fayette's Finest" was the theme of this year's teacher of the year celebration held at Flat Creek Baptist Church in Fayetteville last week. A total of 24 teachers from each elementary, middle and high school were honored at the ceremony for being selected by their peers to represent their respective school as its teacher of the year. Art teacher Lucy Wicker of Peeples Elementary took home the coveted title of Fayette County Teacher of the Year and will be Fayette's contender for next year's Georgia Teacher of the Year award. "I don't look at this as my job, this is my career, my life; it is what I love," Wicker said as she accepted her new title, which was kept top secret in a sealed envelope until she was announced as the winner by Superintendent John DeCotis. Wicker, who says she wasn't sure what she wanted to do until she got to college, chose to pursue a career in art education as a way of contributing to her community. "I do what I do because I feel I can give back to the community by teaching students and teaching them art for the love of art. Art education gives students a deeper understanding of cultures and beliefs." Wicker, along with Joy Martin, science teacher at Fayette Middle School, and Bill Melton, band director at Whitewater Middle School, were the three finalists selected from the 24 teacher of the year nominees to contend for this year's award. All nominees were invited to submit an application for Fayette County Teacher of the Year from which three finalists were chosen. Four judges consisting of community leaders, former educators and administrators as well as last year's Teacher of the Year Lisa Williams Fine reviewed the applications. After the selection of the finalists, the judges observed each of the three teachers in their classrooms followed by an interview where judges asked the educators questions about their teaching practices, goals and philosophies. The finalists were scored based on the observation and interview with the highest scoring candidate earning the teacher of the year title. As a "thank you" for the hard work the teachers put into their classrooms every day, numerous businesses and organizations donated prizes that were given out at the celebration. Seals Communications Corporation donated their time and expertise to put together a video of the three finalists, which was shown during the celebration. The company also presented a keepsake video to each finalist. The Coca-Cola Company gave each teacher of the year a commemorative plaque, Wal-Mart presented Wicker with a $500 check for the purchase of school supplies and Dell Computer Corporation donated a personal computer to two of the finalists and a laptop for the teacher of the year. Other major donors for this year's celebration include World Gym, Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia School Equipment, Don Jackson Lincoln Mercury, Balfour and Wachovia Bank. Additionally, Southern Community Bank, Gold's Gym, Heritage Bank of Fayette County, Chick-fil-A, Tyrone Eye Care, Goody Products, Inc. and the PTO's of Huddleston, Burch and Kedron Elementary, Flat Rock, J.C. Booth, Rising Starr, and Whitewater Middle and Sandy Creek and Fayette County High Schools were among a few of the many generous donors that made the 2001-2002 celebration a memorable event for the county's educators.
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