The 2022-2023 System Teacher of the Year winner is …Dr. Linda Wood. Dr. Wood teaches 11th grade American Literature. Congratulations Dr. Wood! She shared with us one of her favorite teaching moments:
My most memorable moment as an educator came about six years ago when a former student introduced me to his daughter, whom I would now teach. He said, “This is Dr. Wood. She was my high school teacher.” He then turned to me and continued to speak, “She is the only reason that Daddy finished High School because she believed I could do it.”
In that one moment, I understood the impact of my years of work with students. Every extra hour that I had put into lesson planning and every extra effort to build relationships with students was validated.
Hannah Frady - Troup County High School
2021 - 2022 Teacher of the Year
Due to COVID-19 and the changes to the TOTY Program from the Georgia Department of Education we experienced a gap year for 2020-2021 with no teacher of the year competition.
Traveria Sewell - Long Cane Middle School
2019 - 2020 Teacher of the Year
Randy Hardigree - LaGrange High School
2018 - 2019 Teacher of the Year
Kayla Yeargin -Troup County High School
2017 - 2018 Teacher of the Year
2018 - 2019 GADOE State Finalist
Jill Gay - Hollis Hand Elementary School
2016 - 2017 Teacher of the Year
Michelle Ashmore -Troup County High School
2015 - 2016 Teacher of the Year
2016 - 2017 GADOE State Finalist
Nichelle Wimbush -Troup County High School
2014 - 2015 Teacher of the Year
Jorine Silcox - Franklin Forest Elementary
2013 - 2014 Teacher of the Year
Jessica Holstun - Long Cane Elementary
2012 - 2013 Teacher of the Year
Lori Slay - LaGrange High School
2011 - 2012 Teacher of the Year
Katie Bush Willis - Berta Weathersbee Elementary
2010 - 2011 Teacher of the Year
Rochelle Pompey - Whitesville Road Elementary
2009 - 2010 Teacher of the Year
Ruth Anne Wilson-Jones - West Side Magnet School
2008 - 2009 Teacher of the Year
David Curtis - Callaway High School
2007 - 2008 Teacher of the Year
2008 - 2009 GADOE State Finalist
Denise Giddens - Franklin Forest Elementary
2006 - 2007 Teacher of the Year
Jacque Hornsby - West Side Magnet School
2005-2006 Teacher of the Year
Robbie Henderson
2004 - 2005 Teacher of the Year
Kimberly Myers - Hollis Hand Elementary
2003 - 2004 Teacher of the Year
Cathy Sargent - Troup High School
2002 - 2003 Teacher of the Year
Pippy Rogers
2001 - 2002 Teacher of the Year
Cathy Otto
2000 - 2001 Teacher of the Year
Carol Cain
1999 - 2000 Teacher of the Year
Bonnie Dudley
1998 - 1999 Teacher of the Year
Gloria Adcock
1997 - 1998 Teacher of the Year
Alexis Paul
1996 - 1997 Teacher of the Year
Nancy Mann
1995 - 1996 Teacher of the Year
A special thank you to the Troup County Archives and F.C. Johnson, III for providing the following additional Teacher of the Year Information: Georgia Department of Education began the Teacher of the Year Program in 1971. Troup County School System named their first Teacher of the Year in 1976 and the LaGrange City Schools started the program in 1985.
| YEAR |
|
NAME |
|
SYSTEM |
| 1994 |
|
Kenneth R. Moore |
|
LaGrange |
| 1994 |
|
Faye Benjamin |
|
Troup |
| 1993 |
|
Jacqueline Beasley Hornsby |
|
LaGrange |
| 1993 |
|
Karen Riddle |
|
Troup |
| 1992 |
|
Gale Chase Chance |
|
LaGrange |
| 1992 |
|
Mikki Wilson Wallace |
|
Troup |
| 1991 |
|
Polly Hutchinson |
|
LaGrange |
| 1991 |
|
Joyce Harris Linch |
|
Troup |
| 1990 |
|
Dale Poston Allen |
|
LaGrange |
| 1990 |
|
Jane Humphries |
|
Troup |
| 1989 |
|
Alexis White Paul |
|
LaGrange |
| 1989 |
|
Dariel Wayne Daniel |
|
Troup |
| 1988 |
|
Bill Parsons |
|
LaGrange |
| 1988 |
|
Brenda Clifton |
|
Troup |
| 1987 |
|
Curmilla Furgerson |
|
LaGrange |
| 1987 |
|
Margaret Lane Duttera |
|
Troup |
| 1986 |
|
Cathy Redden |
|
LaGrange |
| 1986 |
|
Nancy Everitt |
|
Troup |
| 1985 |
|
Bonnie Funderburk Dudley |
|
LaGrange |
| 1985 |
|
Cindy Marsh Estes |
|
Troup |
| 1984 |
|
Thomas Whatley |
|
Troup |
| 1983 |
|
Wylene Rholetter |
|
Troup |
| 1982 |
|
Gail Joiner |
|
Troup |
| 1981 |
|
Carolyn Slaughter Bean |
|
Troup |
| 1980 |
|
Susan Robertson Carlisle |
|
Troup |
| 1979 |
|
Ida Florine Tarver Jones |
|
Troup |
| 1978 |
|
Barry Nathan Jackson |
|
Troup |
| 1977 |
|
Annie Lucille Tarver Greene |
|
Troup |
| 1976 |
|
William Dunagan |
|
Troup |
From time to time, prior to 1971, various groups have recognized a local teacher as “Teacher of the Year” but it was not this official program. They did not do it consistently year to year. Among those, the following were noted:
The LaGrange Education Association for a few years recognized “Teachers of the Year:” Isma Swain, 1956; Louise Owen, 1957 ; and Lillian Clark, 1958.
WLAG Radio Station held a contest for “Teacher of the Year” in 1960 and selected Stella Bradfield.
The LaGrange Teachers’ Association recognized “Teachers of the Year” a couple of times: Louise Allen Epps in 1956; Bertha Brabham in 1964; and Wellie S. Wilburn in 1965.
In 1970, the Key Club at LHS recognized Mrs. Lollie Traylor Love (Mrs. J. R.) at LaGrange High School as Teacher of the Year.
The Teacher of the Year program is designed to recognize excellence in teaching. The process includes:
- Selection of the nominees from each school by their peers
- Nominees submit anonymous written essay applications
- Community and system judges read the anonymous applications
- Three finalist are chosen
- One Elementary
- One Middle and
- One High School Teacher
- Three judges from outside TCSS
- Score written essay applications and resume
- Observe classroom teaching
- Interview finalist