Teacher of the Year Banquet Held

Stephens County honors its Teacher of the Year.

The annual Stephens County School System Teacher of the Year banquet took place Thursday at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College.

This year’s system-wide teacher of the year, named back in November, is art teacher Timothy Mitchell, representing Liberty Elementary School as its Teacher of the Year as well.

Mitchell said being the Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor.

“It is amazing,” said Mitchell. “All of the teachers of the year that are here are so awesome and they impact students’ lives every day. It is amazing to be a part of this team.”

As part of the banquet, a video was played with current and former students talking about Mitchell and his class.

Mitchell said he very much appreciated that video as well.

“It was another amazing thing that happened today and it was encouraging for me to see my kids that have all grown up and they still believe in some of the stuff I told them a long time ago.”

Appearing at Thursday’s banquet was the Georgia Teacher of the Year, Ernest Lee.

He talked about making connections with students.

Lee said that is perhaps the most important thing he does in his classroom.

“Everybody wants somebody to know them and I know that,” said Lee. “When I can make that connection, the kid knows I care about them and once I have that established, I can do anything with them because they are caring about me because I care about them.”

Lee also said he wants teachers to know that the job is worth it.

“You have to be committed; you have to be dependable, but you are planting seeds and you are changing lives whether you know it or not,” said Lee.

Besides Mitchell, the other school-level teachers of the year were honored.

They are Jodi Plaisted at Big A Elementary, James Horton at Toccoa Elementary, Diane Harrison at the 5th Grade Academy, Audrey Williams at Stephens County Middle School and Margaret Alewine at Stephens County High School.