Bainey Named Stephens County School System Teacher of the Year for 2017

The Stephens County School system announces their 2017 Teacher of the Year.

He is Roy Bainey, a teacher at Stephens County Middle School.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey praised Bainey, noting his teaching highlights his love for his students.

“Mr. Bainey just does an incredible job as a teacher,” Dorsey said. “He’s a fantastic role model for both our students, our staff, and our community. We appreciate all he does in all those different capacities. He’s just a fine man to have around our students. We’re very proud of what he represents, not only as a school teacher of the year, but also as our system teacher of the year.”

Bainey is a social studies, science, and special ed teacher at the Middle School.

He is also the pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on Dicks Hill Parkway in Stephens County.

Bainey said while he loves his ministry at the church, he has always wanted to teach.

His passion for educating young people he says, comes from his own personal experience.

One of five children growing up in a poor family, Bainey said he fell behind in school, but still went on to graduate from Toccoa Falls College and get his Masters in Education from Piedmont College.

And he says if he can do it, so can his students.

I was a struggling student growing up but was able to go on to get my masters in education,” Bainey said. “I’ve always had a unique love for kids over the years, and I just thought I can make a difference; help these kids have hope and help these kids experience something through education that they may not otherwise have. Education opens doors that nothing else can open.”

As part of his effort to educate young people, Bainey also works to help them have more of a world view.

To that end, he has gotten the students involved in helping children in two overseas countries – Thailand and Haiti.

In Thailand his students are sending school supplies and book bags.

In Haiti, Middle School students are helping children by raising money to buy school supplies, as well as clothes and toys such as jump ropes and matchbox cars.

“We involve kids in that. Some of the kids here are writing letters now for the kids in Haiti. I’ll deliver them and bring back letters from those kids. So, we’ve started a penpal program here,” Bainey explained. “I just want our kids to realize that they can make a difference in children’s lives elsewhere. I teach social studies and because they’re vested, then I can stress to them the standard of living and literacy rates. Only about half the population in Haiti can read and write.”

Students also have bake sales and hold other fund raisers to help raise money for the children overseas.

Bainey says he wants his students to understand that no matter where they come from, they can make a difference.

“We’re helping our kids to think beyond themselves. Their world view is changing; realizing that they can make a difference. We helped a little girl here who didn’t have a bed. We took clothes and shoes to a little girl here in Stephens County who was in hard pressed circumstances. The main focus howver is outside the country, but we minister here too because we want kids to realize they can make a difference. They can change the world. All they have to do is get involved. So, dream big.”

Bainey has been a teacher at Stephens County Middle School for the past seven years.