The search has begun for the 2012 Gwinnett County Public School Teach of the Year. A total of 129 educators have been selected as local school honorees. These teachers were nominated by their colleagues for their ability to motivate and encourage their students to reach their full learning potential.

According to GCPS Executive Director of Staff Development Nikki Mouton, “Teachers have a tremendous job with extremely high expectations and this is our way of recognizing their efforts and highlighting the excellent work that occurs within our classrooms regularly.”

The field of 129 selected honorees will be narrowed to 25 semifinalists later this month and then six finalists will be selected in October. The 2012 GCPS Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual banquet on Thursday, Nov. 3. 

Congratulations to the following local teachers who have been nominated as a 2012 GCPS Teacher of the Year candidate:

Alcova Elementary: Judy Tarver
Archer High: Pam S. Autrey
Dacula Elementary: Lisa M. Moore
Dacula Middle: Keri Beth Jones
Dacula High: Christy Belbey
Duncan Creek Elementary: Debra Caton
Fort Daniel Elementary: Betty Roepe
Harbins Elementary: Michele Devlin
Mill Creek High: Aundrea Muth
Mountain View High: Debbie White
Mulberry Elementary: Brittany Palazzo
Osborne Middle: Peggy Engelman
Puckett’s Mill Elementary: Angie Hoffman

In local school news:

• The artwork of Mill Creek’s Hokyum Kim has been selected by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities to be part of an exhibit that will be showcased at the National level in Washington, D.C. Hokyum Kim is a 2011 graduate of Mill Creek High School and one of six GCPS student artists honored as national winners during the 2011 National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

• Dacula High School students are studying the U.S. Government and Constitution during the month of September. Students voted on menu items and purchased food during their community skills classes. This special meal will be prepared and enjoyed on Consititution Day, Sept. 20.

• Eighth graders at Osborne Middle and Dacula Middle schools will be CogAT Testing this week.

• Morgan Lundy of Dacula was one of 98 women who recently attended the 65th American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.

• Dacula and Mill Creek High Schools have scored in the top of the state and nation with their SAT score averages.

• Congratulations to Amber Walker of Hebron Christian Academy on being chosen as the Dacula Patch female athlete of the week.

• Congratulations to Eric Westog from Mill Creek High School on being selected as the Dacula Patch Male Athlete of the Week.

In college news:

• The Gwinnett North College Fair will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Civic Center.

• High school girls interested in engineering are encouraged to attend the annual engineering career conference at the Georgia Tech student center on Oct. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Georgia Gwinnett College will be the site for an upcoming made for TV movie tentatively titled, "Gamers." Portions of GGC campus will be featured in the filming of this movie about a student who becomes intertwined in a web of intrigue upon choosing to go to the nation's number one gaming college.