Dacula Area Teachers of the Year Announced

Several Dacula area teachers have been selected as Teacher of the Year for their individual schools.

Teachers chosen for this honor will compete for the title of the 2014 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year (TOTY).

“It is an honor to be recognized by your colleagues,” says Dr. Nikki Mouton, executive director of staff development in a released statement. “It suggests their recognition of the efforts of our teachers on a larger scale—with their students, with adults, with parents, and the community at large. Other teachers understand that being an effective teacher is not limited to the classroom walls. They know first-hand the time, energy, and commitment that is required of teachers and for their colleagues to select them from amongst so many wonderful educators is a testament to their honor and respect for their local school teacher of the year.”

Later this month, the group of 130 local school honorees will be narrowed down to 25 semifinalists. Six of those 25 teachers will be further evaluated and one of them will be named as the GCPS Teacher of the Year on Nov. 7, 2013. The evaluation committee will also select an elementary, middle and high school teacher of the year from the group.

Dacula area 2014 Teachers of the Year include:

• Alcova Elementary, Courtney Couch, third grade teacher
• Archer High, Kathleen Nason, language arts teacher (grade 9)
• Dacula Elementary, David Frank, kindergarten teacher
• Dacula High, Lindsey Campbell, social studies and latin (grades 9-12)
• Dacula Middle, Melissa Lord,  mathematics teacher (grade 8)
• Duncan Creek Elementary, Melanie Reed, fourth grade teacher
• Dyer Elementary, Kelli Aleman, fourth grade teacher
• Fort Daniel Elementary, Susan Clayton, special education teacher (grades K-5)
• Harbins Elementary, Shannon Wiley, first grade teacher
• Mill Creek High, Tim Rondeau, mathematics (grades 9-12)
• Mountain View High, Laura Droms, Spanish teacher (grades 9-12)
• Mulberry Elementary, Heather Watkins, first grade teacher
• Osborne Middle, Janet Chastain, science teacher (grade 6)
• Puckett’s Mill Elementary, Amy Riker, fourth grade teacher
• Twin Rivers Middle, Nathan Amrine, mathematics teacher (grade 8)