Search Is on for 2012 GCPS Teacher of the Year

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:

: Judy Tarver
Archer High: Pam S. Autrey
: Lisa M. Moore
: Keri Beth Jones
: Christy Belbey
: Debra Caton
: Betty Roepe
: Michele Devlin
: Aundrea Muth
Mountain View High: Debbie White
: Brittany Palazzo
: Peggy Engelman
: Angie Hoffman

In local school news:

• The artwork of Hokyum Kim has been selected by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities to be . 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 andschools will be CogAT Testing this week.

• Morgan Lundy of Dacula was one of 98 women who recently attended the in Washington, D.C.

• and High Schools have

• Congratulations to Amber Walker of on being chosen as the .

• Congratulations to Eric Westog from on being selected as the

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.