Three Dacula Area Educators Selected as ‘Teacher of the Year’ Finalists

Three of the six Gwinnett teachers selected as Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year finalists are from Dacula area schools.

Brittany Palazzo of , Keri Beth Tidmore Jones of and Aundrea Muth of join Jennifer Dunn of Pharr Elementary, Sarah Black of North Gwinnett Middle and Lindsey Cafarella of Peachtree Ridge High as the six finalists.

Palazzo, a graduate of Gwinnett County Public Schools, joined the inaugural staff of Mulberry Elementary in 2007, after working at and Centerville Elementary. Palazzo received her bachelor’s degree in education from Georgia State University and holds a master’s degree from Piedmont College in curriculum and instruction. According to a GCPS press release, Palazzo “knew early on that she wanted to be a teacher, tracing her love of teaching back to when she played ‘school’ with friends, neighbors, and even her stuffed animals. That passion for teaching is exhibited today in her commitment and dedication to students.”

Tidmore Jones teaches advanced computer science and eighth grade yearbook at Dacula Middle. Tidmore Jones graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in business education. She also holds a master’s degree in integrating technology in the classroom from Walden University. She has taught at Dacula Middle since 2005. Tidmore Jones recently reconnected with the teacher who inspired her to become an educator when she was just a fourth grade student.

Muth, who teaches 12th grade political systems and AP government, was inspired to become a teacher in part by her own experiences as a homeschooled student. “She decided the best teachers were multi-dimensional educators who learned to be adaptive and who were lifelong learners who gave the time and effort to bring out the best in their students,” according to GCPS. Muth is a University of Georgia graduate and has taught at Mill Creek since 2006.      

The finalists were chosen from a group of 25 Gwinnett County Public School (GCPS) teachers selected as . Semifinalists were selected from an initial list of

Committee members will now select an elementary, middle school and high school teacher of the year from among the six finalists. One of these teachers will be honored as the GCPS 2012 Teacher of the Year.

The winner will be announced at the annual “Teacher of the Year” banquet on Nov. 4. The GCPS teacher of the year will move on to compete for the title of Georgia Teacher of the Year.