VALDOSTA —
Curt Johnson is more than a teacher.
As Lowndes County School Superintendent Wes Taylor might put it, Johnson’s a beacon of hope. With all of the changes and challenges happening in public education, Johnson is a light at the end of the tunnel for the possibilities that are available to a child when they have a caring and dedicated teacher.
This is just a small part of why he was named Lowndes County Schools’ Teacher of the Year at Thursday’s convocation.
“I am elated, thrilled, excited,” said Johnson. “It’s an amazing feeling!”
Johnson arrived at the Lowndes County school system in August 2000. He transferred from Hamilton Middle School in Jasper, Fla. — where he worked as an engineering and technology education teacher for eight years — to Lowndes Middle School. He then transferred to Pine Grove Middle School when it opened just three years ago.
“I have always taught engineering/technology at the middle-school level,” said Johnson.
Living the motto, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, Johnson has remained an engineering and technology teacher for 21 years.
In April, Johnson was nominated to be Pine Grove Middle’s Teacher of the Year. To be qualified, one has to have a minimum of five years of teaching experience and at least three of those years in the Lowndes County system.
A teacher must also have a proven track record of increasing student achievement while maintaining the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues. Schools selected exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled individuals who inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
Each individual school’s Teacher of the Year was required to submit an application packet with 10 pages of narrative writing and three letters of recommendation. These letters came naturally for those colleagues who submitted.
Ken Overman, Pine Grove Middle School principal, noted he could not think of a better candidate than Johnson to represent Lowndes County Schools.
“He is the consummate teacher, team leader, and mentor,” wrote Overman. “His enthusiasm, hard work, dedication and encouragement are a staple for our students, staff and parents.”
Stacy Dickey, Pine Grove Middle assistant principal, noted that Johnson’s passion for teaching spans far beyond the classroom walls.
“Mr. Johnson’s educational influence is alive and growing,” wrote Dickey. “It is apparent by student success and peer recognition that his desire for teaching spreads way beyond the confinements of his classroom.”
Renee Griffin, a Pine Grove Elementary School second-grade teacher and a parent of two Pine Grove Middle students, noted her children were excited to be a part of Johnson’s class.
“Mr. Johnson is a dedicated teacher who motivates and inspires his students to develop a love of technology,” wrote Griffin. “He has a tremendous work ethic and challenges his students in every assigned task.”
These applications and recommendations were reviewed by five local judges with the top four applications evaluated by six out-of-town judges. These judges rated the applications based on a rubric used for the Georgia Teacher of the Year program.
Grading of these applications were based on the following areas: professional biography, professional learning, community involvement, philosophy of teaching, education issues, and the teaching profession.
“I always wanted to become a school Teacher of the Year, but I never dreamed I would be able to win the system Teacher of the Year,” said Johnson.
Johnson was chosen because of the difference he makes in the lives of his students and the several contributions he makes to Pine Grove Middle School.
“Everyday in the classroom, I strive to be the best teacher I can be by teaching every child the way I would want my own child to be taught,” said Johnson.
Johnson is the school’s TSA (Technology Student Association) advisor and also serves as the team leader for the Connections Team. The National Technology Student Association recently named Johnson the Georgia TSA Middle School Advisor of the Year.
Aside from Johnson’s many accomplishments, he may be able to add Georgia Teacher of the Year to his resume soon. He is in the running for the statewide honor.
“It would be an amazing accomplishment for me, Lowndes County Schools and CTAE (Career Technical and Agricultural Education) educators,” said Johnson.
He is not just enthusiastic about his own career or his school, but the entire Lowndes County school system.
“I am truly honored and consider it a privilege to work in Lowndes County Schools,” said Johnson. “I have felt this way about Lowndes County Schools since the first day I began teaching at Lowndes County Schools in 2000.”
Johnson stated that everyone in the system, from top to bottom, seems to share a common goal of working together to provide the best education possible for every child in the Lowndes County school system.
The system’s motto is “working together for excellence everyday,” and Johnson lives this creed daily.
“The Lowndes County School System is a successful system because it employs people with a shared vision for excellence,” he said.
Johnson considers his colleagues at Pine Grove Middle a blessing.
“It’s easy to keep my passion for teaching alive when I am surrounded by a passionate staff,” said Johnson. “This is quite possibly the best staff I have ever worked with!”
For more on this story and other local news, subscribe to The Valdosta Daily Times e-Edition, or our print edition.
