Left to right—Leslie Crawford, Bobbie Staten, Carol Isgro, and JoJo Carter

Echols County Schools’ employees culminated a year of hard work and numerous accomplishments with the annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon held On May 29, during post planning. 

The lunch was catered by Raisin’ Cane.  Following the luncheon, Principal Dave Rosser recognized and expressed appreciation to board members, substitutes, and volunteers for their support and work during the 2014 school year.  Appreciation was also expressed to Donya Coggins for the outstanding job she did in decorating the tables and lunchroom using a summer beach theme.

Several Employees of the Year were recognized and presented plaques by Assistant Principal, Wade Beale.  The Employees are the Year are voted on and selected by their co-workers.  Marie Carter was presented the plaque for Food Service Employee of the Year.  Karen Black, school counselor, was recognized as Employee of the Year for Instructional Support Staff.  Transportation Employee of the Year was Sarah Powers.  Gabby Gallegos was selected as the Secretarial Employee of the Year.  Paraprofessional Employee of the Year was Melody McEady.   

 

Sylvia Tefft, the only school employee retiring, was honored and presented a rocking chair at the luncheon.  Superintendent Tim Ragan praised her 30 years of teaching in the Echols County Schools System.  He thanked her for always being a “people person” and for the work she did with students every year to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through the Math-A-Thon program.  Following comments from Tim Ragan, other school employees had the opportunity to express their appreciation and comment on fond memories spanning Sylvia’s 30 year teaching career.  Several former students of hers are now teaching in the system and shared their memories from having her as a teacher to being a mentor to them in their teaching careers.  Family members who attended the luncheon and program were Sylvia’s husband Jerry, her son Daniel, her father Franklin Staten and mother in law Kay Tefft.

The program culminated with the recognition of school level Teachers of the Year and the naming of the System Teacher of the Year.  Principal Dave Rosser presented plaques to the winners.  Teachers of the Year are voted on by their peers to represent Elementary School (grades K-2); Elementary School (grades 3-5); Middle School (grades 6-8); and High School (grades 9-12).  Each of these teachers prepares a portfolio and a committee of educators from outside the school system interviews each of these teachers and observes the teacher in his/her classroom.  From the four chosen teachers, the Teacher of the Year for the school system is selected by the committee.

Elementary Teacher of the Year for grades K-2 was Jordanna Carter who teaches elementary physical education.  Bobbie Staten, a third grade teacher, was selected as Teacher of the Year for grades 3-5.   Middle School Teacher of the Year was Leslie Crawford who teaches social studies and English/language arts.  High School business education teacher, Carol Isgro, was selected as the High School Teacher of the Year.

After observations, reviewing the portfolios and interviewing the four teachers, the committee of educators chose Bobbie Staten as the Echols County Schools Teacher of the Year.  She was presented with the Jackie L. Carter Teacher of the Year Award and will have her name added to the list of previous winners on a plaque in the school’s front office.  She will represent the Echols County Schools System in competing for the Georgia Teacher of the Year.  The Georgia Department of Education sponsors the Teacher of the Year Program which spotlights the teaching profession and recognizes outstanding public school teachers.