SCCPSS: Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

SAVANNAH, Ga.—The nominees for Teacher of the Year from each of the district’s 53 schools were recognized at a reception at the Savannah Morning News Thursday.

At that time, the three finalists were announced.  They are Winthrope Hiers, who teaches earth science at Oglethorpe Charter Middle School, Marie Burke, a 5th grade special education teacher from Islands Elementary and Bettina Tate, a marketing and IB teacher at Johnson High School.

“I was totally shocked I was surprised because we have such a large group of teachers who qualify for it,” explains Winthrope Hiers.

“I can hardly wait to go back to school to tell my fellow teachers that we were chosen,” exclaims Marie Burke.

“I was totally surprised.  I’m amongst a group of wonderful other people who have been working very hard at their craft and I’m just happy to represent them,” says Bettina Tate.

The banquet to announce the finalist will be held January 29th, 2010.  Our own Russ Riesinger will be the emcee.

Here’s a complete list of the Teachers of the Year for individual schools:

Elementary Schools

Bartow Elementary:  Maya White
Bloomingdale Elementary:  Bethany Payne
Butler Elementary:  Betty Butler
Charles Ellis Montessori Academy:  Jacqueline Mesco
East Broad Elementary:  Angela Moye
Gadsden Elementary:  Jennifer Birkman
Garden City Elementary:  Megan Hulitt
Garrison Elementary:  Susie Murph
Georgetown Elementary:  Teresa Peyton
Gould Elementary:  Latesha Duncan
Haven Elementary:  Candas Brown
Heard Elementary:  Amy Coates
Hesse Elementary:  Myra Chisholm
Hodge Elementary:  Dr. Cora Thompson
Islands Elementary:  Marie S. Burke
Isle of Hope Elementary:  Jennie Thompson
Jacob G. Smith Elementary:  Jill Wiggins
Juliette Low Elementary:  Avis R. Gresham-Myles
Largo-Tibet Elementary:  Robert Carter
Marshpoint Elementary:  Libby Miller
May Howard Elementary:  Sherry Lanier
Pooler Elementary:  Angela M. Shiver
Port Wentworth Elementary:  Timothy Brown
Pulaski Elementary:  Arlena Little
Southwest Elementary:  Karen Worthy
Spencer Elementary:  Beverly E. Small
Thunderbolt Elementary:  Shelley Sikes
West Chatham Elementary:  John Hoyman
White Bluff Elementary:  Carolyn Daniels
Windsor Forest Elementary:  Amber Haslam

Middle Schools

Bartlett Middle School:  Najia Barboa
Coastal Middle School:  Eric Neidlinger
DeRenne Middle School:  James Keppel
Hubert Middle School:  Kimberly L. Crawford
Mercer Middle School:  Dereka Pullins
Myers Middle School:  Zelda R. Johnson
Oglethorpe Charter School:  Winthrope Hiers
Shuman Middle School:  Jessica Johnson
Southwest Middle School:  Dessie A. Bishop
West Chatham Middle School:  Jan Harrison

High Schools

Beach High School:  Betty Wilson
Groves High School:  Stacey L. Bragg
Jenkins High School:  Natatia VanEllison
Johnson High School:  Bettina Polite-Tate
Savannah Arts Academy:  Mary Emma Holmes
Savannah High School:  Katina V. Hardy-Parker
Windsor Forest High School:  Denise Robider

Alternative Sites

Alternative School at Scott:  ReGale T. Bing-Gardiner
Coastal GA Comprehensive Academy:  Michael K. Heyman
Savannah Corporate Academy:  Donald Robinson
Early College:  Todd Campbell
Woodville Tompkins Technical Career Institute:  Sharon B. Stallings