GCPS Releases Teachers of the Year for Norcross Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools have released the educators who have been named Teacher of the Year (TOTY) at their school for 2012-2013.

Selected by their colleagues at their local schools, these dedicated educators are known for challenging and motivating their students to reach their full learning potential.

The teachers chosen at Norcross-area schools include:

, Tracy Pelinsky, 4th Grade Teacher

, Charles Hawk, Science Teacher (Grades 6-8)

(High School), Kristin Sokol, Mathematics Teacher (Grades 9-12)

(Middle School), Jennifer Cote, Health and Physical Education Teacher (Grades 6-8)

, Marieta Hamilton, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 10)

, Jackie Petree, Science Instructional Coach (Grades
   K-5)

, James Nebel, World History Teacher (Grade 10)

, Kimberly Farmer, Mathematics Coach (Grades K-5)

, Nikole Akande, 5th Grade Teacher

, Casey Pete, Mathematics Teacher (Grade 7)

Naming each school's Teacher of the Year is the first step in the district’s search for its 2013 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

The school system annually honors the commitment and devotion of its teachers during the annual Teacher of the Year recognition process that takes place each fall. This year’s 131 local school honorees will move into the next phase of the TOTY process as they are considered for the systemwide honor. Later this month, this group will be narrowed down to 25 semifinalists. From that group, six finalists will be chosen in mid-October. The annual Teacher of the Year banquet and the announcement of this year’s top teacher in Gwinnett County will be held on Thursday, November 1, 2012.

Here’s an overview of the selection process:

• Step 1: All teachers at each participating Gwinnett school nominate and vote for their local school Teacher of the Year.
• Step 2: The applications for all 131 school-level Teachers of the Year are screened and 25 semifinalists for the county-level are selected.
• Step 3: The 25 semifinalists’ applications are scored to determine the six finalists.
• Step 4: A selection committee-- made up of teachers, central office personnel, and administrators-- visits the classrooms of the six finalists and conducts thorough interviews with each educator. The committee looks for original teaching methods, studies the educator’s teaching philosophy, considers the influence the teacher has had on the teaching practices of his/her colleagues, and reviews any special class projects the teacher has initiated.
• Step 5: From the six finalists, the committee will select a Teacher of the Year for each level-- elementary, middle, and high. One of the level winners will be recognized as GCPS’ 2013 Teacher of the Year.

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