Your typical day in the classroom doesn’t involve balloons, celebratory signs, and a photographer and film crew. However, Nov. 9 wasn’t a typical day for these teachers who learned that they were among the six finalists for the district’s 2021 Teacher of the Year honor.
Congratulations to these honored teachers:
Lena Alonso of Lilburn ES—Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grade 5)
Katie Blum of Sugar Hill ES—2nd Grade Teacher
Kelley Donovan of Coleman MS—Humanities Teacher (Grade 6)
Julianne Purnell of Five Forks MS—Health Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Philip Peavy of Paul Duke STEM HS—Cybersecurity and Game Design Teacher (Grades 10-12)
Danielle Swaby of South Gwinnett HS—Work-Based Learning Teacher (Grades 11 and 12)
The finalists were selected from a group of 25 semifinalists honored last month. The TOTY contest began with a field of 139 local school TOTYs named Oct. 2.
For the six finalists, the next step includes interviews and classroom observations by a selection committee made up of former TOTYs, administrators, and central office staff. Level winners and the county Teacher of the Year will be announced at a special event on Dec. 10.
Stay tuned!