The wait is over! Lee Allen was named as the district’s top teacher at the annual Teacher of the Year (TOTY) recognition event on Dec. 7. Mr. Allen, an Algebra I teacher at Archer HS, was named 2022 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year (TOTY) as well as the High School Teacher of the Year. Jamie Garcia Caycho, a 1st grade teacher at Arcado ES, is this year’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Taniesha Pooser, who teaches orchestra at Berkmar MS, is the system’s TOTY at the middle school level.
As Mr. Allen accepted his award, he acknowledged how the pandemic and societal divisions have had an impact on teachers and other staff, saying, “Now’s a hard time to work in education.” However, he encouraged the audience, his colleagues in the classroom, parents, and community members to find common ground and do what is best for kids. “We must all pull together in the same direction to provide a world-class education for our students,” he said.
The other three Teacher of the Year finalists were Kelly Powell of Puckett’s Mill ES, Jenny Stark of North Gwinnett MS, and Erin Thompson of Brookwood HS. The six finalists were chosen from among 25 semifinalists.
This year’s event was held in the Board Room, transformed for the evening with colorful balloons and festive lighting to reflect the “Shine” theme. The district rolled out the red carpet for the TOTY semifinalists and their guests who attended the celebration in person. The ceremony also was live streamed by GCPS TV so staff and community members could watch, including the local school TOTYs who were chosen as representatives by their peer. (All 139 TOTYs got a shout out during the evening.)
For Mr. Allen, the road to the classroom and his TOTY honor began with a global recession, a lucrative but unfulfilling job in IT, and a willingness to change careers in order to help others. He became a teacher because he longed to make a difference in the lives of students and student athletes. “Nothing can compare to the feeling of knowing that you have directly impacted a student who will go on to be a great influence in the lives of others,” he says.
Mr. Allen is passionate about math and finds creative ways to engage students and get them to enjoy math. “I do my best to make mathematics relatable to my students,” he says. “I do this by making math meaningful with real-world applications and incorporating social-emotional learning as part of my lessons, group activities, and classroom norms. I even recorded a couple of math rap song videos starring myself which the students really enjoyed.”
A first-generation college graduate, Mr. Allen chooses to work with students who may struggle with math because he believes that’s where he can make the most impact. “I work to empower students to overcome the achievement gap by modeling that they can improve their lives through hard work and perseverance, no matter their income level, race, nationality, or family background,” he says.
Mr. Allen says that he can do his part to support student success by helping his students “learn to learn” and solve problems, modeling empathy, and encouraging grit and perseverance. “Equipping students with the ability to learn and problem solve sets them up for long-term success beyond the classroom,” says Mr. Allen. “Depending on the student, success could mean learning a trade, working to serve others, or earning an advanced degree. Whatever the outcome, an individual will be more successful when they have perseverance and are equipped with the knowledge of how to learn.”
Mr. Allen began his teaching career as a math teacher at Northwest Whitfield HS in 2014. He joined GCPS in 2019, teaching Algebra I, Sheltered ESOL Algebra I, and Pre-Calculus at Archer HS.
Mr. Allen earned his bachelor’s degrees in Risk Management and Insurance and Sports Management from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia College and State University. Currently, he is pursuing a specialist’s degree in Teacher Leadership from Valdosta State University.
Congratulations, Lee Allen!
2022 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year
and High School Teacher of the Year
About our level winners…
2022 Elementary School Teacher of the Year Jamie Garcia Caycho
Arcado’s Jamie Garcia Caycho selected elementary-level winner
Congratulations to Jamie Garcia Caycho, Gwinnett County Elementary School Teacher of the Year!
Mrs. Garcia Caycho and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in search of opportunities and a better life. Supportive and encouraging teachers helped ensure that she could realize her potential and follow her dreams of becoming a teacher to help children and their families.
“The American dream is still alive and teachers have a key role in helping their students’ dreams become realities,” she says. “My story is only one example of this, but there are countless more of how teachers positively impact students’ lives. Teachers make a difference.”
Mrs. Garcia Caycho believes learning is meaningful when it connects to her 1st grade students’ lived experiences. She says, “My goal is to help students make those connections so that learning extends beyond the classroom walls and stays with them for future applications and learning experiences.”
Mrs. Garcia Caycho takes pride in an instructional workshop for Spanish-speaking parents she created five years ago that has made a big impact in the community. According to Mrs. Garcia Caycho, “That small idea is now a thriving parent-outreach program that has led to increased student achievement and parental involvement in school. This past year, I was awarded a prestigious Teach On Project grant which will allow me to add a bilingual family reading program to it.”
Mrs. Garcia Caycho began her teaching career in 2014, and has spent her entire career at Arcado ES as a 1st grade teacher. She earned a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Gwinnett College, a master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University, and a specialist’s degree in Teacher Leadership from Mercer University.
2022 Middle School Teacher of the Year
Taniesha Pooser
Berkmar’s Taniesha Pooser honored as MS TOTY
Congratulations to Taniesha Pooser, Gwinnett County Middle School Teacher of the Year!
In her orchestra classroom at Berkmar MS, Mrs. Pooser uses music to help students learn the building blocks of a successful life. “Music education…creates a natural bridge to learning opportunities that transcend the classroom,” she says. “My class reinforces the use of 21st-century skills such as teamwork, creativity, critical thinking, and self-discipline.”
Mrs. Pooser is committed to making sure her students feel connected and valued. She explains, “I ask my students questions about their lives and point out our similarities to build their bonds. I intentionally create activities that allow students to speak about their experiences and connect with each other’s shared experiences to build community.”
Our MS TOTY started her GCPS career at Berkmar MS in 2017 as an orchestra teacher. Prior to joining the Berkmar team, she taught orchestra at Longleaf MS in Columbia, S.C. Mrs. Pooser serves as a GCPS lead teacher for orchestra and values the opportunity to support other teachers as she creates professional development sessions, writes instructional materials for her colleagues, and mentors novice educators.
“I shine because my students are in a safe place where they can flourish, make mistakes, inquire, build confidence, think creatively, and express themselves through music-making,” she says.
Mrs. Pooser has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in Education from Columbia College, a specialist’s degree in Music Education from Piedmont College, and an Educational Leadership certificate from Kennesaw State University.
Watch the Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony, airing daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. from Dec. 13 through Dec. 19. Programming is available on the GCPS TV app for Apple, Android, Amazon Fire, and Roku devices, and on the GCPS TV web page at gcpstv.org.