The three finalists for the Colquitt County Schools 2011-12 Teacher of the year are, from the left Tammy Maxwell, Leslie King, and Karen Gould. King was chosen Teacher of the Year at a reception, on Tuesday evening, at Okapilco Elementary School.

The Colquitt County School system named Leslie King, second grade teacher at Cox Elementary School, as its 2011-12 Teacher of the Year on Tuesday evening at a reception at Okapilco Elementary School.

“I’m absolutely overwhelmed. It’s such an honor. I truly believe teaching is a group effort,” she said.

King was chosen from among 13 nominees: Tammy Maxwell of Colquitt County High School, Jennifer Hall of Doerun Elementary School, Michael Hall of Funston Elementary School, Kristyn Nelms of C.A. Gray Junior High School, Karen Gould of Hamilton Elementary School, Lori Lawhorne of Norman Park Elementary School, Susan Akridge of Odom Elementary School, Brennen Maxwell of Okapilco Elementary School, Charity Johnson of Stringfellow Elementary School, Sheila Miller of Sunset Elementary School, Nikki Smith of W.J. Williams Middle School and Amy Grobe of R.B. Wright Elementary School.

Eric Croft principal of Okapilco Elementary, welcomed everyone and thanked his staff for their contribution to the evening. He also gave the invocation and introduced Roy Reeves, school board chairman.

In his opening remarks, Reeves likened the Teacher of the Year Award to the Heisman Trophy. He gave a few of the qualifications of the Heisman and related them to the qualifications of a teacher of the year winner. He said they must come from a winning team, be a reliable and consistent player, and be able to overcome obstacles.

“While we award the Colquitt County Heisman to one winner, I’d like to say all of you are winners,” he said.

“It’s my honor and privilege to conduct a program that recognizes this year’s Heisman Trophy winner,” Superintendent Leonard McCoy said, continuing Reeves’ metaphor.

He told the nominees that they would each receive a plaque and $200 in Teacher of the Year Bucks, which would be in their December paycheck. He also told them that the three finalists would received an additional $200 and the winner would receive another $200 on top of that. This would give the Teacher of the Year a grand total of $600 in Teacher of the Year Bucks.

Next, he introduced the nominees and read a short biography for each individual, which included their thoughts on what teaching meant to them and they were presented their awards by Reeves.

“Now, let me introduce the three finalists — Tammy Maxwell of Colquitt County High School, Leslie King of Cox Elementary, Karen Gould of Hamilton Elementary,” he announced.

As the three nominees stood facing the audience, he read more of the winning nominee’s biography, “Our 2010 Teacher of the Year for Colquitt County Schools shares about her philosophy of teaching, ‘Teaching is an adventure that starts new every school year and every day…”

King started smiling as she recognized her words and when McCoy finished, he said, “May I present to you the 2012 Teacher of the Year — Mrs. Leslie King.”

King stepped up to receive her award from Reeves and then to the podium to speak. She said that when she was nominated she had to admit that she didn’t believe that it took just one person to teach. She said from the person who cleaned her classroom to the other school staff, these were the people who helped her teach.

“I thank my staff and everyone for this honor. I still think it takes a group of people to educate a child,” she said.

Special presentations to King were made by Daryl Barron of Windstream, who gave her a check for $500, and Scott Jernigan of Jostens, who gave her a ring box to represent the custom ring she would receive.

 McCoy then thanked the ones who made the reception possible including Windstream, Jostens, Moultrie Federated Guild, the Colquitt County School Nutrition Department and the Okapilco Elementary School Faculty and Staff.

“It’s great to be in the Colquitt County Schools,” he said in closing.

King is in her 18th year of teaching and currently teaches second grade at Cox Elementary. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Georgia and master’s and specialist degrees in early childhood education from Valdosta State University. She has furthered her education, receiving reading and gifted endorsements. She has added a middle grades certification in language arts, science and social science.

“From teaching at Cox, I see how many students need more than just ‘book sense,’ they need food, clothes, a place to sleep, and broadening horizons. Having students tell you that you helped them realize that they could succeed is the crux of my profession and the sum of my accomplishments,” she stated in her bio.

Finalist Maxwell teaches math at Colquitt County High School. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in middle grades education from Valdosta State University. She went on to earn gifted and advanced placement endorsements. This is her second time being named a school Teacher of the Year. She is now in her 21st year of teaching.

She shared in her bio, “It has always been my mission to provide those positive influences to the lives of all the children with whom I come in contact. I believe that outstanding teaching comes through building those personal relationships with students so that they know that you care about what is happening to them now and what is going to happen to them in the future. Teachers must care about their students.”  

Finalist Gould is the media specialist at Hamilton Elementary and is in her 24th year in education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and master’s degree in instructional technology with a specialty in media from the University of Georgia. This is her second time being selected as a school Teacher of the Year.

“When students walk through the door, I want them to feel the pull of the books. I want them to get excited about reading and the adventures that await them in the books. I want them to know that there is a vast amount of knowledge and information available through the books, reference materials, and computers. Together we can give students the support they need to become readers and have success in all academic areas,” she stated in her bio.

King is in the running for the Georgia Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in early spring of next year.