MOULTRIE, Ga. — An educator with more than two decades of teaching under her belt was named the Colquitt County Teacher of the Year in a ceremony Thursday evening.

Ann Horne, who teaches physical science at C.A. Gray Junior High, received her school’s teacher of the year award for the first time, although she’s in her 23rd year of teaching.

“I try to show my students as much as I can about the world around them and how they can make a difference in it,” Horne said. “Science is a great platform for that, as everything in our lives is related to what we talk about every day in class.”

C.A. Gray Principal Frederick Smith expressed pride in Horne’s performance.

“Dr. Horne is what a teacher should strive to become and that is: pushing themselves to always be a lifelong learner in their area of instruction, while continually searching for methods of practice that will meet the needs of their learners,” Smith said.

Horne received her associate’s degree in agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She earned her bachelor’s in agriculture education from the University of Georgia, and she went on to earn her master’s degree in agricultural education and her doctorate of education in curriculum and instruction, both from Oklahoma State University. Additionally, she is also certified in gifted, science, social science and special education.

In addition to Horne, finalists for the award were Rita Wills of the GEAR Gifted Center and Rebecca Sizemore of Sunset Elementary.

Wills, a math teacher at GEAR, is in her 25th year in education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Georgia Southwestern College and her master’s in early childhood education from Valdosta State University. Wills has also received her gifted and math endorsements. This is her third time being named her school’s teacher of the year.

Sizemore, a third grade teacher at Sunset, is in her 22nd year of teaching. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Georgia College. She has earned her reading endorsement and is working toward her gifted endorsement. This is her second time being named a school teacher of the year.

Each school’s teacher of the year will receive a $200 bonus, the finalists will receive an additional $200, and the district Teacher of the Year will receive another $200, for a total of $600. Horne also received additional prizes from Commercial Banking Company and Jostens Thursday.

Other school teacher of the year winners included:

• Sandra Hill, a special education teacher at the Colquitt County Achievement Center.

• Palisa Harris, a Spanish teacher at Colquitt County High School.

• Maggie Davidson, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Cox Elementary School.

• Ronica Reid, a kindergarten teacher at Doerun Elementary.

• Lisa Kennedy, a third grade teacher at Funston Elementary.

• Karen Gould, a media specialist at Hamilton Elementary.

• Katie Sumner, an interventionist at Norman Park Elementary.

• Jebb Cato, a second grade teacher at Odom Elementary.

• Kathryn Simpson, a third grade teacher at Okapilco Elementary.

• Tami Thompson, a first grade teacher at Stringfellow Elementary.

• Alisha Montgomery, an art teacher at Willie J. Williams Middle School.

• Hannah Cato, a kindergarten teacher at R.B. Wright Elementary.