Hamilton STEM teacher named county’s Teacher of the Year
Published 6:00 pm Friday, November 8, 2019
- Teacher of the Year nominees from each school in Colquitt County include, bottom from left, Selena Henry, Kayla Jordan, Ricardo Martinez, Justin McDowell, Jennifer Merritt, Val Bell and Dottie Lott; top from left, Hayley Jarvis, Denver Dunn, Brandt Sims, Amy Yarbrough, Tami Thompson and Scott Moore; and not pictured, Mendy McCoy. Finalists were Martinez, McDowell and Merritt, with McDowell receiving the system's Teacher of the Year Award.
MOULTRIE, Ga. — Teacher Justin McDowell was selected for Colquitt County Teacher of the Year Thursday night at the 2019 Teacher of the Year event.
McDowell is a STEM/agriculture teacher at Hamilton Elementary School and is currently in his 15th year of teaching. He received an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Reading Education from Valdosta State University. He received his master’s degree in Post-Secondary Education and Foundations of Education from Troy University as well as an education specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University Online. McDowell has also received his gifted and STEM endorsements.
“It is my goal that all our students learn to grow and love agriculture through the outdoor classroom,” he said. “I know that I am having an impact on developing students who are critical thinkers-students who are able to collaborate with one another, and who will be productive leaders and positive role models for our future society.”
In addition to McDowell at Hamilton Elementary, winning teachers from each school were Denver Dunn of Colquitt County High School, Selena Henry of Cox Elementary School, Ricardo Martinez of Doerun Elementary School, Brandt Sims of Funston Elementary School, Mendy McCoy of GEAR Gifted Center, Kayla Jordan of C.A. Gray Junior High School, Jennifer Merritt of Norman Park Elementary School, Amy Yarbrough of J.M. Odom Elementary School, Val Bell of Okapilco Elementary School, Tami Thompson of Stringfellow Elementary School, Dottie Lott of Sunset Elementary School, Scott Moore of Willie J. Williams Middle School and Hayley Jarvis of R.B. Wright Elementary School.
The three finalists were McDowell, Martinez and Merritt.
The winning teachers from each school received $200 Teacher of the Year Bucks, which was deposited into their December 2019 paycheck. The three finalists received an additional $200, and the Teacher of the Year received another $200, bringing the total to $600 in Teacher of the Year Bucks. Each teacher also received a plaque to commemorate their achievement.
