Teacher Of The Year Finalists Named For Cherokee Schools

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School District surprised on Feb. 16 four teachers with the news they are finalists for the 2022 Teacher of the Year award.

Superintendent Brian Hightower visited their classrooms with balloons, flowers and the announcement that they were selected by the judging committee as the finalists.

The finalists are: Cherokee High School science teacher Jon Gustin; Hickory Flat Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Gina Haggerty; Little River Elementary School art teacher Emily Mickel; and Sequoyah High School math teacher Andrew Oberlies.

“Congratulations to our finalists, and thank you to all of our teachers for their continued dedication to excellence,” Hightower said. “The four finalists we celebrate today are the best of our best. I’ve read their applications and letters of recommendation, and there are common threads: deep subject knowledge, outstanding instruction, willingness to take on new challenges, mentoring peers, and, above all, how much they truly care about their students. As one student wrote in her letter, her teacher ‘is always there to help me.’ Thank you for being the helpers we all look for in life.”

The four finalists – two selected from all elementary school-level winners and two from all middle, high and centers honorees – were selected by a committee of retired educators, community leaders and the current Cherokee Schools Teacher of the Year. Their selection was based on essay answers to questions about their careers and their views on teaching and education, and letters of recommendation from principals, colleagues, students and parents.

The overall winner will be announced during the Legacy Makers celebration this spring. They will represent the school district in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.

The Legacy Makers banquet, and the prizes to be awarded to all the honorees, are made possible by presenting sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton. Additional financial and in-kind sponsorship opportunities are available; interested businesses and organizations are encouraged to contact Penny Dempsey at penny.dempsey@cherokeek12.net or 770-479-1871.

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