Bartow County Teacher Of The Year Finalists Announced

BARTOW COUNTY, GA -- Three educators have been named finalists for the 2017-18 Bartow County School System's Teacher of the Year honor. Debra Prendergast, Heather Carter and Leslie Nix are in the running for the top prize, which will be announced later this year.

While these humble and modest educators from Pine Log Elementary School, Woodland Middle School, and Woodland High School, respectively, would most likely prefer not to be in the spotlight, the Bartow County School System "believes in celebrating those whose positivity and passion inspires and cultivates an insurmountable level of success that can be felt throughout the community," it said in its press release.

Debra Prendergast’s third-grade students at Pine Log Elementary School say it best: “She walks into our classroom with a smile on her face every single day and has done so much for us. She teaches the best lessons ever and is always focused.”

Principal Lenora Nyeste calls Prendergast “one of the school’s most dedicated educators.” She serves on the Pine Log Building Leadership Team, the Building Capacity committee, district level curriculum development and the School Improvement Team.

Prendergast said her ability to relate to children defines her as a teacher. She believes overcoming personal challenges early on in life equipped her with the tools she needs to help students from all walks of life at Pine Log Elementary School (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

If you walk into Heather Carter’s science class at Woodland Middle School, it is not hard to see why her students are more than prepared for high school and beyond. Carter has developed what she calls “Success Skills.” They include eye contact, respect, confidence, and the ability to speak in complete sentences with the appropriate volume. When answering questions, or giving presentations, Carter requires students to stand, address their audience and use Success Skills to answer.

Former students say this daily exercise enhanced their public speaking skills. Current teachers at Woodland Middle School boast about Carter’s constant ambitious and positive attitude, saying it is infectious to the entire school culture.

“While academics is the stronghold of our system and should always be placed first, I hope to inspire the incorporation of pure kindness into everyday routines,” Carter states.

Leslie Nix, a veteran math teacher at Woodland High School, is an overwhelming student favorite, according to those who know her best. She builds authentic, lasting relationships with her students, often attending their extracurricular activities just because they asked her to. Nix does not ignore those additional, unwritten duties that come along with being an exceptional educator.

“We are mentors to those children who need guidance, protection and advice," Nix stated. "We are role models for those who do not have anyone to look up to. We are a sense of security for students after they make mistakes. We are encouragers to those giving into the frustration after repeated failure, and we are cheerleaders in those moments of success, no matter how small.”

Nix’s selflessness can be summed up with a quote from her husband, Kevin.

“After 9 p.m. she looks like a little bird in a nest of papers, notebooks, computers, scissors, glue sticks, construction paper, calculators, pencils, and pens," he said. "I don’t just mean every once in a while. I do mean every single night of her life. Rarely does she go to bed before midnight.”

The 2017-18 award winner will be announced Nov. 8 at the Bartow County College and Career Academy.

Photo 1: Debra Prendergast

Photo 2: Leslie Nix

Photo 3: Heather Carter

Photo credits: Bartow County School System