Teacher Of The Year Finalists Announced For Forsyth Schools

CUMMING, GA — On Friday, Forsyth Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden surprised seven teachers to announce that they are a finalist for Teacher of the Year.

Bearden and school administration made a special visit with a congratulatory gift to announce this special honor for each teacher.

The finalists were selected from among Teachers of the Year at each Forsyth County school, which were announced last September, after undergoing a written and classroom video observation.

They will go before a committee comprised of community leaders and educators for interviews later in February. The winner will be announced at the “Celebration of Excellence” event on Thursday, March 10.

The seven finalists include:

• Cumming Elementary School: Susan Bennett
• Susan Bennett teaches ESOL at Cumming Elementary School, where she began her teaching career in 1997 and has also taught kindergarten and second grade. She received her bachelor’s degree from The University of North Georgia.

• Mashburn Elementary School: Patti Phillips
• Patti Phillips is the STEM teacher at Mashburn Elementary School. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia and her master’s degree from Mercer University. Phillips' teaching career began in Forsyth County in 2018.

• Poole’s Mill Elementary School: Bethany McClurkan
• Bethany McClurkan is a second-grade teacher at Poole’s Mill Elementary School, where she joined the inaugural staff in 2020. She received her bachelor’s degree from Samford University, her master’s degree from Piedmont College and her specialist’s degree from Piedmont College. McClurkan joined the Forsyth Schools family in 2012.

• South Forsyth Middle School: Catherine Swartz
• Catherine Swartz teaches eighth grade ELA at South Forsyth Middle School, where she began teaching in 2018. She received her bachelor’s degree from Columbus State University and her master’s degree from Georgia State University.

• Vickery Creek Middle School: Michael Cheek
• Michael Cheek is an eighth-grade math teacher at Vickery Creek Middle School. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and his master’s degree from Valdosta State University. Cheek’s teaching career began in Forsyth County in 2009.

• Forsyth Central High School: Paul Mallalieu
• Paul Mallalieu teaches math and social studies at Forsyth Central High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Toccoa Falls College, his master’s degree from Georgia Southern University and is currently pursuing his specialist’s degree at Jacksonville State University. Mallalieu began teaching in 2009 and came to Forsyth Schools in 2018.

• South Forsyth High School: Katie Urbanovitch
• Katie Urbanovitch is a marketing teacher at South Forsyth High School and joined the Forsyth Schools family in 2011. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and her master’s degree from the University of Georgia.