Barnwell Educator Named Fulton's Teacher of the Year

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- On Wednesday, the Fulton County School System named its top employees for the 2016-17 school year.

These honorees include the 2017 Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, School Professional of the Year and Support Professional of the Year – at surprise back-to-back ceremonies.

Special recognition banners and other gifts of appreciation were presented to the honorees by their principal or supervisor. Superintendent Jeff Rose, Deputy Superintendent of Academics Rob Anderson, school board members Julia Bernath and Katha Stuart joined in for the surprise as well as family members and other special guests.

Allison Kerley of Barnwell Elementary School was announced as Fulton County Schools’ Teacher of the Year while Dr. Ritu Ahuja of Northwood Elementary School was announced as the district’s Principal of the Year.

Additionally, Rebecca Myers of Holcomb Bridge Middle School is the School Professional of the Year, and Yolander Heard of the Administrative Center is the Support Professional of the Year.

The announcements stem from the system’s efforts to recognize exceptional employees who contribute to the success and mission of the school system. Each year, every school and administrative support building is invited to nominate outstanding employees based on teacher, staff and parent input. These employees are then evaluated a second time through an application/essay review and interview, and one finalist is announced from each of Fulton’s geographic Learning Communities – Central, Northeast, Northwest and South. The Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year nominees also undergo a school visit to demonstrate their leadership and classroom skills.

A formal recognition gala, the Legacy of Excellence, will be held in the fall. This event will celebrate the accomplishments of these honorees as well as those of other employees of the year who were selected by their local school communities.

2017 Teacher of the Year – Allison Kerley of Barnwell Elementary School

Everyone in Allison Kerley’s life knew that she was going to be a teacher – everyone except her, that is. She always knew that she wanted “a life with purpose,” as she puts it, and thought it would happen through being a graphic artist where creativity centered around technology.

But while she enjoyed the opportunities that college path gave her, such as the chance to study abroad, Kerley knew that something was lacking. She fell in love with the world but felt like she was doing nothing to change it, so she returned home and went a different direction.

“I switched majors to elementary education, got my first job teaching, and the rest is history,” she said. “By becoming a teacher I am now doing something great with my life. Something with passion and creativity. Something that is changing the world! I am fulfilling my purpose every day of my life.”

Kerley taught at Shakerag Elementary School for four years before joining the third-grade team at Barnwell Elementary School this year. By teaching, Kerley believes she is helping others find their purpose.

“Purpose is the foundation for student motivation, engagement, behavior and joy," she added. "When parents, educators, and community members visit my third grade classroom, their biggest take-away is always the level of student ownership of learning that comes from understanding one’s purpose."

As Fulton County Schools’ 2017 Teacher of the Year, Kerley has a message for her peers: “As educators, we accomplish the impossible every day. The incredible bond we have with each student gives us pride and elation as they soar to new heights as well as the sorrow and heartbreak that occasionally comes when they fall a bit short. They are always more than just students. They are our kids. While children may represent our collective future, it is equally important to value their present as well. Rather than just focusing on the big picture, let’s not forget to celebrate the beauty, innocence, and gift that is childhood in each of our students.”

“Additionally, we realize that ultimately it is not about us, it is about them. It is our mission to help each of them find their own path both academically and in life in general,” she says. “We accomplish this through stimulating a lifelong passion for learning and by creating a collaborative environment both within the classroom and its interaction with the outside world. When provided empowerment, nurturing, and support, we realize that most of our students will set higher expectations upon themselves than we would have otherwise place upon them.”

Teacher of the Year Nominees

• Central Learning Community – Jessica Foster, Dunwoody Springs Elementary School
• Northeast Learning Community – Allison Kerley, Barnwell Elementary School
• Northwest Learning Community – Adam Hardigree, Elkins Pointe Middle School
• South Learning Community – Kimberly Johny, Westlake High School

Principal of the Year – Ritu Ahuja of Northwood Elementary School

Northwood Elementary School Principal Ritu Ahuja believes that all students should be lifelong learners while having a strong foundation in self-responsibility, respect and service to others.

“I can produce a lifelong learner if I can teach a student to be confident in his/her ability to tackle life’s problems and to accomplish any task encountered," she states. "That means being not only college and career ready, but being life ready. At Northwood we encourage student leadership and community involvement. I want all my students to know that they are not the most important people in the world. In a world of instant gratification, they need to know that ‘service before self’ can produce more happiness for them, and a better world for others.”

Dr. Ahuja, who became Northwood’s principal in 2010, began her educational career as a special education teacher in India. After teaching in Cobb County for two years, she joined the Fulton County School System in 2002 as a special education teacher at Hembree Springs Elementary and later became a curriculum support teacher and then the assistant principal at Northwood.

“My vision is to develop students who understand that they have a stake in this country and that they must consider the needs of their fellow citizens in everything they do in order to maintain a system that allows them to meet their own need,” she says. “Students need to be able to work together for the good of the whole. They must understand that they have a responsibility to their fellow student, neighbors, and countrymen.”

Principal of the Year Nominees

• Central Learning Community – Dr. Lateshia Woodley, McClarin Success Academy
• Northeast Learning Community – Dr. Ritu Ahuja, Northwood Elementary School
• Northwest Learning Community – Mary Robson, New Prospect Elementary School
• South Learning Community – Ronald Maxwell, Creekside High School

2017 School Professional of the Year – Rebecca Myers of Holcomb Bridge Middle School

Being an administrative assistant with the responsibilities of an assistant principal, Rebecca Myers is constantly going above the call of duty. She serves as the school’s sixth-grade administrator and its science lead, and is responsible for the implementation of her school’s personalized learning initiative where tablets and other technology devices are used to leverage student learning.

Myers joined Holcomb Bridge two years ago and before that taught at Autrey Mill Middle School as an eighth-grade science teacher. Before that, she taught science in North Carolina and Massachusetts.

A believer in the Fulton County Schools motto, “Where Students Come First,” Myers is motivated in doing what is best for children and by helping teachers succeed in the classroom.

“I take the time to develop meaningful and authentic relationships with the staff and the students through collaboration, trust, and transparent communication," she added. "I inspire, support, and empower both teachers and students to achieve their highest potential to ensure student success. I would like to think that when I am gone, what I have established will remain and guide others to grow both professionally and individually. I love what I do and I am here for the students and the teachers.”

School Professional of the Year Nominees

• Central Learning Community – Sara Good, Ridgeview Charter School
• Northeast Learning Community – Rebecca Myers, Holcomb Bridge Middle School
• Northwest Learning Community – Detra Miles-Burrell, Independence High School
• South Learning Community – Maria Camargo, Campbell Elementary School

2017 Support Professional of the Year – Yolander Heard of the Administrative Center

Yolander Heard sets a customer service example that uses positivity, professionalism, hard work, and integrity as its core principles. Serving in a specialist role for the Fulton Education Foundation, she supports the fundraising work of the organization, such as the “Fore Kids” Golf Classic, and plans, designs, and executes events that bring recognition to students and district employees, such as the Legacy of Excellence that celebrates employees of the year and school business partners, Fulton’s Finest luncheon for bus drivers, and The Next Chapter retirement dinner.

“I enjoy hearing how an event made people feel valued, appreciated and celebrated," Heard said. "It pleases me when they acknowledge the amount of work and details that went into making the event successful and they know our pure motivation is wanting to spread love, encouragement to the staff as well as our students. Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughs…yes, this is definitely my favorite.”

Heard has worked with Fulton Education Foundation for the past eight years, and with her cheerful demeanor, has become one of the most recognizable faces of the department.

“Leading is all about influence," she continued. "How you present yourself in a leadership role affects your ability to successfully leverage authority and motivate others. I want to inspire people and Fulton County Schools to greatness – one person at a time."

Support Professional of the Year Nominees

• Academics – Cathy Manning Thomas
• Financial Services – Olga Etris
• Information Technology – Dennis Brubaker
• Operations – Irving “Ray” Stegall
• Superintendent’s Office – Yolander Heard
• Talent – Tiffany Gleason
• Transportation – Laura Lietch
• North Maintenance – Berndt Griner
• South Maintenance – Willie Ways

Photo 1: Teacher of the Year celebration

Photo 2: School Professional of the Year recognition

Photo 3: Principal of the Year surprise

Photo 4: Support Professional of the Year honor

Photo credits: Fulton County School System