Woodstock Educator Named Ga. Teacher Of The Year Finalist

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Woodstock Middle School math teacher has been named one of the finalists for the 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year award. Stephanie Vidrine is among 10 educators in the running for the statewide prize, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced Tuesday.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 applicants; all had been previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges made up of teachers, previous Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.

“It will certainly be a difficult decision for our panel of judges to choose who should be the 2019 Teacher of the Year," Woods said. "It is evident upon meeting each finalist that they treat education as more than just a profession -- it is their calling. It is my honor to meet each of them as they all are obviously dedicated, quality educators."

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Finalists met with a panel of judges for a formal interview and gave speeches during a finalist luncheon April 16. The winner will be announced on May 19. The 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia. He or she will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The 2019 finalists are:

• Shaylen Dixon, third grade, Peachtree City Elementary School, Fayette County Schools
• Dr. Doug Doblar, fourth and fifth grade mathematics and science, R.D. Heard Elementary School, Gwinnett County Schools
• Allison Kerley, third grade, Barnwell Elementary School, Fulton County Schools
• Dr. Stefan Lawrence, English, George Washington Carver High School, Muscogee County Schools
• Nancy Rogers, English, Thomas County Middle School, Thomas County Schools
• Maleah Stewart, speech-language pathologist, North Forsyth Middle School, Forsyth County School
• Ike Thompson, English/gifted, Veterans High School, Houston County Schools
• Melanie Thompson, science, Georgia Academy for the Blind, State Schools
• Stephanie Vidrine, mathematics, Woodstock Middle School, Cherokee County Schools
• Kayla Yeargin, mathematics, Troup High School, Troup County Schools

Photo 1: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower leads Stephanie Vidrine's class in applauding her selection as the CCSD 2018 Teacher of the Year.

Photo 2: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, left, poses with Cherokee County School District 2018 Teacher of the Year Stephanie Vidrine and Shottenkirk Automotive Group – Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton General Manager David Booth.

Photo credits: Cherokee County School District