TIFTON —
Eleven local teachers were recognized and honored Tuesday night at the 22nd annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Banquet held at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. The late attorney Rob Reinhardt was also honored. The Tifton Rotary Club sponsored the event, which they have been doing for the past 20 years.
In November 2012, the 11 winners were surprised with the Excellence in Teaching award during a “tapping” by the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence. The foundation takes nominations and selects the teachers. They have been handing out the award to local teachers since 1991, says Mike Brumby, president of the foundation.
Each teacher received a framed certificate at the tapping last year. At Tuesday’s banquet, however, they each received a $250 check, along with a very nice plaque. The checks and plaques were presented by Superintendent Patrick Atwater; Tammie Smith, public relations director for the Tift County School System; Tammy Griffin with the TCFEE Board; and Frank Sayles, president of the Tifton Rotary Club and a TCFEE board member.
Griffin stated to the crowd, “Sit back as we honor you — our teachers of excellence.”
The following teachers were honored: pre-kindergarten teacher Alisha Bassett at the Tift County Pre-K Center (was unable to attend due to illness), music teacher Betsy Jones at Annie Belle Clark Primary School, third grade teacher Maria Hamill at G.O. Bailey Primary School, fourth grade teacher Ginger Harn at Charles Spencer Elementary School, Media Specialist Lauren Smith at Matt Wilson Elementary School, ESOL teacher Jan Kitchens at Omega Elementary School, first grade teacher Sylvia McWilliams at Omega Elementary School, social studies teacher Bobby Earls at Tift County High School Northeast Campus, marketing teacher Mike Beeman at Tift County High School, ROTC teacher Sgt. Darrell Purvis at TCHS and the late TCHS chorus teacher Chris Robinson (his wife, Kristi, accepted the award on his behalf).
Smith read synopses from parents, co-workers and students about each teacher before they stood to receive their plaque and check at the front of the room. Descriptive words such as “committed,” “rare jewel,” “giving” and “caring” were used. Atwater thanked Smith for her hard work in gathering the information.
He told guests that it was a good opportunity for the Tift County Board of Education to thank every individual in the room, including the Rotarians. Board members were present at the banquet. Atwater said that they are very grateful for the TCFEE’s support of education.
“We are blessed in Tift County to have good partnerships,” he stated.
He noted that members are only paid $50 a month for serving on the board of education. He stated that they didn’t choose to serve because of the money; they do it for the love of education and the students.
“We are exceptionally proud of you and your accomplishments,” Atwater told the winners. He also commented that his hat goes off to their spouses, friends, parents, etc. who hear about the challenges.
“Thank you for your continued support,” he added.
Past winners of the Excellence in Teaching award were also present at the banquet.
As a tribute to Reinhardt, Brumby spoke about how Reinhardt stood up at a TCFEE Board meeting in 1990 and proposed honoring teachers who are inspirations and make a difference in the local school system. Thus, the Excellence in Teaching award was established. After saying some kind words about Reinhardt, Brumby thanked him.
Also, guests enjoyed entertainment by Eighth Street Singing Company, which is under the direction of Pam McClellan at TCHS. During the banquet, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy gave the invocation for the night before guests helped themselves to a dinner buffet.
To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Pictured are the following teachers who were honored at Tuesday night’s 22nd annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Banquet held at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village: music teacher Betsy Jones at Annie Belle Clark Primary School, third grade teacher Maria Hamill at G.O. Bailey Primary School, fourth grade teacher Ginger Harn at Charles Spencer Elementary School, Media Specialist Lauren Smith at Matt Wilson Elementary School, ESOL teacher Jan Kitchens at Omega Elementary School, first grade teacher Sylvia McWilliams at Omega Elementary School, social studies teacher Bobby Earls at Tift County High School Northeast Campus, marketing teacher Mike Beeman at Tift County High School, ROTC teacher Sgt. Darrell Purvis at TCHS and the late TCHS chorus teacher Chris Robinson (his wife, Kristi, accepted the award on his behalf). Also pictured are Superintendent Patrick Atwater, Tammy Griffin with the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence Board and Frank Sayles, president of the Tifton Rotary Club and a TCFEE board member. Not pictured is pre-kindergarten teacher Alisha Bassett at the Tift County Pre-K Center. Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette
Teachers recognized with special banquet
- Local News
-
-
Downtown Farmer's Market opens Saturday
The Downtown Development Authority has announced the 2013 opening of the Downtown Tifton Farmer’s Market May 18 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The market, located on the platform of the historical Tift Terminal Railway Museum, will feature the new streetscape including enhanced landscaping, new sidewalks for easy accessibility and so much more.
-
TCHS seniors named 2013 Georgia Scholars
Two Tift County High School seniors have been honored as 2013 Georgia Scholars by the Georgia Department of Education. Masoom (Amy) Chainani and Sara Johnson. They are among only 115 seniors in the entire state who have qualified for this honor, which has extremely strict criteria.
- Police report for May 17
-
Benefit this Saturday
A benefit cookout for Hope Ministries of Ashburn will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Crossroad Choppers located on Highway 82 West, across from LOCOS, in Tifton. Crossroad Choppers is sponsoring this event.
-
Commissioner seeks help for crime watch on southside
Tift County Commissioner Melissa Chevers, with help from the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, is hoping to implement a Neighborhood Crime Watch group on the south side of Tifton.
-
‘Major challenges’ ahead for farm bill, but Ga. Peanut Commission optimistic
Georgia Peanut Commission Chairman Armond Morris spoke at a press conference held at the Commission Thursday afternoon regarding farm bill progress made this week by the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Agriculture. The House Agriculture Committee has approved a five-year, $500 billion farm bill on a 36-10 vote.
-
UGA Tifton Campus funding approved
When Gov. Nathan Deal signed the budget recently passed by the Georgia state legislature, a long-awaited renovation project for the University of Georgia Tifton Campus was finally moved forward.The budget includes $4.7 million for the renovation of the Tift building on the UGA Tifton Campus. The building, which has been vacant for years, will eventually house administrative offices as well as offices for key support personnel and new scientific positions. - Police report for May 16
-
Health fair this Saturday
The third annual “Pump up the Volume in a Healthy Way” Community Health Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Tift County Recreation Department multi-purpose building located at 401 Victory Drive N. This event is being provided by Tift County, Tift County Recreation and Tift Regional Medical Center and is free for all ages of the community.
-
Argument leads to shooting
A Tifton man has been arrested after allegedly shooting another local man in his side in the chest area, says Det. Terry Allen and Sgt. Dorminey McCrae with the Tifton Police Department.According to an incident report filed at the TPD, at approximately 9:40 p.m. Monday, Tift County 911 advised all units they received a report of a shooting at a residence in the 1100 block of South Park Avenue.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
