Monday was the first day of American Education week and marked the 15th year the foundation has been choosing teachers who have made a special impact on their students and colleagues.

Carrie Voss, a second grade teacher at G.O. Bailey Primary School, was one of those teachers.

Voss said she loves motivating the children and seeing them “so excited.”

“Anything we can say to encourage them is good,” Voss said. “You have to find that little thing about them that makes them special.”

Voss is in her fifth year of teaching and serve as the school’s grade chairman and coordinator of special activities.

“She is an excellent leader and other teachers respect her,” said G.O. Bailey Principal Diane Lane. “She has so many good qualities, including being a great organizer and planner.

“She is very modest and hardworking.”

Other teachers tapped Monday include: Hope Vance, a fourth grade teacher at Omega Elementary K-6; Rhonda Brewer, a fifth grade teacher at Matt Wilson Elementary; Jan Flynt and Terri Gruman, kindergarten teachers and Michelle Price, a third grade teacher, at Annie Belle Clark Primary School; Heidi Burns, a first grade teacher at Len Lastinger Primary School; Barbara Boggs, a seventh grade math teacher at Eighth Street Middle School; Susan Sheffield, a second grade teacher at Northside Primary School; and Lynne Cook, an agriculture teacher at Tift County High School.

Every year the Foundation asks students, faculty and the general public to write letters explaining why they believe a teacher deserved to be recognized.

Mike Brumby, TCFEE executive director, said that the TCFEE board sifts through the letters and compiles and files them before casting a secret ballot on who should be chosen. The award is not limited to classroom teachers. Any school staff member is eligible for the award.

The teachers will be presented with a plaque and a check for $250 at a banquet sponsored by the Tifton Rotary Club.



To contact city editor Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.