At the April 9th Board of Education meeting, each school's Teacher of the Year will be recognized.  The meeting officially begins at 5:30 p.m. with executive session, and recognitions are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  This meeting will be in the newly renovated Monroe County Schools Auditorium.  Congratulations to each Teacher of the Year!  Teachers of the Year are pictured with Monroe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman (top, center); Assistant Superintendents Alicia Elder and Jackson Daniel (top row);  MP Principal Dr. Jim Finch, MCMS Principal Dr. Efrem Yarber, TGS Principal Dr. Richard Bazemore, HES Principal Jay Johnston, and KBS Principal Becky Brown.  Teachers of the Year are Lauren Griffin, Mary Persons High School; Daphene Coleman, Monroe County Middle School; Karen McClellan, T. G. Scott Elementary; Kera Davis, Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary; and Candice Lewis, K. B. Sutton Elementary.

Meet Kera Davis, the Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School Teacher of the Year.  She is a fourth grade teacher.  We are featuring each Teacher of the Year as we near the TOTY recognitions at the Tuesday, April 9 Board of Education meeting to be held at the newly renovated MCBOE Auditorium.

 

Please share your personal education history. Where did you grow up? Where did you graduate from high school? Where did you go to college? What degree(s) earned?

What is a funny memory or story you can share from your teaching experience?

Every year on the Aquarium trip, I always have a kid say something funny. This year, we had a student yell out that he saw a "limo" on the highway as we were stuck in McDonough traffic. We had to kindly explain to him and several other students that it wasn't a limo, but a hearse.

How long have you been teaching and what have your teaching assignments been? (Grades and/or subjects taught.) How long have you been a part of Monroe County Schools? Have you taught anywhere else as well?

If you could provide one piece of advice to new teachers, what would you tell them?

Take time for yourself! As my church family says - you can't pour from an empty container. Teaching can be stressful and time-consuming, but it's important to find time for the things you enjoy and for your family.

 

What does it mean to you to be chosen as teacher of the year for your school?

It is a huge honor to be chosen as Teacher of the Year for Hubbard Elementary. I work with an incredible group of teachers and couldn't ask for a better "work family" than the one I have. I am humbled that they feel I was deserving of this award when it could have easily been so many others at our school.

 

What's your favorite memory involving your teaching?

I love taking my fourth graders to spend the night at the Georgia Aquarium each year. It's the best field trip and I look forward to it every year. It's an eye-opening experience when I have students who have never seen skyscrapers in Atlanta or even stepped into the Georgia Aquarium. I love being able to give my students that opportunity every year and it's always a memorable trip for different reasons.

What's the most challenging thing about teaching?

What's the most rewarding thing about teaching?

The most rewarding thing about teaching is hearing from past students about the differences I made in their lives. I love getting emails and notes from past students letting me know where they are now and what they are doing.

 

Was there a teacher or administrator who influenced your occupation choice?

Although I didn't have her as a classroom teacher, I would say my mom influenced a lot of my decision to become a teacher.

 

Share about your family and your life outside of school. Hobbies? Interests?

I met my husband, Martin, at UGA and we have been married for 4.5 years. We have a 1.5 year old son named Everett and are expecting a little girl at the end of April. I love to golf, bake, spend time crafting, and spend time with my family. My mom teaches 2nd grade at KBS and my dad is the 911 Director for Monroe County. I have 3 younger siblings - Destiny, Trevor and Trinity. Destiny is a graphic designer in Atlanta, Trevor manages my parent's business in downtown Macon, and Trinity will graduate from Mary Persons this year.

 

What does the future hold for you in education?

Congratulations to these students and their sponsors!  These projects now move on to state competition which will be held in Macon on May 3.  Winners at the state level will be recognized at the May 10 Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to all of our participants! 

Title	Student Names	School	Grade(s)
Amelia Earhart	Zoe Oglesby & Emily Grant	MCMS	7
China's History	Madelyn Causey	MCMS	8
Adventures of South Africa	Lawson Harris, Jordan McCord & Brandon Alford	MCMS	8
Wash Your Hands	Hunter Hudson, Hunter Buice, Janiya Gilbert	MPHS	10
Giving Tuesday	Hailey Watson and Sidney Briner	MPHS	12
Planets	Hayes Oakes	TGS	K
George Washington Carver	Ethan Floyd, Jacob Redus, Exie Ivey	HES	1
Journey of the Worms	Naudia Brown, Nix Dayton, Amy Franzen, Na'Kiyah Jones, Andrew McDonald, Owen Phagan	HES	3
The Best Part of Me (Davis)	Bo Perry, Cotdy Banks, Makayla Banks, Celia Hanson, Isabella Zellner, Zayden Meadows, Moriah Hoover, Brayson Jones	HES	4
The Best Part of Me (Arp)	Josiah Bowden, Jordan Singleton, Brooklyn Soesebee, Shandi Lassor, Annsley Robinson	HES	4
Rainbow Unicorn	Brynley Bennett	KBS	1
The Unique Platypus	Alanna Wood & Lauren Daniel	MCMS	7
Escape for Alcatraz	Ella Magda & Emma Fox	MCMS	7
Laundry Time with Katie and Richard	Katie Rockhold and Richard Gibbs	MPHS	10
All About Alysen	Alysen Smith	MPHS	12
How to Make Slime	Miayanna Johnson and Seanteria Johnson	MPHS	12
Best Buddies Promo	Zach Butler	MPHS	12
Basketball: My Favorite Sport	Paton Graham	TGS	1
MGA Cheer	Sara Saunders, Morgan Moore, Kenady Holliman	TGS	3
Classroom Nouns and Verbs	Mrs. Ford's First Grade Class	HES	1
People of the Past	Kiyan Bouie, Bay'lei Harris, Sophia Jones, Emanuel Thomas, Alyssa Waldrup, Rogers Wooten, Ja'lyiah Zellner	HES	2
My Favorite Animal	Olivia Crews	HES	3
I am George Washington	Ryker Bogulski, Makayla Shannon, Kassady Milan, Sophie Collins	HES	K
We Use Math	Charleigh Bennett, Landon Costlow, McKinzley Kent, Sophia Larrick, Landon Mimbs, Alena Roberts, Brooklyn Traylor, Jordan Venable, Otto White	HES	K
When I Grow Up	Mrs. Cawthon's Kindergarten Class	HES	K
Stem Careers	Allyssa Decker, Ella Every, Brayden Hart, Camryn Miller , Ava Cochran, Dalton Fisher	KBS	3
Commercial for Five Kingdoms	Tristan Sikes	KBS	5
Korean Noodle Cooking	Imsuksri Napat and Setthong Kawinet	MPHS	10
Anti-Bullying PSA Flixx	Brianna Rountree, Lily Ann Rivers, Tanner Sanders, Chris Martin	MPHS	10
WBL Informational Video	Seth Walker and John James	MPHS	12
Broadcast Journalist	Sidney Briner, Jimbo Finch, Anna Hightower	MPHS	12
Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.	Josiah Zellner	TGS	1
How to Be Strong	Fisher Horton, Ansley Harris, Joshua Robinson, Jackson Brown	TGS	2
Hogwarts Digital Breakout	Carolyn Goode, Sydney Cowart	TGS	4
Endangered Animals: Will We Ever?	Caroline Rusgrove, Olivia Waits, Joriya Knight	HES	3
I Love My School	Bella Grace Sanders	HES	3
Should Kids Brush	Journey Maurice	KBS	1
God's Gifts	Ellianna Scott	KBS	5
What is Dance?	Camilla Renfroe	TGS	1
Choosing the Best Path	Pen Pal Club of TGS	TGS	3
The Life of Deborah Sampson	Marlee Berlin, Hannah Huff, Carolyn Goode, Evelyn Watson	Gifted	4
Snack Madness	Traveona Brown	HES	3
Hubbard's Hydroponics	Floyd Duke, Makayla Harvel, Kaiden King, Jalen McCord, Ian McMillian, Jeremiaha Navarro, Kymarah Scott, Zoey Shannon, Jupiter Sparks, Thomas Tatum, Arianna Watts, Kody Upright	HES	5
Planets	Georgia Griffin, Tripp Hallman, Isabella Futch, Lisa Lundy	KBS	3
Paris	Heather Hulsey, Quincy Moore, and Destiny Hudson	KBS	4
Whitewater Rafting	Sophie Brown	KBS	5
Day in the Life of Susan LIttle	Kylee Lindberg, Lily Clark, Abby Childs	MPHS	11
Weather Forecast	Jimbo Finch and Seth Walker	MPHS	12
Testing Circuits with Circuit Board	Landon Oakes	TGS	2

Monroe County Special Olympics took to the Mary Persons Track on Friday, March 29 for competition, fellowship, and fun.   

 The Forsyth-Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe County Board of Education hosted a community open house for the newly renovated Central Office, the original 1929 Mary Persons High School.  With new windows replacing the originals, new floors, heating and air renovations, and more, the building looks outstanding. 

 

 

Students should always treat other students with respect and follow the same rules that must be followed in the classroom.