Georgia College education graduates are making their mark on local schools – winning Teacher of the Year in Baldwin, Bibb, Jones, Putnam and Wilkinson Counties. All six finalists in Baldwin were Bobcats, along with a finalist in Bibb for assistant principal of the year.
 
"It is not surprising that so many of our graduates are selected as Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year. We have outstanding programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels that prepare future classroom teachers and school leaders who are ready to make a difference in children’s lives,” said Dr. Joseph Peters, Dean of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education.
 
The five alumni Teachers of the Year are:

Angela Robinson, a fifth grade social studies and language arts teacher at Wilkinson County Elementary School in Irwinton. She graduated from Georgia College in 1997 with a BS degree in Early Childhood Education.

LeeAnn Robinson, a kindergarten teacher at Blandy Hills Elementary School in Milledgeville. She graduated from Georgia College in 2000 with a BS degree in Special Education.

Dominique Nichols, a 10th grade teacher and chair of the Language Arts department at Westside High School in Macon. He graduated from Georgia College in 2013 with a Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Education.

Jennifer Holland, a third grade teacher at Dames Ferry Elementary School in Gray. She graduated from Georgia College in 1998 with a BS degree in Early Childhood Education.

Jonathan Deen, an American Government and U.S. History teacher at Putnam County High School in Eatonton. He graduated from Georgia College in 1995 with a BS degree in History.
 
Georgia College was chartered in 1889 as Georgia Normal and Industrial College with a mission to prepare teachers, Peters said. The university continues to honor this tradition today by providing high-quality education for teachers, who enter the workforce and significantly impact communities they serve.
 
Georgia College’s education program received several high rankings this fall. The Early Childhood program was ranked fourth in the country by Teacher.org and in the top 10 percent nationwide by the National Council on Teacher Quality. The university’s secondary education program was rated best in the nation for affordability by Guide to Online Schools.
 
Only five percent of schools studied by NCTQ incorporated a mentor experience into teacher education curriculum. Georgia College’s mentoring program is the key element to its success, said Dr. Holley Roberts, interim chair for teacher education.
 
Roberts was a first grade host teacher, when Jones County winner Jennifer Holland worked as a student in her classroom at Gray Elementary. As a developing teacher, Holland displayed a passion for making a difference, Roberts said.
 
"We are pleased that our graduates are making significant contributions to the children they teach. We believe the preparation they receive at Georgia College has a positive influence on their teaching and student learning,” she said.
 
Byron Wellman, school and community relations coordinator for Baldwin County, said Georgia College students have made an “incredible impact” in local schools. All six finalists for Teacher of the Year in Baldwin were Georgia College graduates.
 
“The caliber of teachers that we've received from Georgia College & State University has been truly exceptional,” Wellman said.
 
Georgia College alumni played a “critical role” in Baldwin County’s success in recent years, according to Dr. Sharon Hunt-Simmons, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. They helped raise graduation rates by 20 percent and improved test scores. Winner LeeAnn Robinson was chosen because of her “tireless commitment” to building relationships, taking risks and being innovative, Hunt-Simmons said.
 
The other five finalists for Baldwin County Teacher of the Year are Almuni Elizabeth Hawkins, ’12, '16, who works with exceptional kindergartners and first graders at Eagle Ridge Elementary School; Desiree King, ’97, who works with exceptional eighth graders at Oak Hill Middle School; Elisa Koehler, ’91, who teaches fourth grade at Midway Elementary School; Pam Longino, ’96, who’s the media specialist at Baldwin High School; and Stephanie McMillan, ’00, who teaches first grade at Creekside Elementary School.
 
Alumna Stacey Bennett – who graduated from Georgia College in 2002 with a master’s degree in Business Administration – now works at Howard High School in Macon. She was a finalist for Bibb County’s Assistant Principal of the Year, a contest sponsored by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.
 
District winners will now compete for the state’s Teacher of the Year recognition, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education.