This story from Mark Rice at the Ledger Enquirer
The 2020 Teacher of the Year in the Muscogee County School District will be selected from one of the 56 nominees announced Wednesday.
MEEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educational excellence by focusing on teachers who are innovative and exceptionally effective. In its 24-year history, the foundation has awarded more $2.6 million to such educators through the Teacher of the Year and Harvard Fellows programs and other grants.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Allen: Penelope Osborn
Blanchard: Hae Jin Kim
Brewer: Pashion Cooks
Britt David: Lisa Seegar
Clubview: Lara Lasseter
Davis: Chelsea Dial
Dawson: Anissa Alvarado
Dimon: Kathryn Kemp
Dorothy Height: Michele Gore
Double Churches: Jamie Hagan
Downtown: Lawanda Lovett-Cunningham
Eagle Ridge: Shannon Hopkin
Forrest Road: Deborah Wall
Fox: Misha Frander
Gentian: Ann Hancock
Georgetown: Evelyn Graddick
Hannan: Mekiko Ford
Johnson: Joanne Wilson
Key: Jeneka Bennett
Lonnie Jackson: Lucretia Ringer
Martin Luther King Jr.: Tanisha Hemingway
Mathews: Tammy McBee
Midland: Jennifer Bussey
North Columbus: Kellie Henderson
Reese Road: Sicily Coleman
Rigdon Road: Dominique Scott
River Road: Lisa Elliott
South Columbus: Deirdre Howell
St. Marys Road: Carrie Abercrombie
Waddell: Tara Lewis
Wesley Heights: Mendy Maynard
Wynnton: Brandy Crosby
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Aaron Cohn: Rachel Fahnestock
Arnold: Nichole Glozier
Baker: Ma’Shanda Burch
Blackmon Road: Stacy Jenkins
Double Churches: April Davis
East Columbus: Dell King
Eddy: Courtney Hudgins
Fort: Alexis Wright
Midland: Heather Jay
Richards: Deborah Rhodes
Rothschild: Sandra Hardeman
Veterans Memorial: Mollie Hoffman
HIGH SCHOOLS
Carver: Mario Nazien
Columbus: Karlyn McConnell
Hardaway: Kaveh Felfeli
Jordan: Amittia Smith
Kendrick: Willie Washington
Northside: Chelsie Rogers
Shaw: Felicia Gunn
Spencer: Tomacia Johnson
OTHERS
AIM (alternative school): Edna Murray
Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts: Kelley Taylor
St. Elmo Center for the Gifted: Meredith Urquhart
Woodall Center (special education): Wendye Melzar
SELECTION COMMITTEE
Retired educator Tom Hackett, formerly Phenix City Schools superintendent and Columbus State University provost, is chairman of the 2020 MCSD Teacher of the Year selection committee. Other members are:
Carl Brown, insurance broker, owner of C. Brown & Associates
Bridget Downs, assistant dean for community outreach at CSU
Rita Ellis, managing partner at Key 2 Wall Street
Spencer Garrard, retired CSU education professor
Melanie Gouine, 2018 MCSD Teacher of the Year
Donovan Granville, district manager for Social Security Administration
Sheryl Green, 2015 MCSD Teacher of the Year
Shane Larkin, 2017 MCSD Teacher of the Year
Bridget Markwood, education consultant
Marquette McKnight, CEO of Media, Marketing and More, executive director of MEEF.
Ty Webb, water resource engineer at Barge Design Solutions.
IF YOU GO
What: Muscogee County School District 2020 Teacher of the Year gala.
When: May 7, 6 p.m. reception, 6:45 p.m. dinner, followed by the announcement of the winner.
Where: Columbus Convention & Trade Center ballroom, 801 Front Ave. Tickets: $50, on sale starting March 21 at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts box office, 900 Broadway.
(706) 322-4244
