County/District Level Teachers of the Year
2010
Vicki Thigpen & Supt. Mike Newton
(B.S., Early Childhood Education, 1997)
Mrs. Vicki Thigpen received the teacher of the year award for 2009/2010 Jones County. Currently she is a teacher at Clifton Ridge Middle School.
2009
Jack Steed Angela Heath Maj. Polly Peyer
Angela Heath, Perry High School English department chairperson, was named the Air Force Association (AFA) 2009 Teacher of the Year by the Carl Vinson Memorial Chapter. She was presented the award by Major General Polly Peyer and Jack Steed with the AFA at the annual awards luncheon held at Robins Air Force Base.
The AFA Teacher of the Year award recognizes classroom teachers for their accomplishments and achievements in exciting students about science and math and preparing them to use and contribute to tomorrow's technologies. This award recognizes teachers who are furthering excellence and making coming to class an adventure. Perry High's Col. Craig Lightfoot nominated Heath for her incorporation of technology into the classroom. Ms. Heath earned her Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia College in 2009.
Chuck Claxton.jpg&imgrefurl=http://baldwin.schooldesk.net/STAFF/OHMSTeacheroftheYear/tabid/944/Default.aspx&usg=__Lalbfxvdq27ENF37urDzijhcUsc=&h=468&w=640&sz=49&hl=en&start=1&sig2=UOuIsCOZGtEpJlNBs6vJDg&um=1&tbnid=eETjxj_0sUEUNM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3DChuck%2BClaxton%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2RNTN_enUS329%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=5ZYeSsjHEZ3fmQfzrd25Bg)
Mr. Claxton was named Baldwin County Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009. This is the second time he has been named systemwide teacher of the Year. He was named Teacher of the Year at Boddie Middle School and at putnam County Middle School, and in 1997 was named Baldwin County Teacher of the Year.
Saundra Pope
Ms. Pope received Putnam County's Distinguished Educator of Exceptional Children Award for 2008-09. She currently teaches 2nd grade inclusion at Putnam Elementary. Saundra earned her M.A.T. in Special Education from GCSU in 2008.
2008
Alan Bowers 
Mr. Bowers won the Houston County Teacher of the Year for 2008. Mr. Bowers was in Kevin Crabb's MAT cohort. He teaches U.S. history, American government and geography. According to Bowers, the most challenging thing about teaching is "combating student apathy when it comes to motivation and success. However, this is a good problem to have because it keeps the teachers sharp. If this were a challenge that was was easy to overcome, the art and science of education would not be a worthwhile pursuit."
Joan Martiny (Geza's wife) was honored with the 2008 Teacher of the Year Award from Baldwin County. She graduated from GCSU in 1978 and also received her M.Ed. from Georgia College in 1986. In addition to this award, Mrs. Martiny has received the Carver Elementary School Teacher of the Year (1984), the Davis Elementary Teacher of the Year (1989), the Baldwin County Teacher of the Year (1989), and the Baldwin County Cluster Teacher of the Year Award, (2007).
Patsy Crosby won the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year Award from Wilkinson County. She earned her Ed.S. from GCSU. Currently Ms. Crosby teaches Consumer Science at Wilkinson Middle School
Patty Wells
Patty Wells (left) is congratulated by Jones Country Board of Education member Deloras Moon
Ms. Wells was selected as the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year from Jones County. She teaches at Clifton Ridge. Mrs. Wells earned a bachelor's, specialist, and a master's degree from Georgia College & State University. Wells' initial training was in biology, and she has taught science at various grade levels throughout her career.
2007
Karen Mitcham
Ms. Mitcham receives award from LeBrun
Ms. was named Jones County Teacher of the Year, 2006-2007.
Dr. Rita Thomas
Dr. Thomas was selected Teacher of the Year for Putnam County 2006-2007. She earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood at GCSU in 1999. Currently she is the Media Specialist at Putnam County Elementary School.
Rita Thomas Union Recorder Article
Amanda Tarpley Yarbrough received Laurens County's "Exceptional Children's Professional Excellence Award" for 2007. Out of the nine schools within the district, Amanda was voted the top SPED teacher. She was a graduate of the GCSU Early Childhood master's program in 2007 and earned her B.S. in Special Education from GCSU in 2003.
Nicole Chambers Brewer 
Ms. Brewer (Middle Grades Alumna, Cohort 2002) was awarded the Houston County Teacher of the year Award for 2006-2007. She teaches seventh grade at Thomson Middle School.
2006
Leslie Poythress received first Teacher of the Year Award from Jones County, 2005-2006.
Paige Barlow
picture by Alexander Cain / The Union-Recorder
Ms. Barlow was selected as Teacher of the Year from Putnam County for 2006. She earned a B.S. in Art Education at GCSU.
Article in October 14, 2006 Union Recorder
2004
Lianna Nix
,
Ms. Nix (Alumna, Cohort Class of 2001 & Early College teacher) was selected
middle School Teacher of the Year for Jasper County.
Amie Renfroe Harrison (Alumna, Cohort Class of 2002) received the Program for
Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year for Wilkinson County for 2004.
Susan Hendley Stone (Alumna, Spring 2000 Special Education Cohort) has been named Special Education Teacher of the Year for 2004 in Jasper County Schools. Susan, who also completed her graduate study in Education Leadership at GCSU, is the daughter of Dr. Tish Seay.
2003
Stacy Sanders (Alumna Spring 2000 and GCSU Valedictorian ) was named Special Education Teacher of the Year in Laurens County, 2003. She is a teacher at East Laurens Middle School.
Cindy Hall Crew (Alumna Spring 1988) was named Teacher of the Year for Cherokee County Schools in January 2003. She is a teacher at Bacomb Elementary, Woodstock.
Regina Brookins (Alumna, Spring 1999) was named Teacher of the Year for Johnson County, 2002-03. She is a special education graduate who teaches students with mild intellectual disabilities.