Nash-Rocky Mount heralds Teacher of the Year

Tuesday night was all about the cream of the crop at Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools.

The school district paid tribute to 29 of its outstanding educators at the annual Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Awards celebration held at Rose Hill Conference Center.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson said recognizing teachers and principals is important because of the harsh economic times.

“Anytime that we can celebrate the good work that’s going on in our classrooms is an outstanding time for us in public education,” Jackson said. “I’m extremely proud of our teachers and the work they do. I’m extremely proud of our school system.”

After Director of Personnel Victor Ward read off each of the names, alma maters and years of experience of the 28 teachers selected by their peers as teachers of the year, Jackson announced Marie Mullins from Parker Middle School as the 2011-12 Teacher of the Year.

“I love what I do, and I have loved it since the day I entered my first classroom,” Mullins said. “It was a dream of mine.”

She said students come to teachers wanting to learn, regardless of the problems they may have at home or school.

“I’ve had awesome principals and awesome students, and I love all of them,” she said. “All of our students can learn. We have to believe in them.”

Mullins left the celebration with the keys to a brand new 2012 Honda Civic LX presented by Davenport Honda, a business that has provided a new car for the teachers of the year for the past five years.

She and fellow Teacher of the Year finalists, Tina Brown-Moore from Cedar Grove Elementary and George Bischoff from Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School, received hand-carved crystal apples, personal laptops courtesy of Hospira and $1,000 checks to be used in their classrooms from Wachovia Bank.

Northern Nash High School Principal Michael “Chip” Hodges was selected as Principal of the Year and also received a laptop.

Both Hodges’ and Mullins’ names will be added to the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools teacher and principal of the year plaques at the school district’s central office.

Source: Rocky Mount Telegram