Sheila Barnes, a 7th and 8th Grade Gifted Science at Arnall Middle School, and Steve Quesinberry, a World and Vietnam War History at Newnan High School, were chosen as finalists by 2008 Teachers of the Year along with Brown.

Board of Education Vice-Chair Sue Brown conducted the April 21 program at the Centre, which was sponsored by the Board of Education and the Newnan Pilot Club. Brown and her fellow board members, along with Pilot Club President Sandi Parker and her club’s members, honored all 30 Teachers of the Year during the evening, in addition to announcing the 2009 Teacher of the Year.

Elm Street Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Carly Winstead has served as the school system’s 2008 Coweta County Teacher of the Year, and also honored her fellow Teachers of the Year.

Brown said she was inspired to teach by the example of her mother’s strength and by the value her mother placed on education. The fruits of that inspiration began early, as Brown was the first in her family to graduate as her high school’s valedictorian.

Brown earned a Bachelor's degree in mass communications from West Georgia College, a Master's degree in early childhood education from the University of West Georgia and is currently working towards her doctorate in educational leadership from Capella University.

In addition to teaching elementary school at Ruth Hill, Brown also worked as a GED instructor for West Central Technical College, and still spends two afternoons each week providing free tutoring to students after school, and sponsors the Jr. Beta Club at Ruth Hill.

“My philosophy of teaching is based on my belief that all children can learn,” said Brown. “I am a dream builder with a quest to improve the world, one child at a time.

Valerie Mathura – Brown’s principal at Ruth Hill – spoke admiringly of Brown as a teacher and leader in her school, as well as a person. “Her amazing strength as a teacher is replicated in her life as she supports an administrative educator husband, raises three daughters, and is completing a PH.D program.”

The 2009 Teachers of the Year from each school honored on April 21 were:

From elementary schools: Staci Culbreth, Music (Arbor Springs); Teresa Clements, 3rd Grade (Arnco-Sargent); Amy Sasser, 1st Grade (Atkinson); Lisa Wilson, 1st Grade (Canongate); Stephanie Golden, 3rd Grade (Eastside); Susan Collins, 2nd Grade (Elm Street); Renee Ward, Kindergarten (Glanton); Lisa Diebboll, 3rd Grade (Jefferson Parkway); Anne Nelson, Kindergarten (Moreland); Brandi Devine, 4th Grade (Newnan Crossing); Michelle Owens, 3rd Grade (Northside); Faith Wheeler, 1st Grade (Poplar Road); Angela Brown, 5th Grade (Ruth Hill); Karen Stacy, 5th Grade (Thomas Crossroads); Diane McHughes, 1st Grade (Welch); Rachel Stedham, 5th Grade (Western); Janet Angelo, 2nd Grade (White Oak); Lisa Anander, 1st Grade (Willis Road).

From middle schools: Sheila Barnes, 7th and 8th Grade Gifted Science (Arnall); Tammy Hyder, 7th Grade Science (East Coweta); Casey Pope, 6th Grade Language Arts (Evans); Jan Reyes, 8th Grade Math (Lee); Audrey Mallet, 8th Grade Literature/Language Arts (Madras); Gayle Butler, 6th Grade Science (Smokey Road); Gordon Callaway, Special Education and Literature (Maggie Brown).

From high schools: Scott Brown, Technology (Central Educational Center); Richard McMichen, Drama and Theatre (East Coweta); Steve Quesinberry, World and Vietnam War History (Newnan High); Robert Skinner, Social Studies and Psychology (Northgate High); Jill Davis-Collins, High School History and Civics (Winston Dowdell).

Teachers of the Year are selected by their peers for the quality of their teaching, professional development, teaching philosophies and methods, community involvement, and contributions to education.

The Coweta County School System is the only school system in Georgia with three county nominees chosen as Georgia Teacher of the Year, including Lorraine Johnson, Nancy Royal and Jamie Lipscomb. There have also been thirteen Coweta County semi-finalists for Georgia teacher of the year since 1986.

As Coweta County’s Teacher of the Year, Brown will also advance to be considered as next year’s Georgia Teacher of the Year.