Memorandum from Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D. District 3  School Board Member marykaymurphy@aol.com

November 12, 2009

Teacher of the Year: 
Heart and Soul of Our Schools 

For the 30th consecutive year, Gwinnett County Public Schools celebrated excellence in the teaching profession by honoring local school Teachers of the Year and celebrating the selection of the six finalists in the 2010 Teacher of the Year Awards program. 

At the celebration program, held at the Gwinnett Civic Center, three Teachers of the Year level award winners were announced and the 2010 Teacher of the Year was identified. 

“Creativity, flexibility, and commitment are the hallmarks of great teachers,” noted Gwinnett CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks. “Exceptional teachers also have high standards, embrace accountability, and use sound instructional practices. As educators they have exhibited all of these characteristics. 

“That, coupled with their prevailing attitude of excellence, has helped them attain a level of success not reached by many. They find joy and satisfaction in serving the children of this country, and they express it through the quality-plus instruction they deliver in the classroom. Each day, they demonstrate how dedicated, caring, and effective te4achers inspire classroom learning, and, more importantly, lifelong learning.”

District III in Gwinnett County includes all public schools in the Norcross Cluster, in the, Duluth Cluster, and two schools in the Peachtree Ridge Cluster. Selected as Teachers of the Year in District III for 2010 include the following: 

Beaver Ridge Elementary School Maria Green 
Berkeley Lake Elementary School Anne VanGalder 
Chattahoochee Elementary School Sally Southerland 
Chesney Elementary School Kerry L. Smith 
Duluth High School Gregg L. Tavani 
Duluth Middle School Jennifer C. Burley 
GIVE Center West Mary Jordan Southerland 
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Dr. Chuck Lockert 
Science, and Technology

Harris Elementary Faye W. Edwards 
Hull Middle School Cindy Davis Dziwura 
Mason Elementary School Shay Buchanan 
Monarch School Andy Clinansmith 
Norcross Elementary School Maria Oliver 
Norcross High School James Glenn 
Peachtree Elementary School Erin Walch 
Pinckneyville Middle School George Robert Evans 
Simpson Elementary School Elaine Chou 
Stripling Elementary School Shamika Simpson 
Summerour Middle School Rawson Gordon II 

Two of the six finalists in the 2010 Teacher of the Year celebration are from District III schools. They include: 

Dr. Chuck Lockhert - Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and 
Technology’ 
Mr. James Glenn – Norcross High School 

“I believe in treating students as adults,” stated Dr. Lockert, “I do this by showing respect, being honest and straight-forward, demonstrating hard work and dedication to excellence, modeling lifelong learning, and exhibiting self-motivation. All of these traits go a long way to overcoming all challenges in life…” 

Dr. Lockert holds a B.S. in Physics from North Georgia College and a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in Ocean Engineering and Civil Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology. Also, Dr. Lockert has five years of education experience, all in Gwinnett County Public Schools. 

Mr. James Glenn, a history teacher at Norcross High School, holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Florida. A master’s degree in Secondary Education from Piedmont College; and a specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. 

“What we do as teachers is important,” Mr. Glenn noted. “The profession deserves a commitment from each individual to pursue quality. I continually strive to improve through professional development, practice, and reflection… We need to instigate enthusiasm in order to foster continued improvement.” 

Three level winners were selected from among the six finalists. These included Mr. Mark Laudtroop of Winn Holt Elementary School; Ms. Deborah Stringfellow of Crews Middle School; and Mr. James Glenn of Norcross High School. 

From among the three level winners, Ms. Deborah Stringfellow of Crews Middle School was announced as the 2010 Teacher of the Year. 

Congratulations to all 2010 local school Teachers of the Year. 

Additional congratulations to each District III Teacher of the Year. 

And most special congratulations to Mr. James Glenn of Norcross High School, selected from among Gwinnett County Public Schools’ 18 high schools, as 2010 Teacher of the Year at the high school level. 

“We express our appreciation to you,” noted Superintendent Wilbanks. 

“We honor the 2010 Teachers of the Year because each has embraced excellence—for themselves and for their students—by continually striving to achieve at higher levels. 

“Teaching is part of their hearts and souls; and they are the heart and soul of our school system.”

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