For a video recording of the ceremony, go to www.rockdalelive.com or click here.
Conyers, Ga. - Nicole Smith's eyes grew wide as saucers when she heard her name. But it wasn't until the school board Chairman and the Superintendent presented her with a bouquet of flowers and a congratulatory hug that the sobs began.
The Shoal Creek Elementary School second grade teacher was announced before a standing-room only crowd as this year's Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Teacher of the Year at the September 25, 2017 celebration held at Rockdale Career Academy.
"Oh my gosh," said a stunned Smith, as she wiped away tears and took a couple of deep breaths at the podium.
"First and foremost, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," Smith said. She accepted the award in the memory of her grandmother, who died last year. Smith later explained her grandmother, who was her biggest cheerleader, didn't have a high level of education and it was point of pride that her granddaughter was a teacher.
She thanked her husband of 25 years, Frank, her two adult sons - one of whom is a teacher at Edwards Middle and the other a State Court Clerk, her parents Fred and Lucy, her colleagues who mentored and inspired her, and her own second grade teacher, Mrs. Suggs. "I will never forget the day (Mrs. Suggs) told me that I matter, and so did my thoughts and ideas. I started to believe her because she believed me."
"I believe there are teachers in this room right now that will be remembered by their students in the same way. Someday, one of your students may be standing where I am to day, and he or she will mention you as the teacher who changed their life."
Smith has been teaching for eight years in second grade. She originally majored in accounting but after her own children were in school, she began working as a parapro in an elementary school. She said in an interview before the ceremony, “I just fell in love with the atmosphere. Helping kids to learn really appealed to me.” She went back and got a degree in early childhood education and master’s in curriculum and instruction.
“I love to come to work. It’s a challenge, you never know what’s going to go on that particular day. And that’s part of the excitement for me, being able to use the skills that I have to fill in those gaps and meet the child where they’re at."
"I honestly believe it’s a calling and it’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Smith now advances to the state-level Teacher of the Year competition.
Smith, along with finalists Seneathia Lewis of Conyers Middle, Dana Stone of Gen. Ray Davis Middle School (DMS), and school-level Teachers of the Year, were highlighted and honored at a red-carpet themed celebration honoring RCPS's teacher superstars. Honorees and their family and friend were greeted on a red-carpet walkway by a "paparazzi" played by photography students from Pine Street Elementary and Gen. Ray Davis Middle. During the ceremony speakers included last year's Teacher of the Year, Kim Sanderson of DMS, school board Chairman Jim McBrayer, RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry, and co-hosts Cindy Ball and Tim Hensely. Heritage High senior Amanda Lee and Salem High senior Demetrious Sampson gave standout vocal performances. Afterwards, attendees dined on a menu of beef kabobs, coconut shrimp, chipotle chicken cheese dip, handmade beef stroganoff, barbecue chicken, bruchetta, fruit and cheese, apple strudel and fruit parfait desert shooters, and more. Musical performance during the reception were provided by Cole Smith of Edwards Middle, son of the district Teacher of the Year winner Nicole Smith, and Angela Bobbitt of Gen. Ray Davis Middle.
This year, as part of the Strategic Compensation Model, all the school-level Teachers of the Year received $500. The district winner, Nicole Smith, received $1,000, which she will continue to receive every year as long as she is employed at RCPS.
The RCPS Foundation, represented by RCPS Foundation board member J. Middlebrooks, also awarded Smith $500 and gave $100 to the two other finalists.
This year's Teacher of the Year Celebration Platinum sponsors were: Cannon Financial Strategists, Georgia Power, Georgia United Credit Union, NuVision Financial, RCPS Foundation, and The School Box.
All the school-level Teachers of the Year received many wonderful items in their gift bags from sponsors including:
A plaque from Coca-Cola Bottling Company United
Gift items from –
•
Ameritas
•
Barnes & Noble
•
GA United Credit Union
•
Rockdale Medical Center
•
Simply Divine Communications
•
THP Printing
•
The Chocolate Box
•
Pore Potions
•
Rockdale County Autism Support Group
•
State Farm - Todd Shambo
•
United Community Bank
$5 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$10 gift certificate from Cowan Ace Hardware
$10 gift certificate from The Upper Hand Day Spa
$25 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$25 restaurant gift card from NuVision Financial
$50 gift card from The School Box
Finalists received all the above along with:
$25 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$50 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$100 gift card from Kroger
The district winner received all the above along with:
A gift basket from Belk
$25 gift certificate and a gift basket from The Upper Hand Day Spa
$50 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$50 Visa gift card from Fidelity Bank
$50 Shell Gas card from NuVision Financial
$100 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$100 gift card from The School Box
A One-hour massage from Rockdale Medical Center
For a video recording of the ceremony, go to
www.rockdalelive.com or
click here.
For photos from the evening,
click here or go to
facebook.com/rockdaleschools
2017-18 Teachers of the Year
Denise Baker, Lorraine Elementary School
Fatima Cheffen, Sims Elementary School
Ted Davis, Rockdale Career Academy
Shawana Green, Edwards Middle School
Simone Hudson, J.H. House Elementary School
Tyrone Huebsch, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
Genifer Keener, Pine Street Elementary School
Pernell Kirkland, Peek’s Chapel Elementary School
Michelle Levin, Hightower Trail Elementary School
Tia Litman, Salem High School
Dexter Oden, Memorial Middle School
Tonya Price, C.J. Hicks Elementary School
Morgan Pye, Barksdale Elementary School
Allison Randall, Flat Shoals Elementary School
Petria Redus, Rockdale Open Campus
Dr. Widza Robinson, Alpha Academy
Kathleen Ruff, Honey Creek Elementary School
Scott Wade, Heritage High School
Allison Yeomans, Rockdale County High School
Finalists for 2017-18 RCPS Teacher of the Year
Seneathia Lewis, Conyers Middle School
Dana Stone, Gen. Ray Davis Middle School
Nicole Smith, Shoal Creek Elementary School
Pictured below, left to right: The family of SCE teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith - husband Frank, Nicole Smith, sons Nic and Cole, father Fred.
Pictured: Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith gasps and covers her mouth as her name is announced and school board Chairman Jim McBrayer presents her with a bouquet of flowers.
Pictured: Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith stands at the podium as the live stream screen displays her name as the RCPS Teacher of the Year.
Pictured below: The parents of SCE Teacher of the Year and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith - Fred and Lucy.
Pictured below, left to right: Superintendent Richard Autry, Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith, school board Chairman Jim McBrayer.