Teacher of the Year to be named
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 16, 2015 1:50 AM
Wayne County Public Schools will announce the district "Teacher of the Year" at a banquet Tuesday evening at Lane Tree Golf Club and Conference Center.
Three finalists for the honor have been announced, representing each of the grade levels.
Holly Medlin, a fourth-grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School, is the reigning Teacher of the Year. She has 17 years of teaching experience -- 12 spent at her present location. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from East Carolina University.
Grantham Middle School fifth-grade teacher, Angela Joyner, is middle grades Teacher of the Year. She has been at Grantham for four of her 24 years in the profession. She holds a bachelor's degree in middle grades education with concentrations in English, language arts and social studies.
Steven Thorne, technology education-engineering teacher at Charles B. Aycock High School, represents the high schools as Teacher of the Year. He is an alumnus of CBA and holds a bachelor's degree in industrial technology/drafting and design from East Carolina University. He has 21 years of teaching experience, all at Aycock.
The district Teacher of the Year program is part of its national counterpart that has been in place for over 50 years. The winner goes on to compete in a regional competition.
Since 1970, North Carolina has participated in the Teacher of the Year program to recognize the state's most outstanding educators.
Principals of the three finalists praised their candidates, saying that each possesses the necessary qualifications and characteristics to represent their peers and the school system in the competition.
"Mrs. Medlin works tirelessly to plan lessons that are rigorous, relevant and engaging," said Robert Yelverton, principal at Northeast Elementary. "While she values the importance of basic skills, she allows her students to be creative through research projects, interactive technology and small group collaboration.
"She is also an advocate for her students and always seeks to contribute and collaborate to improve policies and programs that enhance student achievement."
Lisa Tart, principal at Grantham credited Mrs. Joyner with exposing her students to a variety of literature while assisting them in making personal, text-to-text and text-to-world connections.
"All lesson plans are focused on building literacy, developing social skills, integration of technology, extending cultural awareness, involving students in peer- and self-evaluations and goal-setting," she said.
"Her steadfast commitment, humility, loyalty, passion and positive impact on students set her apart from the majority of educators."
Thorne's principal, Dr. Earl Moore, shared that the educator's classes were in "high demand" because of the popularity and emphasis on STEM, science, technology, engineering and math. In recent years, the school has gone to a lottery drawing for classroom sports, he said.
"Both inside the classroom and outside in the community, Mr. Thorne's Project Lead the Way Program is recognized through the projects his students have built and demonstrated, including a hovercraft, a PVC car, solar panels and other fun projects."
The WCPS "Teacher of the Year" will receive a $5,000 travel/study stipend, a $1,500 check and the opportunity to compete against other candidates from districts in the region. The two finalists will receive a $4,000 travel/study stipend.