Shikara Willis, a fifth grade English and language arts teacher at C.T. Walker Magnet School, was ecstatic over her win as Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year.
“I am extremely honored to be selected as Richmond County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year,” said Willis as she held back tears. “For 19 years, I have been a service to children. I have come in contact with more than 1,000 children — that’s over 1,000 opportunities to make a positive impact on a child’s life, and I pray that I have done that. As much as I have taught them, I have also learned from them. I have learned what it means to be resilient, how to start each day with a grateful heart, but most of all I’ve learned to love unselfishly.”
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Willis received the award Thursday at downtown’s Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center and thanked many people including the county, her husband and family, the administration and students.
Prior to the announcement of which finalist won the award, Richmond County’s Board of Education President Charlie Hannah shared some words of inspiration.
“We gather tonight to honor some of the system’s finest and most dedicated educators. They have earned their colleagues’ respect and admiration and have shown they have a passion for keeping the candles burning- for each child, given a bright light, can lead them through the darkest and most treacherous paths of their future,” said Hannah.
The 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year Vicki Knox then shared a heartfelt poem, titled “Heart of a Teacher” by Paula J. Fox, with the audience.
“‘Her goal isn’t just to teach knowledge by filling the box with more parts; it’s putting the pieces together to create a work of art,’” she said.
Earlier in the ceremony, Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bradshaw recognized and congratulated the county’s Teachers of the Year with an honorary plaque.
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“Congratulations to all the Richmond County School System Teachers of the Year. We are proud of each of you; your peers consider you, your worth, the best of each of our schools,” said Bradshaw. “People say things like, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ … as excellent teachers you are accomplishing planting seeds in our students – seeds of confidence, seeds of hope, seeds of knowledge, seeds of learning, seeds of creativity, seeds of imagination, seeds of growth, seeds of progress and seeds of opportunity … Our students are our seeds.”
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Following some video presentations of the five finalists, Bradshaw and Knox then proceeded to make the long-awaited announcement of who won the honorable title.
Ending the ceremony, Chief Human Resources Officer Cecil Clark shared some closing remarks on behalf of the county.
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“Last year, we had the top ten teachers in the entire state. We have talent in our district, so thank you all for all that you do in our district,” said Clark.
After the ceremony, Bradshaw said some words of encouragement to Willis and spoke to his pride at her passion for educating.
“I think she is an awesome teacher, and it’s just an honor to have her working in one of our schools,” he said. “She gives so much to her students and we’re just looking forward to her representing our school system to the state of Georgia.”
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Bradshaw advised Willis to continue to be herself throughout her year as the county’s representative and said she is doing “a phenomenal job.”
Willis will go on to compete for state Teacher of the Year in February of 2023 and said she was most looking forward to serving the county and its students.
“Oh my gosh, it felt awesome – amazing. I felt it within my heart but there was still some uncertainty there,” said after hugging her husband with a smiling face. “So it’s just a really great feeling to be appreciated and recognized.”
Willis’ former principal of six years from C.T. Walker, Aletha Snowberger, and many others shared exchanges of happiness at Willis’ success and winning of the award.
“[I’m] extremely proud and not surprised because she is amazing. She makes her classroom like home; every child she treats like she would treat her own child,” said Snowberger. “She learns what makes every kid tick then uses that to help the learning be meaningful.”
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
