With surprise visits on Tuesday, Aug. 15, Richmond County School System’s Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bradshaw announced the five finalists for Teacher of the Year, and congratulated them with balloons and flowers.
Finalists include: Terri Green, Lawanda Lovett-Cunningham, Tawanda Marbury, Sanqual Sampson and Andrea Smith.
Green is a science teacher at Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School who has worked with Richmond County for 13 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Paine College, a Master of Arts in teaching with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction from Augusta State University, and a Tier I Certification in Leadership from Augusta University. She is also currently enrolled at Grand Canyon University to pursue an education specialist degree.
Lovett-Cunningham is a special education teacher at A. Brian Merry Elementary School, and has taught in the county for three years. She has been a teacher for over 14 years, and holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Morris Brown College and a Master of Arts in Christian counseling from Luther Rice Seminary and University. She also has a Master of Arts in teaching with a concentration in special education and received her Doctor of Education in special education from Walden University.
Marbury teaches second and third-grade students in the Early Intervention Program at Barton Chapel Elementary School, and has worked with the county for six years. She holds an associate degree in childhood development from Southern Union State Community College, a Bachelor of Science in early childhood development from Kaplan University, and a Master of Education in elementary education from Grand Canyon University.
Sampson is a kindergarten teacher at Jenkins-White Elementary who has worked with the school system for 11 years. She is a Richmond County School System alumna who graduated from the Academy of Richmond County High School in 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in child and family development from Benedict College, a Master of Education in early childhood development and an education specialist degree in curriculum development from Nova Southeastern University.
Master Sgt. Smith leads the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at Glenn Hills High School, and has been a teacher for nearly eight years. Prior to her teaching career, Smith held various roles in the United States Marine Corps for over 20 years. She holds an associate degree in liberal arts from St. Leo University, and a bachelor’s degree in social psychology from Park University. She also received her Master of Education from Trident University International.
The Richmond County Teacher of the Year will be named during a banquet on Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center beginning at 7 p.m.
