Richard Woods, Georgia’s state Superintendent of Schools, visited Deer Chase Elementary School Wednesday morning.
The April 27 stop was to meet with math teacher Vicki Knox, one of 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year for 2023.
Woods arrived by helicopter and was greeted by Richmond County Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw.
Woods said this is the first time he has been able to visit with all 10 finalists at their schools.
“We have roughly 110,000 plus teachers in the state of Georgia. Now you’re here at the top 10. When you numerically add that up, it means that you’re not even in the top 1%, you’re in the top .0009%,” he said. “All the other candidates have similar stories when I come into the schools; people telling about the passion, their care about the students, just the love of teaching.”
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Knox said it is an amazing feeling to be one of the 10 finalists.
“Words can’t describe it. I’m just honored to be in that league of teachers,” she said. “As he stated all of the 10 finalists are outstanding teachers in their own right. So, to be a part of that group is just an esteemed honor.”
Woods used the visit to present Knox with the Distinguished Service Medal, an honor he bestows on all 10 finalists. He said it reflects his understanding of the hard work the teachers put into their programs.
For Knox, teaching is her second chapter. She was a broker with Merrill Lynch, but when her son was born, she knew she would not be able to maintain her work schedule.
“I was in corporate America doing my thing, and then along came my beautiful son and I thought ‘gee, I have to do something to maintain a life with my child,’” she said. So, teaching it was, and it has been my greatest accomplishment and my greatest joy it really has been”
She went for training to become a teacher and, soon after she started, she realized a classroom was exactly where she was meant to be.
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That was 22 years ago. Now, she is in an elite group of 10 Georgia educators, honored first in their local districts and on the threshold of being acknowledged as the best in the state.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge where they’re at, and this is home for them. But also, I think, for myself to really elevate the personalization of this, to show respect for these individuals. Because it’s not just an individual award, it really is something which you’re very reflective of and also the district they represent,” said Woods.
The 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia and will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
The winner will be announced on April 30, 2022.
“I’m excited. And I’m nervous. I’m a little scared. I have a host of emotions going on,” Knox said.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
