Vicki R. Knox of Deer Chase Elementary School was announced as Richmond County School System’s 2022 Teacher of the Year at the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 19.
After the announcement, Knox took the lectern and thanked her Deer Chase family.
“I want to thank everyone — and I do mean everyone — at Deer Chase for their love and support,” Knox said.
She invoked a quote from Maya Angelou, saying, “‘Whenever you go to a place, bring your ancestors and the people who have poured into you and loved you wherever you go,’ so I stand here before you with all the people that have loved me during the course of my years on this planet.”
Knox also made a point to recognize the other finalists from across the county.
In a video presentation prior to the announcement, Knox said, “In this classroom, you’re learning academics and also building habits. You are discovering yourself and learning how to discuss and problem solve.”
Dr. Valerie Kelly, principal of Deer Chase, said in the video, “She is a passionate educator, determined that every child that she serves will learn. Children not only learn, but they enjoy learning because of her class.”
Knox has taught all grade levels over the course of her 21-year career as a teacher.
“Ms. Knox is an outstanding example of the teachers leading our classrooms,” said Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw, Superintendent of Richmond County Schools. “I am confident that she will represent the Richmond County School System well in the state Teacher of the Year competition.”
Teachers of the Year are first selected by their respective schools and then submit applications to become a finalist for the RCSS Teacher of the Year. A panel of judges made up of retired RCSS educators and administrators reviews the applications to name the five finalists. The five finalists are then recorded teaching to their students. Based on the lessons and applications, a finalist is named.
The other four finalists for 2021-22 school year were Keyona Wynn, a third grade teacher at Gracewood Elementary School; Rebecca Potter, science teacher at Westside High School; Monica P. Burnett, a fifth grade teacher at Richmond Hill K-8 School and Robert L. Jackson, English/language arts department chair at Cross Creek High School.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
