The "Teachers of the Year" for 2007 were recognized at the Lincoln County Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, November 7. Pictured are: (l-r) Pam Norman, Teacher of the Year for the Primary Grades (PK-2) and Lincoln County Teacher of the Year; Dr. Robert Williams, board chairman; Bridgette Cliatt, Teacher of the Year for the Elementary Grades (3-5); Benton Willis, LCMS Teacher of the Year; Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools; and Randy Smith, LCHS Teacher of the Year. Pam Norman, "Teacher of the Year" for the Primary Grades (PK- 2), was named the system-wide Teacher of the Year for 2007 at the regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Education held Tuesday, November 7.

This marks the third time Norman has received system-wide Teacher of the Year honors.

Also recognized at the meeting were Bridgette Cliatt, Teacher of the Year for the Elementary Grades (3- 5); Benton Willis, LCMS Teacher of the Year; and Randy Smith, LCHS Teacher of the Year.

After receiving a round of applause from the audience, each Teacher of the Year was presented with a red marble apple and a cash award by Board Chairman Robert Williams and Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools.

Addressing the Teachers of the Year, Dr. Edmunds stated, "You represent four of our best teachers. We are glad to have the opportunity to recognize you this way and appreciate the good job you do each day for our students. Congratulations."

Teachers of the Year are nominated by their peers or administrators; the final selections are then made by a team of educators from outside the county.

Prior to naming the system-wide Teacher of the Year, Superintendent Edmunds read portions of Norman's

application to those present at the meeting. One of the excerpts was from the section which asked her to describe her personal beliefs about teaching.

According to Norman: "First and foremost, I believe that the success of the class depends on the teacher. This belief dismisses excuses for the lack of student achievement due to socioeconomic status, behavior and work habits, and natural ability or the lack thereof.

"It is the teacher's responsibility to push, carry, cajole, and/or motivate his or her students to achieve as much as possible. I believe that getting a student on grade level is a good starting point - but that guiding a student to be an independent thinker is the ultimate goal.

"I believe that the work involved in teaching is arduous; that time, energy, dedication, organization, and perseverance are required in abundance.

"I believe that hammering out the methods of effective teaching is much easier than putting the methods into practice. I believe that time spent on the front lines of the classroom could humble the loftiest researcher. The daily demands on the classroom teacher are staggering, and putting research into practice is often fraught with real-world problems that each student brings into the classroom.

"However, I believe that teaching well is worth every drop of sweat, every headache, and every exhausted sigh. The rewards of teaching are both large and small: a child's smile, a mother's thanks, a former student who makes a real success of his or her life, and the chance to help mold the future."

Dr. Edmunds also read an excerpt from the portion of Norman's application that asked her what her message would be to other professionals in education and to the general public in the event that she is selected as the Georgia Teacher of the Year.

Norman wrote: "There is an old adage that advocates us to seize the moment, and this maxim notably applies to the teaching profession. Each day brings a new opportunity for teachers to make a real difference in the lives of others.

"Teachers wield tremendous power that stems from their conscious and unconscious influence on students. A teacher's mood can demolish a child's day or sustain it. An unthinking word or action can make a lifelong impression. Students have been known to give up a dream due to a thoughtless comment from a trusted teacher or conversely, to succeed in the face of all odds because of a small word of encouragement.

"Acknowledge the power that you have as a teacher and then harness it for the good of yourself and for others. Be thankful that, unlike other professions, each year brings a fresh start with a clean slate. Be especially thankful that the fresh start applies to both students and to teachers!

"The public should be made aware of the good news in education. Too often, the negative aspects of education receive much more publicity than do the advances. It would serve educators well to informally research the progress made in our field and then to make it known by word of mouth, by classroom newsletters or by articles in the local paper. Success breeds success, and progress breeds confidence.

"Each day is a fresh start; seize the moment!"

At this point in the meeting, the system wide Teacher of the Year was rewarded with a second round of applause and a standing ovation from the board and the audience.

Norman will go on to represent Lincoln County in the state Teacher of the Year competition. "Mrs. Norman has an excellent chance of being recognized at the state level, and we wish her well in that competition," said Dr. Edmunds.

He then presented the gifted educator with an additional cash award and a plaque designating her as system-wide Teacher of the Year. Her name will also be added to the plaque containing the names of past system-wide Teachers of the Year which is on permanent display at the board office.

In further business, LCHS cheerleading coaches Marcella Goldman and Heather Yarbrough, assisted by cheerleader parent Andy Wengrow, presented a proposal calling for the construction of a $50,000 practice facility for the school's competitive cheerleading program.

After explaining the difficulties and uncertainty associated with the cheerleaders' lack of a permanent practice facility, Coach Goldman said the coaches plan to use $10,000 of the $13,000 currently in the cheerleading fund for a down payment on the building. The remaining $40,000 will be obtained from the system's Fund Balance and repaid by the cheerleaders within the next five or six years.

To repay the loan, the cheerleading coaches will use the money generated by various fund-raising projects, along with the funds saved by purchasing new uniforms every two years instead of each year. This will amount to a minimum of between $5,000 and $6,000 every two years.

It was proposed that the facility be built between the tennis courts and the practice field at LCHS.

In other comments, Coach Goldman said the building will also be available to middle school students "which will alleviate serious over-crowding problems, especially in rainy weather. We just need the facility from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day."

Goldman added that she and Coach Yarbrough are working to build a strong cheerleading program at LCHS. She noted that the squad was undefeated this season until it finished second at the region competition.

In his remarks, Andy Wengrow indicated that the metal building will measure 50' x 70', with a regular door and a 12' x 12' roll-up door. The walls will be 20 feet high, with a clearance of about 28 feet at the apex of the roof.

He went on to say that some of the materials and labor for the project have been donated by local individuals and businesses.

As for heating and air, "A parent has agreed to let us use a portable five-ton air-conditioning unit - all we need is a little air," said Wengrow. "However, if the building is to be used as a multi-purpose facility by the school, it will need both heating and air. If this is the case, we figure that the school system will pay for the heating and air-conditioning units because the facility will be used by students. Basically, the school will be getting a $50,000 building for the cost of a heating and air-conditioning unit if it wants to install one."

According to an estimate submitted by McCutcheon Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., two five-ton heating and airconditioning units will cost a total of $10,611.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the matter was tabled for further review.

In other business, the board agreed to hold a called meeting Thursday (tonight) at 7:30 p.m. to consider proposals for a new school.

"We have more information on what the state will give us for a new school housing grades 9-12, 6-8, and 6-12," said Superintendent Edmunds. "We also have site plans detailing where the roads, fields, and parking will be. We need to look at these options and discuss them."

Also during the meeting, the board:

Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that the State Board of Education has adopted a Student Enrollment and Withdrawal Rule.

According to the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA), the new policy "provides a means for every student to have a school they are entitled to attend and establishes consistent criteria for enrolling and withdrawing students in all Georgia public K-12 schools."

"We will have to adjust our policy to match this new state rule for enrollment," said Edmunds. "The new withdrawal requirements are already in place."

Reviewed the General Fund Report for the period from July 1, 2006, through October 31, 2006; the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Report through October 31, 2006; and quarterly school reports for the period from July 1, 2006, through September 30, 2006.

Voted to approve fund-raising requests submitted by the LCHS Student Council and the school's debate team and NFL(National Forensics League) chapter.

Voted to approve a proposal made by IKON Office Solutions to provide digital copier machines to the system on a state contract. The average monthly cost will be $3,500.

Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. After returning to regular session, the board:

Voted to approve Tameka Beard as a substitute teacher.

Voted to approve Glenda Davis and James Lively, Sr. to serve as substitute bus drivers contingent upon their meeting all local, state, and federal requirements.

Voted to approve Glenda Davis and Yasmin Adams to serve as substitute nutrition workers.

Voted to accept the resignation of Kim Cox from her paraprofessional position at LCES, effective November 15, 2006.