Wilkes Board of Education names Andrews as Teacher of the Year

Washington-Wilkes Primary School kindergarten teacher Tiffani Andrews was honored as Wilkes County's Teacher of the Year for 2008 Monday night. She was congratulated by Board of Education members (l-r) Kelly Powell, Kay Finnell, (Andrews) Chairman Ricky Callaway, Bob Guin, and Steven Albertson.

The Wilkes County Board of Education, in its regular November meeting, saluted the school system's Teacher of the Year for 2008, Tiffani Andrews.

After opening the meeting, Board Chairman Ricky Callaway gave the floor to Dr. Rosemary Caddell, principal of Washington-Wilkes Primary School. She introduced Tiffani, her husband Ashley, family and friends, and said, "We are so proud to have Mrs. Andrews as our Teacher of the Year and as the Wilkes County Teacher of the Year! We're very fortunate to have her."

Dr. Caddell described how the Teacher of the Year had been hired as a paraprofessional but was able to step into a teaching position that opened up suddenly. "She became second-grade teacher five weeks into school, and she did very well in a difficult situation."

This is her fourth year as a kindergarten teacher. "She uses a lot of innovative techniques, has a lot of fun with the children, which is re- ally important in kindergarten," she said.

Caddell then presented a special gift: two books written and illustrated by Mrs. Andrews' classes, present and former. The students wrote on why Mrs. Andrews was the best teacher. "She laughs a lot, and she lets us play outside," said one. "She got us Popsicles when we got ten gold stars."

After Callaway presented the Teacher of the Year award, Dr. Caddell had a little more to say about Tiffani Andrews, and it was clearly from the heart. "In her second year of teaching, as we were looking forward to her marrying Ashley, she discovered she had breast cancer - and she successfully fought it, and has since had a baby."

Caddell said, "She's had some really good times at the primary school and some really tough times at the primary school, but the unique thing is that for her, they were always positive times. She came in and made a positive difference for her children, no matter what she was going through. It was a tough year, but a great year."

Tiffani Andrews is the former Tiffani Bryant of Lincolnton. She is a 1996 graduate of Lincoln County High School and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lanny Bryant.