Educator makes cut for state Teacher of the Year
Evans Middle School seventh-grade social studies teacher Dr. Lorraine Hall was named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2004 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
"I am just really excited and honored to have made it that far," Hall said.
This is Hall's third year teaching in Georgia schools. In her second year teaching in the state, she was named Wal-Mart's teacher of the year.
"She certainly goes above and beyond what's required in the classroom," said Evans Middle School Principal Myrel Seigler. "She brings in current affairs and events to the class and relates that to her students. She attends numerous functions - sporting events, band concerts, chorus concerts - and is seen by the students at those things taking an interest in her students outside the classroom. I think that's what sets her apart from the average teacher."
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Hall has been teaching for 20 years and has taught everything from kindergarten through 12th grade, and college English and English as a second language classes in Moscow. While teaching in West Virginia, she was named to the Governor's K-16 Education Task Force.
Lorraine Hall: Evans Middle teacher is a semifinalist for the 2004 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Her career highlights include an invitation to a White House Rose Garden ceremony as a co-author of a successful Blue Ribbon School application for the school where she was teaching. She has also received a grant to study Shakespearean theater in England. And last week she participated in Gov. Sonny Perdue's listening session for teachers in Atlanta.
"My greatest daily opportunity is to work with the finest and most dedicated colleagues in the teaching profession," she said.
This is the third year in a row Columbia County has fielded a finalist for state Teacher of the Year. Harlem High School math teacher Joyce Cheek was named a finalist in 2001 and former Greenbrier High science teacher Brian Campbell was named a finalist in 2002.
Five finalists will be announced the first week of April, and Georgia's 2004 Teacher of the Year will be announced later that month at the state Teacher of the Year Banquet.