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It all came down to three amazing teachers, but only one of them could hold the title of Fayette County Teacher of the Year. There was a hush of silence as Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow broke the seal on the envelope and announced that the winner of the 2017 Fayette County Teacher of the Year was Shaylen Dixon, a third grade teacher at Peachtree City Elementary.
The announcement was made during the annual Fayette County Teacher of the Year ceremony honoring all 26 school-level teachers of the year. From this pool of teachers, three finalists are selected based on responses provided to an essay-style application. The three finalists are interviewed and observed in the classroom to determine the winner.
The other two teacher finalists vying for the title were Heather Price, a second grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary, and Dr. Tarchell Caruthers, a sixth grade math, science and literacy teacher at Flat Rock Middle.
“Thank you so much for this incredible honor. I am humbled to be selected, especially knowing the talent surrounding me. Dr. Caruthers and Mrs. Price, congratulations for being recognized for living out your calling so well that kids that encounter you will forever be changed for the better. To all the other teachers of the year, thank you for giving all of who you are to your kids each day. Your life holds a bigger purpose than any of us could ever imagine,” said Dixon as she accepted the honor.
Dixon admits that when she was deciding on a career she thought she should be “more than just a teacher.” Her mother was a teacher and she saw the reality behind the job, she felt like she was capable of more. It all came to light for her on a mission trip to Ghana, West Africa where she witnessed communities striving to survive because they all lacked one core thing, knowledge.
“In my arrogance, I almost missed the point that teaching is not a job, there is no way to be capable of ‘more.’ It is either something you are, or something you aren’t. It can’t be trained, it can’t be taught, because at the core of this ‘job’ are people who are wired to serve others, people who seek to create opportunities for change, and people who realize that knowledge really is a vital component for those around us to reach their full potential. Had I never witnessed the absence of knowledge and education, I doubt I would have ever understood the value of such a calling,” Dixon said.
As Fayette County’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Dixon will represent the school system next year in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
Thanks to the donations from school PTO organizations, and local business and community groups, all 26 school-level teachers of the year received a $50 check from the Fayette County Education Foundation. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company also gave each teacher a commemorative plaque.
Allan Vigil Ford of Fayetteville presented Dixon with a $1,000 check, and Price and Caruthers received $500 checks. Kroger provided all three a gourmet gift basket valued at $50 plus a Kroger gift card, $500 for Dixon and $250 each for Price and Caruthers. The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society for women educators, presented Dixon with a $100 check and the two runners-up with $50 checks. Also, the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international organization for women educators, presented Dixon with a $200 check and Price and Caruthers with $100 checks.
Additional gifts for Dixon included a commemorative plaque from the local chapter of Kappa Kappa Iota, a professional organization for educators, and a special teacher of the year ring presented by Balfour.
The annual Fayette County Teacher of the Year ceremony took place at New Hope Baptist Church, South Campus, on April 20.
It all came down to three amazing teachers, but only one of them could hold the title of Fayette County Teacher of the Year. There was a hush of silence as Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow broke the seal on the envelope and announced that the winner of the 2017 Fayette County Teacher of the Year was Shaylen Dixon, a third grade teacher at Peachtree City Elementary.
The announcement was made during the annual Fayette County Teacher of the Year ceremony honoring all 26 school-level teachers of the year. From this pool of teachers, three finalists are selected based on responses provided to an essay-style application. The three finalists are interviewed and observed in the classroom to determine the winner.
The other two teacher finalists vying for the title were Heather Price, a second grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary, and Dr. Tarchell Caruthers, a sixth grade math, science and literacy teacher at Flat Rock Middle.
“Thank you so much for this incredible honor. I am humbled to be selected, especially knowing the talent surrounding me. Dr. Caruthers and Mrs. Price, congratulations for being recognized for living out your calling so well that kids that encounter you will forever be changed for the better. To all the other teachers of the year, thank you for giving all of who you are to your kids each day. Your life holds a bigger purpose than any of us could ever imagine,” said Dixon as she accepted the honor.
Dixon admits that when she was deciding on a career she thought she should be “more than just a teacher.” Her mother was a teacher and she saw the reality behind the job, she felt like she was capable of more. It all came to light for her on a mission trip to Ghana, West Africa where she witnessed communities striving to survive because they all lacked one core thing, knowledge.
“In my arrogance, I almost missed the point that teaching is not a job, there is no way to be capable of ‘more.’ It is either something you are, or something you aren’t. It can’t be trained, it can’t be taught, because at the core of this ‘job’ are people who are wired to serve others, people who seek to create opportunities for change, and people who realize that knowledge really is a vital component for those around us to reach their full potential. Had I never witnessed the absence of knowledge and education, I doubt I would have ever understood the value of such a calling,” Dixon said.
As Fayette County’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Dixon will represent the school system next year in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition.
Thanks to the donations from school PTO organizations, and local business and community groups, all 26 school-level teachers of the year received a $50 check from the Fayette County Education Foundation. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company also gave each teacher a commemorative plaque.
Allan Vigil Ford of Fayetteville presented Dixon with a $1,000 check, and Price and Caruthers received $500 checks. Kroger provided all three a gourmet gift basket valued at $50 plus a Kroger gift card, $500 for Dixon and $250 each for Price and Caruthers. The local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society for women educators, presented Dixon with a $100 check and the two runners-up with $50 checks. Also, the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international organization for women educators, presented Dixon with a $200 check and Price and Caruthers with $100 checks.
Additional gifts for Dixon included a commemorative plaque from the local chapter of Kappa Kappa Iota, a professional organization for educators, and a special teacher of the year ring presented by Balfour.
The annual Fayette County Teacher of the Year ceremony took place at New Hope Baptist Church, South Campus, on April 20.
