Baldwin Elementary School Pre-K teacher Shannon Gibson has been named a finalist for the state pre-k teacher of the year award. Gibson was notified of her selection during a surprise visit to her classroom this morning by Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Commissioner Amy Jacobs and other DECAL and local school representatives.
Gibson is the fifth finalist to be announced for the 2022-2023 Georgia Pre-K Program Teacher of the Year honor.
Other finalists include Shazia Ali from American Learning Center in Gwinnett County; Melissa Boswell, a Pre-K teacher at CB Watson Primary School in Warner Robins; Alaina Jones from Akers Academy in Forsyth County; and Debbie Carraway from Hand in Hand Primary in Thomas County. A sixth and final finalist will be named later this week.
The finalists were chosen based on applications that were reviewed and scored by a panel of judges. Each finalist receives a $500 cash prize from the Georgia Foundation for Early Care + Learning.
This fall, each of the finalists will be observed in their classroom by a Pre-K Specialist, will submit a small group video to be scored by outside judges, and will appear before a panel for a personal interview.
In September, DECAL will select a winner from a local public school system and a winner from a private child care center. They will receive a $3,000 check for themselves, $2,000 for a classroom makeover and supplies, and funds to cover out-of-the-classroom costs while the teacher is away serving as ambassadors for Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
“When Georgia’s Pre-K Program was piloted almost 30 years ago, perhaps no one imagined it would have the breadth and depth it has today,” says Commissioner Amy Jacobs. “Since 1992, more than 1.6 million children have entered kindergarten better prepared…clearly the result of the work of dedicated Pre-K teachers and assistants who implement this program across our state every day. DECAL is honored to recognize and thank these committed professionals by choosing Pre-K Teachers of the Year.”
This school year, approximately 76,000 four year olds attended Georgia’s voluntary, lottery-funded Pre-K Program.
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