A special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School is this year’s White County School System Teacher of the Year.
Holly Witcher received the honor and a standing ovation from her colleagues during a special recognition service Thursday night, March 30, at White County Middle School.
Witcher was one of six school-level teachers of the year who were up for the prestigious award. The other nominees included Tina Vandiver, 6th grade ELA teacher at White County Middle School; Brad Abernathy, an art teacher at White County High School; Allison Lundy, a 2nd-grade teacher at Jack P. Nix Elementary School; Shanda Bartlett, an art teacher at Mossy Creek Elementary School; and Meredith McConnell, a 2nd-grade teacher at Mount Yonah Elementary School.
White County High School Nurse Karen Vandiver was named System Employee of the Year.
Vanidver was recognized along with other school-level employees of the year, including Becky Ivester, Jack P. Nix Elementary School Nutritionist; Ruthie Blocker, Mossy Creek Elementary Para Pro; Keena Dennis, Mount Yonah Elementary Instructional Assistant; Shelli Leslie, Tesnatee Gap Elementary Para Pro; and Heather Nix-Hood, White County Middle School Registrar.
White County’s School Bus Driver of the Year for 2023 is Tina Johnson.
Johnson was honored along with fellow bus drivers Mandie Harris, representing Jack P. Nix Elementary; Tina Johnson, Mossy Creek Elementary; Mike Ray, Mount Yonah Elementary; Amanda Evans, Tesnatee Gap Elementary; Manning Minton, White County Middle School; and Steve Tucker, special ed and relief driver for White County High School.
In presenting this year’s awards, the White County School System’s Director of Human Resources Laura Corley said, “The people we recognize this evening have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues.”
In addition to the special recognition ceremony and certificates, the honorees received gift cards compliments of Habersham EMC.
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WRWH.com contributed to this report
