Sherrie Hubbard named Dougherty County School System 2015-16 Teacher of the Year

ALBANY — Sherrie Hubbard was all smiles Thursday night after being named the Dougherty County School System’s 2015-16 Teacher of the Year at a banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Hubbard, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Radium Springs Middle Magnet School for the Arts, was selected from among a field of eight finalists.

“The Teacher of the Year is important to us in that it helps us publicize the fact that we have so many good teachers in the Dougherty County School System,” DCSS Superintendent Butch Mosely said. “It’s an opportunity for them to get the attention they deserve. All the candidates are top quality and represent the best our school system has to offer.”

Hubbard was stunned by her selection.

“I’m still in a state of shock,” Hubbard said. “Tonight represents everything we do in the Dougherty County School System. Everyone here tonight is an example that education is the key to success. All the hard work has paid off, but I still have a lot to do.

“Now I’ll go back to my classroom and continue to try and make a difference by being the best Social Studies teacher I can possibly be.”

Mosely was beaming at the end of the program.

“Tonight was a very good night for the Dougherty County School System,” Mosely said. “The people that walked across this stage tonight are all first-class educators. They are an example of putting the right people in the right place can help our children achieve success. We need more teachers like them, and it’s our job to find them.”

The other teacher of the year finalists were Latinda Dean, Albany High School; Allison Orme, International Studies Elementary Charter School; Tiffany Pafford, Lake Park Elementary School; Kawanna Jones, Merry Acres Middle School; April Bush, Northside Elementary School; Mona Tarver, Sherwood Acres Elementary School; and Adrianne Harris, South Georgia Regional Achievement Center.

In addition to the eight finalists, school-level teachers of the year were also recognized. They are Rita Correia, Dougherty High School; Ebonie Dawson, Monroe High School; Ronald R. Dees, Westover High School; Sarah Mack-Holloway, Albany Middle School; Jessica Morris, Robert A. Cross Middle School; Shannon Howell, Southside Middle School; Tiesha Denise Reed, Alice Coachman Elementary School; Brittini Myles, Jackson Heights Elementary School; Tresca Patrinia Roberts, Lamar Reese Elementary School; Alvette Arnold Johnson, Lincoln Elementary School; Tomeka Warren, Live Oak Elementary School; Carolyn Harris, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School; Priscilla M. Hilson, Morningside Elementary School; Cathy Parks Flood, Radium Springs Elementary School; Christopher Sharpe, Turner Elementary School; Arpeja Pricilla Shorts, West Town Elementary School; Andrea Owens-Jones, College and Career Learning Performance Center.

The 2014-15 DCSS teacher of the year was Jennifer Lewis-Polite of Lincoln Elementary Magnet School.