Douglas County Teacher May Win GA Teacher Of The Year

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — A middle school science and social studies teacher earned the title of 2019-2020 Douglas County Teacher of the Year, according to a release from the Douglas County School System. Lydia Palmer was given the award Thursday.

A committee of 12 judges from the county and school system reviewed the applications and watched six semifinalists in the classroom to decide the winner, the release says.

"It is clear that this teacher loves being an educator. Her connection with students in her classroom is obvious," one judge said.

"Watching her interact with her students made it abundantly clear that not only does she love what she does, but she has also built strong relationships with her students and they enjoy being in her classroom," said another.

Palmer grew up in the Douglas County School System. She also did her student teaching at Fairplay Middle School, where she was hired after earning her teaching degree.

The release quotes Palmer, showing her commitment to teaching. "For most of us, if we're lucky, teaching is a calling; not just a profession, but a way of life. It's about building character, teaching responsibility, encouraging the unmotivated child, and modeling productive traits," she said.

Also awarded were Robin Williams, of Chapel Hill Elementary, who won the Douglas County Elementary Teacher of the Year award and Erica Berry, of the CCI Academy, who was named the Douglas County High School Teacher of the Year.

Palmer will now compete for Georgia Teacher of the Year, the release says.