Walnut Grove High School Teacher Finalist for State Teacher of the Year

In a press release Monday, state School Superintendent Dr. John Barge  announced the finalists for 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year and a Walton County teacher was in the mix. Dr. Polly S. Holder, a Spanish teacher at Walnut Grove High School was one of those named.

"I am very pleased that Dr. Polly Holder has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for teacher of the year in the state of Georgia and, while I am excited, I am not at all surprised," said Gary Hobbs, superintendent of Walton County Public Schools. "Dr. Holder is known throughout the school district as an outstanding teacher who is dedicated to her students.  We intend to proudly support her as she represents Walton County Public Schools in the Georgia Teacher of the Year Competition."

According to a press release from the Georgia Department of Education, the 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 155 applicants who were selected as the Teacher of the Year in their school districts. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.

"I congratulate our 10 Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and those who applied,” Barge said in the release. “As usual, we had a very impressive group of teachers make the Top 10."

A panel of judges will now conduct video observations and interview each of the finalists. They also will be required to give a speech at a luncheon in April sponsored by Georgia Power in April. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet on May 3, 2013, at the Georgia International Convention Center. The banquet, paid for through donations from sponsors, will honor each local district Teacher of the Year. The banquet will follow a reception hosted by United Healthcare.

The teacher who is chosen as the 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. He or she also will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year is Lauren Eckman, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired at the Georgia Academy for the Blind.

To learn more about Ms. Eckman and the Teacher of the Year program, click on this link:

Other finalists for the 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year include:

• Tamika N. Ball, Mathematics - Atlanta Public Schools, D.M. Therrell School of Health Sciences and Research
• Brandon A. Mitchell,  Physical and Environmental Science - Barrow County, Winder-Barrow High
• Jemelleh Coes, English Language Arts  and Reading - Bulloch County, Langston Chapel Middle
• Terrie L. Ponder, Social Studies - Carrollton City, Carrollton Junior High
• Jeanine Wetherington, Gifted K-5 - Colquitt County, Norman Park Elementary
• Shannon Pollitz, Eighth Grade Gifted English Language Arts - Floyd County, Pepperell Middle
• Barbara Rosolino, English Language Arts, AP Literature and Composition  - Henry County, Eagle’s Landing High
• David DuBose, Advanced Music, Band and Instrumental Music - Marietta City, Marietta High
• Tanya Smith, Physical Science and Gifted/Accelerated Chemistry - Wayne County, Wayne County High

The Georgia Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by United Healthcare.