Parker awarded Teacher of the Year

Blue Ridge, Ga. – The Fannin County School System honored exceptional educators in their annual celebration and named Chris Parker of Blue Ridge Elementary as Fannin County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year award was brought back this year after the school system was unable to participate in the award last year due to Covid-19.

Shannon Miller, Director of Student Services, explained that the obstacles presented to the school system last year took priority in continuing to provide students with quality education and that all the educators in Fannin County stepped up to the challenge.

“In 2022, I think everyone was teacher of the year,” Miller commented.

Every year a teacher is selected by their peers from each of Fannin County’s five schools. 

The following teachers were chosen this year as nominees for Teacher of the Year:

• Chris Parker – Blue Ridge Elementary School
• Christie Holtman – East Fannin Elementary School
• Karen Goode – West Fannin Elementary School
• Brittany Newton – Fannin County Middle School
• Sabrina Howard – Fannin County High School

“Few recognitions rise to the level of being chosen by your peers,” Fannin County School Board Member Terry Bramlett spoke of the distinction of having been selected.

The Teacher of the Year is then selected by Pioneer RESA after vetting each of the nominees.

This year Pioneer RESA awarded runner-up to Karen Goode of West Fannin Elementary School and Teacher of the Year to Chris Parker of Blue Ridge Elementary school.

Parker will go on to represent Fannin County in the state level Teacher of the Year.

“Let me say how humbled and honored I am to represent Fannin County,” Parker said after receiving the award.

Parker, who has been with the Fannin County School System for three years, says that from the beginning he was “welcomed with open arms”.

“I have never been in a county before with such a hands-on county office,” Parker spoke of the school system’s administration.

Parker credits his success to the support he receives both at home from his wife and at work from his colleagues, which he refers to as his family away from home.

 

Featured Image : Nominees from each of Fannin County’s Schools (L-R) Sabrina Howard (FCHS), Brittany Newton (FCMS), Chris Parker (BRES), Christie Holtman (EFES), Karen Goode (WFES)