Blue Ridge Elementary School (BRES) Media Specialist Chris Parker is the county-wide 2023 Teacher of the Year.
The announcement was made after each nominee from the county’s schools were recognized during the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet Tuesday, September 14.
“First of all, let me say how humbled and honored I am to represent Fannin County,” Parker said after having been announced the winner. “I may have only been here three years, but I feel like Fannin County schools is a family, and I was welcomed with open arms.”
Parker went on to thank his wife, Diane, BRES Principal Dr. April Hodges and Vice Principal Gini Tipton, those at the county office, his coworkers as well as Capprice Ramsey for helping him “get into Blue Ridge.”
“I have never been in a county before with such a hands-on county office,” Parker said. “They are in our buildings constantly, they know our names, they know what we do and why we do it.”
The five nominees were selected after being evaluated by a team with Pioneer RESA, a regional educational service agency.
Parker will now go on to compete against teachers from other counties for the state title.
Additionally, West Fannin Elementary School teacher Karen Goode was recognized as the runner up.
Each individual school in the county nominated one of their own for the chance at the district-wide distinction.
From East Fannin Elementary, Christie Holtman was selected; from Fannin County Middle School, Brittany Newton was selected, and from Fannin County High School, Sabrina Howard was selected.
“Education’s about the future. Seeing our teachers of the year this evening gives me hope and confidence in the next generation of this country,” schools Superintendent Michael Gwatney said of the teachers.
Uniquely, in a video presentation of the nominees, Parker said, “One of my shining moments would have to be realizing the impact I have made on a student sometimes years later. I can remember my first year teaching the third grade. Kayla, a little, spunky little third grader, she was great, she followed the rules and everything, and then her senior year in high school she came back and said she decided she wanted to be a teacher because of me. And, to put the icing on the cake, this year, she is teacher of the year at her school just like I am, so that would have to be my greatest accomplishment.”
Parker began his teaching career 20 years ago in Henry County, Georgia, and for the last 14 of those, he has been a media specialist.