A New TOY Year...

The North Carolina Teacher of the Year Team for 2008-2009

This is my first entire weekend home in awhile, and I'm pretty exhausted! It's worth it, though, because of the many opportunities I've had as North Carolina's Teacher of the Year for 08-09, the wonderful educators I've met, and the relationships that have grown over the year.

I started the week last Sunday, meeting with the new Teacher of the Year team as they began the festivities to select a new NC Teacher of the Year for 09-10. We had dinner together, and I shared a little about my experiences, my year traveling, and some of the activities they could look forward to.

On Monday, I served as the hostess while the interviews were taking place, and I really enjoyed getting to know each regional finalist as they entered (and exited) their interviews. The next morning I was there again, as they went in for a shorter meeting with the selection committee, speaking briefly about education topics.

That day our current team began arriving, and it was so exciting to see these teachers, who although spread out geographically, continue to be close and communicate often. We'll also be traveling with the Center for International Understanding to Denmark next month. We're so excited!

Tuesday night we attended the always celebratory and beautiful evening that is the dinner for the naming of the new Teacher of the Year. The night began with Governor Perdue speaking to us and continued with remarks from Dr. Bill Harrison, CEO of the Department of Public Instruction and Chair of the State Board. Then Cynthia Marshall, President of at&t, sponsor of the NC Teacher of the Year program, shared her truly inspirational story.

Here I am with Valonda Calloway, the beautiful Mistress of Ceremonies for the Teacher of the Year dinner. Not only is she a local celebrity who works at our CBS affiliate, WRAL, she's a former Washington Redskins cheerleader!

Another local celebrity, David Heid, set the tone for the evening - classy and elegant.

Governor Bev Perdue opened up the evening by thanking teachers for all they do.

Near the end of the night, I stepped on the stage to deliver my parting remarks. But how can you sum up in a few minutes what has been a life changing experience? I've met the President, the First Lady, the Vice President's wife, and the Secretary of Education. I've traveled the state meeting the best teachers and teachers-to-be in the country. It was so hard that I knew I would struggle. So after a few introductory remarks, thanking my husband and the Teacher of the Year Team, as well as Danny Holloman, who is the TOY Coordinator, I played a video/movie that highlighted my year and thanked as many folks as I could. (A special thanks to Trisha Muse, Sandhills/South Central Regional Teacher of the Year for working so hard on my movie!) Then I sat down and waited to hear the name of the teacher who would take my place.

It was a strange feeling. Dr. June Atkinson, Superintendent of NC schools, said a few introductory remarks and then said, "The North Carolina Teacher of the Year is..." and I thought "Me. It's me. I'm the North Carolina Teacher of the Year." I joked that at the last minute they wouldn't select someone else. They'd say, "We're just going to let her do it for another year." And of course I was kidding. It's time for me to head back to my school, and I'm excited about that.

I'm also looking forward to working with our new North Carolina Teacher of the Year - Jessica Garner, a Spanish teacher from Union County Schools. Jessica will do a wonderful job and will be an ambassador for global education as she is a world traveler who has so much to share with our state's teachers and students.

Here I am with Jessica, the newly named North Carolina Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010.

But my job's not over yet. I'll be serving in this capacity until June 30, 2009.

So after Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting, I headed to High Point University to speak to student teachers who would be graduating the next day. And I was happy for the opportunity to do this job for a couple of months more.

Here I am with graduating seniors who will be in elementary classrooms next year!

High Point University is right beside the preschool where my sister Lisa works with three year olds. I just had to stop by and visit...

I'm so happy that Jessica Garner will have this amazing experience. A year from now, she'll look back just as I did, as she says goodbye, and will realize that she's had "the time of her life" just as I have. Thank you again, North Carolina!