>School Board Announces System Teacher of the Year

Kay Brumbelow of Cowan Road Middle School was announced as the System Teacher of the Year at last night’s Board of Education meeting.

Denise Burrell, GSCS Deputy Superintendent, described the process for choosing the System Teacher of the Year and explained how the three finalists, Kay Brumbelow of Cowan Road Middle School, Lee Thomas of Spalding High, and Steven Posey of Kennedy Road Middle School, demonstrated these qualities.

After announcing Brumbelow as System Teacher of the Year, Burrell read some of Brumbelow’s application essay. In her essay, Brumbelow recounts a story she grew up hearing about a young female student who was automatically labeled as “unable to learn” by her teachers. This student was placed in the back of the classroom and not given much attention by her teacher because the girl was blind.

When her mother asked her what she had learned that year in school and the young girl replied, “Nothing,” her mother and the school principle put her in a different classroom. This teacher gave her the same supplies and attention as other students, and the girl flourished.

Brumbelow wrote that this story stayed with her all her life because that young girl grew up to be her mother. “I spent my life as an advocate for my mother, and I try to be the same for my students,” Brumbelow wrote.

After awarding the System Teacher of the Year, Superintendent Curtis Jones awarded two GSCS employees the honor of Employee of the Month. Robert Brown, head custodian of Moreland Road Elementary received the award for the classified employees while Lavette Terry, mathematics teacher at Kennedy Road Middle School received the award for certified employees.