College of Education alumni earn Teacher of the Year awards in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, GA. – Jaguars roared in Richmond County when the Board of Education announced its Teachers of the Year. Of the 57 schools in the county, 18 of them chose Georgia Regents University College of Education graduates as their honorees.

GRU alumni who are Teacher of the Year finalists are: Moswen A. Bonner (BA ‘90), Willis Foreman Elementary; Inez S. Cutler (BA ’95; BSEd ’98), Tobacco Road Elementary School; Pamela Forston (MEd ’98), Tubman Education Center; Natasha Franklin (BSEd ’09), Meadowbrook Elementary School; Beverly Franqui (BSEd ’05), Blythe Elementary School; Marie Gunter (BA ’02), Hornsby Elementary; Megan Hand (BS ’05; MAT ’08), Diamond Lakes Elementary; Alissa Harley (BSEd ’08; MEd ’13), Monte Sano Elementary; Kelly Harman (BSEd ’06; MEd ’09), McBean Elementary; Angela Jenkins (BSW ’07; MAT ’10), Bayvale Elementary; Ann Lewis (BA ’97), Murphey Middle School; Roy Lewis (EdS ’10), Richmond Academy; Amy N. McManus (BSEd ’07; MEd ’10; EdS ’12), Gracewood Elementary; Hillary Murrah (BA ’02), Lake Forest Hills Elementary; Nichelle Sherman (BSEd ’01), Wheeless Road Elementary; Christie Todd (BSEd ’99; MEd ’03; EdS ’09), Freedom Park Elementary; Tammy D. Walker (MAT ’15), Sand Hills Center; Ruth Waller (BSEd ’05), Glenn Hills Elementary.

“All of the Teacher of the Year honorees should be congratulated, but we are excited to have these 18 excellent educators as alumni of the GRU College of Education,” said Dr. Zach Kelehear, dean of the College of Education. “Their work shows that GRU graduates are tireless, innovative and inspire students to be their best.”

From the finalists, Dr. Phyllis Johnson-Porter was chosen as the Richmond County Teacher of the Year. She will represent Richmond County in November in Atlanta at the state level. In May, the Georgia Department of Education will name the Georgia Teacher of the Year and the Georgia Media Specialist of the Year.